Grand National and Horse Racing in general.

[SelimNiai]

As you may have seen everywhere it was the Grand National today. Normally I don't even go near the sport but do place bets on this race, I lost.

The reason I'm posting about this is that at least 2 horses, Synchronised and According to Pete had to be put down after the race due to injuries. This, predictably has brought out the critics (mostly teenage girls on twitter) who say this sport needs to stop. There are those who have tweeted that the trainers of the deceased horses be prosecuted, which is nuts. The way I see it is this, from the mostly-uninterested observer that post race horse deaths are rare and they only seem to occur in this race so the logical course of action is to lower the difficulty of the race, shorten it, remove some fences etc to make it safer but would this remove from the tradition and spoil the even and turn it into just another race.

I suspect this thread will go either to a political/communism way or a "horse racing is ****" way but I'm intrested to know what you chaps think. And look at it this way, this thread is very unlikley to turn into a thread about Irish rugby or players nationalites :lol:

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

As you may have seen everywhere it was the Grand National today. Normally I don't even go near the sport but do place bets on this race, I lost.

The reason I'm posting about this is that at least 2 horses, Synchronised and According to Pete had to be put down after the race due to injuries. This, predictably has brought out the critics (mostly teenage girls on twitter) who say this sport needs to stop. There are those who have tweeted that the trainers of the deceased horses be prosecuted, which is nuts. The way I see it is this, from the mostly-uninterested observer that post race horse deaths are rare and they only seem to occur in this race so the logical course of action is to lower the difficulty of the race, shorten it, remove some fences etc to make it safer but would this remove from the tradition and spoil the even and turn it into just another race.

I suspect this thread will go either to a political/communism way or a "horse racing is ****" way but I'm intrested to know what you chaps think. And look at it this way, this thread is very unlikley to turn into a thread about Irish rugby or players nationalites :lol:

Ronan O'Gara is big into Horse Racing, isn't he?

 

[munstermuffin]

As you may have seen everywhere it was the Grand National today. Normally I don't even go near the sport but do place bets on this race, I lost.

The reason I'm posting about this is that at least 2 horses, Synchronised and According to Pete had to be put down after the race due to injuries. This, predictably has brought out the critics (mostly teenage girls on twitter) who say this sport needs to stop. There are those who have tweeted that the trainers of the deceased horses be prosecuted, which is nuts. The way I see it is this, from the mostly-uninterested observer that post race horse deaths are rare and they only seem to occur in this race so the logical course of action is to lower the difficulty of the race, shorten it, remove some fences etc to make it safer but would this remove from the tradition and spoil the even and turn it into just another race.

I suspect this thread will go either to a political/communism way or a "horse racing is ****" way but I'm intrested to know what you chaps think. And look at it this way, this thread is very unlikley to turn into a thread about Irish rugby or players nationalites :lol:

t
Can agree 100% with that but as you say if you make it easier then it won't be as open an possibly take away the gloss and the part of anyone can possibly win.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ronan O'Gara is big into Horse Racing, isn't he?

Huge, so is Anthony Horgan. RO'G owned a few horses that were ****. Speaking of whendo think he'll retire?

(Thread officially Irish Rugbyed)

 

[SelimNiai]

Huge, so is Anthony Horgan. RO'G owned a few horses that were ****. Speaking of whendo think he'll retire?

(Thread officially Irish Rugbyed)

 

[psychic duck]

my problem with horse racing is how the jockeys get more credit than the horses, yes they are important but the horse does the most of the work, it's like giving shoes credit for an athletes win

I thought it was silly when McCoy won Sports Personality of the Year in 2010, and Zara Phillips in 2006

 

[gingergenius]

The jockeys only get more credit amongst the masses, but twas ever thus with the masses. People who know about horses appreciate that the big stars of the sport are the horses, with the jockeys acting as the 'brains' to help guide the best animal to victory.

That said, I can't say I follow horse racing week-in week-out, and I know next to nothing about flat racing - national hunt has always been far more exciting for me. The George VI, Gold Cup and National are the only races I really bother with, but they're always exciting and with the first two you always know you're seeing an outstanding field of beasts line up.

As for the deaths, they explained that a leg break is fatal to a horse, which is why they have to get put down. For national hunt racing the ratio is something like 3 deaths to every 500 starts, for hurdling it's down to 2:500... but clearly for a course as tough as the National it rockets.

The debate is one of those which entirely depends on your moral/ ethical standpoint:

- There are a minority of people (vegans etc.) who would say an animal life is worth the same as a human's. These people, presumably, would question the existence of horseracing full stop, and especially the arduous National course.
- There are a lot of people in the countryside (and general population) who see both jump racing and the National as hugely important traditions, not just of rural culture but of wider national culture in general - and all you have to do is watch Clare Balding to see that these people still genuinely love their horses.

Your lay person might argue for a compromise between the two, such as smaller fences - but that would be like asking rugby players to wear protective padding. Your lay person also gets far more worked up about a noble and majestic horse being put down than he does about the thousands of noble and majestic cattle (for example) that have their lives ended for more practical purposes.

Essentially, I'd certainly come down on the traditional side of things. The idea that lives would be saved just doesn't wash - the sport of horse racing provides elite horses with the sort of attention, exercise and care that they would never ever receive as your average nag. Additionally, there is a huge business in the breeding of racehorses - these guys are bred specifically for racing (or carrying the Hunt). So take racing/ hunting on horseback away and the need for the animal ceases to exist.

Let's not forget, these are domesticated horses - wild horses in the UK are short and fat little pony type things with shaggy coats. And as with all domesticated beasts, they exist for man's purposes, and ultimately, the vegan sentimentalist lobby doesn't understand this.

 

[SelimNiai]

Ask the pro ban mob how many horses died in the rest of the days racing. It's only this highly difficult race that causes accidents. The way they were spouting you'd have thought the jockeys had battered the horses to death themselves.

The same reason I don't really like the sport is the same reason that it should carry on as is. As you said GG, the people involved genuinely show their love and passion for these animals and as having the privilege to be up close to a racehorse in school I can confirm they are amazingly powerful creatures whose only fallacy is having disproportionately small and fragile legs.

As for the GN I think they will make a few changes to the course, nothing so it become another bog standard race but ones so it remains challenging but safer, if that is at all possible.

A Serie B footballer died today during a match after having a heart attack (RIP Piermario Morosini) shall we ban Football, Dan Wheldon, Simoncelli last year, shall we ban Motorsports. Accidents happen, you can't go overreacting after one or two, you endeavour to try to prevent these in the future

 

[lucky number 7]

I love the races, it's often a good way to waste / win money.

Missed it today as I was off beasting on the golf course but the brother of Irelands most famous pornstar won the GN today so I believe....good Wexford man and all

 

[gingergenius]

The same reason I don't really like the sport is the same reason that it should carry on as is. As you said GG, the people involved genuinely show their love and passion for these animals and as having the privilege to be up close to a racehorse in school I can confirm they are amazingly powerful creatures whose only fallacy is having disproportionately small and fragile legs.

their disproportionately small and fragile legs is made up for by their disproportionately huge knobs.

see this pikey horse with a lob on taking a shine to a garda.

 

[munstermuffin]

Hey that in Limerick GG. Those are "special" species. The horses are special too

 

[Feicarsinn]

Hey that in Limerick GG. Those are "special" species. The horses are special too

Are you looking to win back your 'worst grammar' TRFIE this year?