Ban the Grand National

Twisted, if you are truly a long time fan you would not be disgusted at the fate of Synchronised. It was very sad and unfortunate, but these things happen in horse racing. The horse did not get injured in the original fall, it occured afterwards when the horse carried on running without AP on board. The owner and trainer have prepared the horse for the National for which they always thought the horse was more suited to, rather than the Gold Cup. When the horse slipped and bolted at the start you could see from the pictures that AP was desperate for the horse to be caught and take part, AP was going to do everything he could to get the horse back to the start and a vet was there to check over the horse. Again a long time fan would not describe yesterday as disgraceful, a fan knows these things happen in racing. Every year the course at Aintree is tinkered with to try an appease animal rights. Unfortunately whatever they try it will never remove the risk of horses falling and injuring themselves.

d'jeezus

What people don't realise is horses actually enjoy the thrill of racing over jumps. They get adreneline rushes similar to people who do extreme sports.
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How do you know this, are you a horse?

The difference between horse racing and football/ motor racing is that footballers and racing drivers have a choice.

Ooops! Hoops, the evidence is there for you to see yesterday, when Synchronised fell at Bechers, it didn't lay there waiting to be led away, it didn't just stand up and remain rooted to the spot. The horse got up and carried on running of its own choice, without the jockey on board. I can only assume it even decided to carry on jumping the fences without a jockey on board, as the horses often do if you watch racing. It must have been afterwards when it injured itself at a later fence after the original fall. I'd say it was the horse's choice to carry on, there was no jockey or whip involved in that.

Bruce87

What people fail to realise is Syncronised broke his leg after his race had finished. He went on a jumping spree and broke his leg.

Synchronised was not pressured into jumping, he did it cos he loved it. Then he broke his leg. Same with humans who get carried away...

http://m.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/sep/23/claims-five-broken-leg-horse?cat=sport&type=article

Fantastic article in The Guardian from last year, worth a read and may nullify some of the claims to end the National

"Fantastic article in The Guardian from last year, worth a read and may nullify some of the claims to end the National"

It is a good article, and it answers my question of why a broken leg is considered a 'fatal injury'. That was bugging me.

However, not quite sure how it nullifies any claim to end the National, or at the very least making it a safer race, so these injuries don't happen in the first place.

I can see your point, perhaps it offers a good explanation for horses breaking down though

I honestly think, that the best change that can happen is a reduction in field size, to around 30. My evidence for this would be the Topham & Foxhunters which as far as I know have smaller fields and have had no recent fatalities.

Look at Rough Quests National, 26 runners, perhaps we should be looking at that

"I honestly think, that the best change that can happen is a reduction in field size, to around 30. My evidence for this would be the Topham & Foxhunters which as far as I know have smaller fields and have had no recent fatalities."
Hey Punt - nick my post from not606 would you? Take that! *swings a wild punch*

But in seriousness, it's the obvious option - assuming banning the race ISN'T an option

Haha I did not

I'd hope the National isn't banned

Is there much Horse Racing chatter on there?