The Grand National Tomorrow.

I hate the Grand National I have had the misfortune of watching the race many times when I worked ajacent to Aintree Racecourse in the early 90s when house building was at its peak in the area.I witnessed the horses being trained early in the morning before the course was opened to the public and the media and the treatment of some of the horses was not what you saw on your TV screens,it should be banned I think but it probably never will be as it is too money orientated.

I cannot fathom why any horse race that results in the death of these beautiful animals should be allowed to continue.

I enjoy it and shall be placing a bet - any tips anyone?

There is a horse called Creosote ... I hear he is good over fences

Annika
In today's newspaper I saw a picture of a "filly" who fell on the first day, she probably should have been shot (for wearing high wedges she couldn't walk in and hardly enough clothes to keep a gnat warm)

gracesmum

I feel strongly about the number of horses being "sacrificed" for entertainment at the Grand National so I'm afraid I can't make a light-hearted comment about it

Most difficult National ever to pick the winner of. Have backed half the field so far. Alas, horses die all the time in different situations but it isn't publiscised the way the National is. I go to a Grand National preview every year attended by a lot of the jockeys who rode in the race, and everyone there loves horses beyond anything. The more they mess with the race the more dangerous they seem to make it, but, everyone I know involved in the race wants more than anything for the horses to come back safe. As for tips, aving told my friend not to back Siver Birch one year [it won at @40/1] I keep quiet these days! Hen and Terry are very sweet on Calgary Bay's chance, but he probably won't stay the trip, so I've just had a very small bet on him. if anyone does have a bet tomorrow, ask for a price as the bookies will bring the prices in big time just before the race starts.

Can't bear to watch it. The horses have no choice but to be ridden sometimes to their deaths - if the jockeys fall and are injured, at least they had the choice....

As long as there is money to be made from greyhound and horse racing it will continue regardless of the risk of injury and death to the animals involved. I find both sports repulsive.

But without greyhound racing, we wouldn't have our lovely retired greyhounds!

And they are truly blessed now, gracesmum

Never watch it - so cruel; and I am not particularly an animal lover.

Ours are the lucky ones gracesmum. Not all of them find nice comfy sofas to roach on whilst they dream of snacking on venison

Although I love my racing, I do admit to having very mixed feelings about the Grand National.

There was an excellent piece in todays Telegraph by Patrick Mullins, about his experience of riding in the race for the first time last year. Very moving.

(If someone more technically adept than I am feeling tonight would like to post a link?)

There you go.....

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/9200188/Dooneys-goes-for-Bechers-lifts-then-doesnt.-Bang.html

Thanks glass much appreciated. I'm still brain numb after the interview!

What did you think of the article?

phoenix I thought it was very well written, descriptive but oh I filled up reading through it.

Some dogs turn that dream into a reality too
Ours had the leavings from 2 skate wings tonight - what a happy dog!

glass same here. Some people regard jockeys as rather inarticulate and perhaps unfeeling, but that piece was very good.

I haven't read the article yet, but I remember him being interviewed last year [I think he'd come second in the Topham or the Foxhunters and was very gracious in defeat] and he said that he was riding for the most important owner in the yard in the National; his mum. When I realised what had happened my heart broke for him.

Oh gosh; I've just read it. I spoke to an owner whose horse had died racing a few years back. 'I cried for a week when your horse died, sir', I told him. My dear, he replied, 'I cried for two years' [he still has racehorses and has one in the race tomorow]. Mr Frisk won the Grand National on rock hard ground a few years back. He raced for years, safely. Got killed when he was being hacked out on the roads and slipped on some leaves. It's a very precarious life, that of being a horse; even the grass you eat has the potential to kill you...a trot across a field can break your leg. Racehorses are cared for in a way that no other horses are; a life of total luxury..they were bred to race and wouldn't exist if racing itself didn't exist. Those of us who follow the sport watch them from their days as youngsters in novice races, and by the time they run in a race such as the National we've known them for years; know their quirks and foibles. I pray that they all come home safe tomorrow.

Any thoughts on 'according to pete'?

A life of luxury unless they don't make the grade; then they're dog meat