General Chat

Just for those that are not aware:-))

Horse Racing

Most people regard horse racing as a harmless sport in which the animals are willing participants who thoroughly enjoy the thrill. The truth is that, behind the scenes, lies a story of immense suffering.

Approximately 18,000 foals are born into the closely-related British and Irish racing industries each year, yet only around 40% go on to become racers. Those horses who do not make the grade may be slaughtered for meat or repeatedly change hands in a downward spiral of neglect. Of those horses who do go on to race, around 400 are raced to death every year.

Beneath its glamorous façade, commercial horse racing is a ruthless industry motivated by financial gain and prestige. Cruelty? You can bet on it!

Four dead on one day
On the opening day alone, four horses were killed - the worst death toll for a single day's racing anywhere in Britain for 10 years. And yet the total number of fatalities over the three days was in keeping with previous years. In 1999, four horses died, the year before, five.

Despite official murmurings of shock at such carnage - and any number of inquiries and adjustments to jumps - Aintree's two courses are designed to be deliberately punishing. Their purpose is to present a white-knuckle entertainment for a public which has learnt to associate the National course in particular with the 'thrilling spectacle' of horses crashing to the ground.

Aintree's Mildmay course is less well known than the National, but it is a formidably sharp, fast track with stiff fences. Last year it claimed the lives of what experts considered two of the most experienced and talented jumpers in the world: Strong Promise and Lake Kariba.

Gold Cup runner-up Strong Promise died from spinal injuries in a horrific fall at the sixth fence from home during the 2.35 Martell Cup Chase. A nine year old renowned for his peerless ability to gallop and jump, the stiffness of the fourteenth fence brought Strong Promise to his knees. He turned over on landing and broke his neck. The life could be seen draining from him as he lay helpless on the ground, his legs kicking out uncontrollably.

In the same race, Lake Kariba could be seen running while clearly distressed. He finished totally exhausted, in third place. Minutes later, he collapsed and died of a heart attack.

The third victim claimed by the Mildmay course at the 2000 Grand National meet was Architect, one of the best young hurdlers in Britain. He was running in the 4.20 Glenlivet Anniversary four year-olds' Novices Hurdle race, moving at around 30 miles per hour, when he toppled over the penultimate fence and irreparably damaged his spine.

Liverpool vet John Burgess put a .320 calibre pistol to the four-year-old's forehead, ripping a bullet through his brain and spinal cord. The gun's silencer produced no more than a muffled bang from behind green screens put up around the dying animal in order to shield the thousands of punters from the consequences of their 'harmless flutter'. Many were already piling on bets for the next race.

The more famous National course claimed two of the five Aintree victims of last year. In the 3.45 Martell Fox Hunters' Chase on Thursday April 6, Rossell Island fell during a multiple pile-up at the first fence and suffered catastrophic spinal injuries. Toni's Tip endured an almost identical fate at the same fence the following day during the John Hughes Chase.

10 reasons to boycott the Grand National
Thinking of a ‘harmless’ flutter on this year's Grand National? Consider these 10 facts first …

The Grand National is designed to push horses to their limits – and beyond.
The race is run over an extreme distance of 4½ miles and confronts horses with a combination of 30 formidable obstacles, some of which include perilous drops, ditches and sharp turns. Deaths at the three-day event are routine. Since 1997, the Aintree meeting has claimed the lives of 35 horses.
Every year, more than 400 horses are raced to death in Britain.
Some 38% of the annual fatalities occur during or immediately after a race; the remaining horses are killed because of injuries received in training, or after being assessed by their owners as no-hopers.
Horses are bred to have light skeletal frames.
Animal Aid’s research shows that the odds are stacked against the participants from the start. While jump horses were once bred to be robust in order to cope with the rigours of jump courses, the modern industry concentrates on breeding a lighter-boned, speedier animal for the more lucrative Flat events. Because they are fine-tuned for speed rather than skeletal strength, they run a very high risk of suffering fatal injury when they do fall – a common occurrence on an especially long and challenging course such as Aintree.
Very few horses make it to events like the Grand National.
Of the approximately 18,000 horses bred by the closely-related British and Irish racing industries each year, only around 40% go on to race. Many of the ‘defective’ newborns end up slaughtered for meat, while those who do enter racing suffer a high level of fatal injuries and stress-related illnesses such as gastric ulcers and bleeding lungs.
Racehorses are stabled for up to 20 hours a day, causing frustration and stress.
Horses are social animals who are meant to be continuously grazing and moving.
During a race such as the Grand National, the heartbeat of a horse can increase tenfold.
This can lead to potential collapse and heart attack.
Outside of the breeding shed, stallions are kept well separated from mares and other males.
When not housed in their stable, they are confined behind high fences. And to minimise any chance of a costly injury, insurance policies usually state that they must not be ridden. It is a life of near isolation and deadening routine that – barring physical breakdown – can go on for 20 or more years.
Breeding females are subjected to drugs and prolonged periods of artificial light to control and speed up reproduction.
Contributions from the industry fall short of requirements.
British bookmakers now generate a combined annual profit of £1 billion from horse racing. The Horserace Betting Levy Board takes 10% of bookmakers’ annual gross profits obtained from racing and re-channels them into the industry and its associated activities. For 2006/7, the Levy Board was able to draw on close to £100 million. Scandalously, it thought fit to donate just £56,000 to Race Horse Rehabilitation and Retraining. Compare the £56,000 horse ‘rehabilitation’ money with the £1.8 million granted by the Levy Board to horse breeders.
6,000 British racehorses end their careers every year. Few enjoy a decent retirement.
Many go into a wretched downward spiral, passed from owner to owner. The final stop might be the slaughterhouse.

I have mentioned this on a few Grand National threads today, but I am a lone voice!!! apart from you now that is!

Roxanne,

I so so agree with you,,......its all down to greed,

,greed of owners

,greed of riders

and a far greater greed of the punter,,,

I hate any use of any animal for others gratification,,,,,,,,,,,and this certainly is one race thats wants banning and should have been years ago,,,,,

Totally agree with you ladies.

Viv

Ladies that is why I have never and will never ever place a bet or attend a race

Roxanne thank you for being so polite....yes I will ..

Very true Colin :-)

But it does seem odd to me that we as a nation allow any kind of abuse of anything ........but then when these things come to light we allow it to happen ................

what about teh people who think this is ok and then create even more mess by betting on the animals .....so whos going to get the ballance of abuse of any sort right ...........


oh by the way we have half a race horse and hubby works for biggest betting company in the country !

Oh Kemp!lol
you have just given your game away!

I think you should just leave this thread for those who are not "financially reliant" on the death of horses!

Roxanne, I'm not disagreeing with you :)

hahahahahaha

sorry didnt know we where playing games...........

Hi Roxanne :-)

I think Kemp has been honest :-) which I applaud so we all know that she has an interest in horseracing now.

With this in mind, I think she has every right continue posting although I would hope that we could all keep on to the subject in question :-)

(No offence meant to either side)

Roxanne I am paying memeber and can post where I like and will do..

Its a billion pound industry and this thread or the fact I have 10 bob on the grand national or when I go to Haydock is not going to make much differance weather I place the bet or not...as for Kemp giving the game away..FGS its a legitimate income he pays his taxes....its not like he peddling drugs or something...

You do what you like with your money! but as long as you know at what cost.

but your 10 bob or whatever you bet is helping this Vile Industry!

Miss CTP in SS.....ten bob.......is that some historical currency? lol

hubbys got a job ...end of .......

we got the horse so we could be involved in the PROPER care of a race hors coz we all think its so bad the way they are treated .........


but at the same time we must get this into the proper box ...........we allow the abuse of children ...no problems
BUT who will stop the animals being abuse if we allow kids to be killed at the hands of their parents ....cant foster ...we have 4 of our own ...thats kids