General Chat

In the old days people rear their own meat, I remember taking pigs to the slaughter house and watching whilst it was slaughtered and butchered, also we reared chickens but slaughter those ourselves,

However that was just a part of life and living,

Breading animals for sport and allowing them to suffer is a totally different thing,

These race horses don't only suffer when they fall? but their are other health problems brought on through racing which the general public never get to see and all in the name of sport,
truth is it's entertainment and justified by calling it sport

Roy

Do you all eat meat? then I would suggest a visit to a slaughter house, plenty of innocent animals there even baby ones (lambs in particular) - could put you off - it did me!

I feel sorry for 'According to Pete' - brought down by another horse over a jump - and shot.

It's not a sport-it's entertainment at the expense of the horses. Can't bear to watch it -so no blast from me Hayley.

you won't get blasted by me either - men in suits with too much money, hampers with champagne and all the rest of it, all at the expense of the horses - such beautiful animals who seem to be whipped within an inch of their lives - horse racing and greyhound racing - dreadful sports - and I use the word sport in it's loosest form

Horse racing may well be the Sport of Kings, and Queens, but I am strongly against any so called sport that expoits animals for the sole purpose of generating huge amounts of money for their owners, and those that bet on that activity.
I have always believed that making horses run in competition with each other "encouraged" by the use of a whip to be cruel, and the Grand National is the worse example of this. Last year two horses died, and two died today, yet the Animal Welfare inspectors declare the course to be "safe". How can it be safe when animals are dying?

Rose - I don't think you were being in any way fanciful. Like you, I believe that the horse that threw its jockey and ran off prior to the race sensed disaster, and didn't want to be there.
Having kept dogs all my life, I have the greatest respect for an animals instinct and intuition. I think horses are even more sensitive in this way.

Tec.

I totally agree that the National is cruel but all races are where there are fences for the horses to jump.

Late Hubby took me to Wetherby racecourse once and in the first race of the day.
The horses were racing round the track and I heard what I thought was a bone snapping.
I told him that a horse had broke it's leg as the snap was so loud.well the horse dropped right in front of us. The Stewards had to rush and get the race stopped and then bring the big tent around the horse.
I had to walk away as I was in tears and luckily the vet came and gave the horse a shot to put it out of it's misery.

I have never been near a racecourse since and this was 12 yrs ago.

Sue

Five died at Cheltenham this year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17360447

It's not just the big races where this happens, horses suffer this way even in the smaller races, people only notice because the big races are popular to watch and get the coverage through TV.

Roy

The papers would be plastered tomorrow and all night the news and coverage of the funeral if that had been the jockey.......!!! it happens every year ...its just heartbreaking......


I did pray on Merseys thread for such foul weather it would be called off,,,,,,,,,

its a cruel cruel race and poor horses lose thier lives for public punters pleasure.........about time using animals for public greed was banned.

yep I am anti........but if people get enjoyment from it I accept it.

and no blasting from me,as there will be many today whos been so upset with the results.,,,that they never won.....

:-) :-)

Edited...apologies all , I 'lost' it a bit :-|

I never watch it never mind betting on it, it is a cruel race.

Caz

My family are racing fans, mum used to like a flutter and dad still enjoys a flutter I have 2 sisters that were jockeys a brother in law that was a jockey and is now a trainer,

But i personally don't bet on horses because i think it is a cruel sport,
Most race horses that either don't make the grade and those who are at the end of their racing career are either sold for meat and only a minority go on to a retirement home,

I am not against breading animals for food but think it is wrong to bread and treat animals in this way,
And their owners can afford to keep them in retirement but choose to slaughter them instead,
most retirement homes for ex race horses are funded by charities whilst the rich owners turn their backs on these defenseless animals once they are not of use to them anymore.

Roy

You know, Rose, if you're fanciful then so am I because I was thinking the same thing.

Sue, I think you meant vertically challenged lol I did see the race earlier as I was at my mum's and they had it on. I have to say the jockeys didn't seem that small but I was always under the impression that national hunt jockeys could be taller because the horses are older and therefore able to take heavier people on their backs. No doubt someone will come along and tell me I'm wrong lol

Edit: for anyone who's interested, a list of those who have died in the national since it began.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equine_fatalities_in_the_Grand_National

I mean blasted for being hypericite coz I will continue to have a flutter...I think whats up set me more is when it happening before the race, the commentators where having a little giggle and so was we, he was trotting along and a photoghter caught him, really plasid horse, the coversation with the commentators was like....awww look at him looks like he thinks he is on his way back to his paddock, nah the other said he just wants to get back withthe pack and his mates ...ooo look he is eyeing up the fences so he knows what he is up against..I sobbed my heart out when the said he had been shot, I wouldnt mind I watched the race from behind my hands .

I think the older I get, the more upset I am with this race.

I used to have the odd flutter on it years ago, and used to watch it every year. Now before I watch it I always wonder, how many horses will die this time.

I wont lay a bet any more, and I dont enjoy watching it now, yet I still feel the need to watch it. :-( :-( :-(

If a load of verically challenged individuals wish to race around a track at breakneck speed trying to clear ridiculously high obstacles whilst being whipped they can do it without incurring injury or death to an animal that has placed it's trust in them and leave the horses in the stables.

Haven't watched racing for years.

Sue

lolol yes I did mean vertically :-D

You won't get blasted from me either....the horse that unseated his rider, l was wishing him to keep running and crossed my fingers he would be ok at the end of the race.....Not fanciful at all RR
l too have the odd flutter and did today....but never again on the National or jumps!!

jude :-(

Hayley,

Did you know that there have been 815 horse fatality's in UK since 2007 -2012.

Not a pretty sport is it ? :-S

I never watched today's race glad I didn't. :-(

You'll get no argument from me on that front...I stopped betting on the national for a good few years for the same rdason.

HOWEVER my protest changed nothing....so I now have a flutter if the fancy takes me........ it brings back memories of my grandad picking the winner twice and I always hear his voice in my head when I watch the race. and during the build up when he would study form for days before lol...bittersweet for me.

I KNOW in my heart I shouldn't but sometimes I can't resist. a flutter...I do know though that those horses have a life fit for royalty and are deeply loved and spoilt....which eases my conscience.when I do give in lol

Didn't bet this year as the horse I bet on last year was killed......made me feel a bit guilty...so I didn't risk a bet...or indeed bother to watch. x