Grand National 2012

Zarlak said:
I always put to win bets on about 6/7 different horses and usually always win. Then I get back more than I put on. I had 2 of my horses in the running to win and both leading in the run up to the last stretch then they just disappeared.
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Likewise. I usually go for a winner and then a few e/w bets.

First time in a few years I've actually come out on a loss.
 
Shakalaka had me all excited, then he went and didn't even place..
 
It really put a downer on my Saturday knowing that the horse that was dicking about at the start of the race has been put down.
 
Sean_RedDevil said:
A 100% yes!!!!

Horse racing is a disgrace :mad:
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That really isn't true. There's nothing wrong with "horse racing" but when horses are dying so regularly on 1 particular course something should be done. I think 4 died last year if my memory serves me correctly.

I say this every year but always continue to bet on it. Maybe if hypocrits like me refused to bet on the race it would force something to be done about it.
 
evra said:
Kings tend to be both rich and posh. Obviously it's sad when horses die but what are you saying? End steeplechase racing?
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No that's not what I said , I just said this one race is barbaric and I stand by that.
I am not a Racing fan but would be interested to know how many horse die in steeplechase racing in a season and how it compares with the National
 
Zarlak said:
It wasn't because he was dicking about at the start. He had a nasty fall and injured himself.
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I know that. I'm just saying it was quite funny to see him dicking around like that, so it was extra sad to find out he was put down.
 
Horses die that's a matter of factbut there are no better looked after animals than horses involved in the racing industry but something seriously has to be done about the national. A max field of 30 would be a start.
 
Moultz said:
How did it go from this to dead? Absolute madness! :nervous::(

So whats the problem with the National then do you think? too many participants?
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That's got to be a massive factor. The first few fences are horrible to watch.
 
I was debating whether to bet on the National beforehand. I think based on the fact there's been more tradgedies this year it's the last time I do.
 
Moultz said:
So whats the problem with the National then do you think? too many participants?
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The problems are these:

Our weather is changing and the spring is generally drier than it used to be. The race is usually ran on ground that is too fast.

The fences are actually too small now, they aren't slowing the horses up enough and they are going too fast - part of this is because they are fitter than they used to be.

I would reduce the field size, bring the race forward to mid March and move the Cheltenham Festival to late Feb. I'd also make the fences bigger. They can clear much bigger obstacles than they face here but it's the track and the ground and the ease of the fences that are causing these tragedies. The Welsh National is a more gruelling race because it's on an undulating track and it's always run on soft ground - and the casualties at Chepstow are never as bad as at Aintree.
 
they should ban these races until technology is developed that allows leg breaks to heal and owners are then obliged to not destroy perfectly healthy horses. Rather they should be forced to pay for the horses recovery.
 
The once a year brigade pontificating on a sport they know feck all about. You're no better than the girlies on Twitter all wittering about the poor horses and wanting the sport banned outright. All typing no doubt in their bedrooms beneath their Twilight and One Direction posters.
 
I'm a fan of horse racing alright but that was brutal today.Think its the first time I haven't really enjoyed watching the national, they really do have to look at doing something which makes out safer for horses and jockeys.

I'm sure Tony McCoy is absolutely gutted about synchronised....
 
They need to completely review the Grand National, it's sickening how each year you have horses dying because of it. Why do the hurdles have to be so much over and above normal hurdles? It's quite clear it's dangerous and in my opinion its just inhumane (I'm not the greatest fan of the sport anyway, I reckon it's cruel and barbaric).
 
From The Telegraph

Continual tinkering with the course has not, so far, resulted in a safer race and the authorities have made it clear that occasionally changes to the course can have unintended consequences. The most obvious example of that is a lowering of the fences which, in theory, would make it easier, but in fact is counteracted by the fact that the horses go faster. David Muir, the RSPCA’s racing adviser, worked with Aintree and the British Horseracing Authority to make the this year’s modifications to the course. One running of the race is hardly a scientific sample and it may be that there is not another fatality in 10 years but, while the raising of the drop of the first fence appears to have worked, Becher’s still claimed three horses in total. ”We’re not going down the road of trying to ban the Grand National,” he said afterwards. “But we can’t see it being run without the dealing with the issues raised this year. I’ll be calling for the removal of the drops and would like them to look at fence construction.” Racing is never risk free, even on the Flat. Three horses were killed in the same flat race on Dubai World Cup night last month and it is not unknown for horses to occasionally keel over in their stable. Tim Morris, the BHA’s director of equine science, said: “When looking at the whole area of risk management the response should be measured not knee-jerk.” Whatever, it left the BHA and Aintree on the back foot having to defend the race for the second year running. Their prayers for a clear run were not answered and once again they will no doubt wince when they wake up to Sunday's headlines.
 
Nearco said:
The once a year brigade pontificating on a sport they know feck all about. You're no better than the girlies on Twitter all wittering about the poor horses and wanting the sport banned outright. All typing no doubt in their bedrooms beneath their Twilight and One Direction posters.
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I tend to agree with this, these animals are here for our benefit after all. Also a number of informed people I speak to tell me that larger jumps would result in less unfortunate incidents, at the moment they aren't big enough to command respect and the horses are approaching them with too much speed.
 
Nearco said:
The once a year brigade pontificating on a sport they know feck all about. You're no better than the girlies on Twitter all wittering about the poor horses and wanting the sport banned outright. All typing no doubt in their bedrooms beneath their Twilight and One Direction posters.
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feck off, don't lump everyone in together in such a bad light. I guess the fact that 2 horses died means nothing to you eh? 'Oh so 2 horses died, what's the matter, there were 38 others in the race!'

Making a post like that is asking for trouble.
 
thebelfastboy said:
From The Telegraph

Continual tinkering with the course has not, so far, resulted in a safer race and the authorities have made it clear that occasionally changes to the course can have unintended consequences. The most obvious example of that is a lowering of the fences which, in theory, would make it easier, but in fact is counteracted by the fact that the horses go faster. David Muir, the RSPCA’s racing adviser, worked with Aintree and the British Horseracing Authority to make the this year’s modifications to the course. One running of the race is hardly a scientific sample and it may be that there is not another fatality in 10 years but, while the raising of the drop of the first fence appears to have worked, Becher’s still claimed three horses in total. ”We’re not going down the road of trying to ban the Grand National,” he said afterwards. “But we can’t see it being run without the dealing with the issues raised this year. I’ll be calling for the removal of the drops and would like them to look at fence construction.” Racing is never risk free, even on the Flat. Three horses were killed in the same flat race on Dubai World Cup night last month and it is not unknown for horses to occasionally keel over in their stable. Tim Morris, the BHA’s director of equine science, said: “When looking at the whole area of risk management the response should be measured not knee-jerk.” Whatever, it left the BHA and Aintree on the back foot having to defend the race for the second year running. Their prayers for a clear run were not answered and once again they will no doubt wince when they wake up to Sunday's headlines.
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kneejerk. That's a laugh. He should just take a look st the stats posted above. Oh well, just so long as we can all have a flutter, who cares if a horse dies every other day?

I must confess, I used to bet often and was oblivious to what goes on. Then I went to the races in the us where they had to state what drugs the horses were on. I started to read up a bit and found that in the US they tend to run younger horses that have not fully matured. This leads to horrible injuries. I love my sports but this is a bit much for my tastes. Shame really because it can be a beatuiful sport. The horses are magnificent and pure athletes.
 
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