The Grand National

Racehorses are not confined to their stables all day, nor do they travel all year round.

I understand many despise racing, and some awful needless deaths have occurred, but at least be factual.

As I stated before more horses die in domestic homes, go and look at a big stable. Racehorses are loose every day, ridden or in fields whether they are due to race or not and most are looked after well.

We often drive past Newmarket and can see the horses in the fields.

I suppose like so much in life it is driven by the love of money.

Horrible event.

Silvergirl

Does anyone know if the jockey came off as soon as he crossed the line or did the poor horse have to continue for a while? I hope he didn’t suffer too much. It is all so sad and I’m very angry too.

A jockey that was following him said something to him and he got off the horse which was attended to immediately. He must have seen that the horse had lost its action. No one can understand why the jockey riding him didn’t feel that something was wrong but the horse was still running straight. It all happened very quickly really. He isn’t a jockey that is hard on his horses.

Does anyone know if the jockey came off as soon as he crossed the line or did the poor horse have to continue for a while? I hope he didn’t suffer too much. It is all so sad and I’m very angry too.

Time it was stopped !!! ✋️

nightowl

Maybee thank you for speaking out against the jockey’s actions yesterday regarding the horse with a broken back. I know we have different views about racing but I completely respect your investment and knowledge and your willingness to look at the faults in the industry. I’m glad to hear this incident has caused a lot of discussion and anger in racing circles. I really hope something can be learned from it.

When Kauto Star fell in a race and was remounted to finish second he was found to be injured and was out for a year recovering and one of the greatest horses of the modern era could have been lost. The rules were then changed so that horses could not be remounted. Had the jockeys feet touched the ground yesterday it would have been classed as a fall and the horse would have been pulled up but unfortunately the jockey kept his feet off the ground. He seemed quite subdued today for someone that had just won a big race so I do think it has affected him. Imo it would be better to admit that he and the horse were still running on adrenaline than say the horse didn’t appear to be injured. I’m still really angry and it isn’t going to be forgotten or brushed under the carpet!

Can we please dispel the myth that racehorses are well cared for. They are not. They live a completely unnatural life, are confined in stables, fed an unnatural diet of high energy feeds which do not suit their digestive system, experience high stress situations, travelling constantly, and so on.

Obviously can't speak for all horses but growing up with Red Rum, I can assure you he was extremely well taken care of.

Certainly not confined in stables. They were taken down to the beach twice a day for an hours run for years. I was lucky enough to be there

And they aren't travelling all the time either

I am no fan of course racing now but I just feel compelled to correct some misinformation

Maybee thank you for speaking out against the jockey’s actions yesterday regarding the horse with a broken back. I know we have different views about racing but I completely respect your investment and knowledge and your willingness to look at the faults in the industry. I’m glad to hear this incident has caused a lot of discussion and anger in racing circles. I really hope something can be learned from it.

Well said nightowl

No! I don't agree with animal abuse

Can we please dispel the myth that racehorses are well cared for. They are not. They live a completely unnatural life, are confined in stables, fed an unnatural diet of high energy feeds which do not suit their digestive system, experience high stress situations, travelling constantly, and so on. Racing itself harnesses their fear response - they run on adrenaline in a herd of unfamiliar horses, at speeds they would only reach in their natural state when fleeing from danger. It is brutal, ugly, and inhumane. And that’s without even mentioning the number that are killed before entering training, or because they’re not good enough, or because of injuries in training or on the racetrack.

Flatracing is no better even if fewer are killed on the track. They are broken to ride at 18 months so they can race at 2, when their skeletons are not fully formed until 6 or 7. Mentally as well, they are babies. I have known a few ex racehorses who were completely broken. I suspect the rate of attrition is just as high if not higher than NH horses.

Humans have excelled over centuries at getting horses to do things they would rather not do. We have succeeded because they are the most willing animals - that’s why they have been taken down mines, ridden into war, pulled heavy loads, performed pointless tricks and generally done all sorts of things that mean nothing to them. They have always been our slaves and it’s time we treated them better.

… it was no more chaotic than usual.

It was the BBC online commentators who called it chaotic. I assume they have a lot of comparative experience to know what they are talking about.

This argument come up almost every year. Here’s the 2022 version which, going by the number of deletions, was very heated:

www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1308957-2022-Grand-National-Are-you-having-a-flutter

And a reminder of the death statistics.

www.horsedeathwatch.com/

And this:

www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Victims-of-British-and-Irish-Horse-Racing-Annual-Report-202526.pdf

Some appalling statistics in there including data on whip breaches and the pitifully small fines which average less than £5 per breach.

Graphite

No. A very high chance that at least one horse will die today in the pursuit of human greed and that's one too many.

I used to watch it up to about three years ago,l stopped because l do think it’s cruel…
I do remember when I was a child putting a 6d on a horse called Highland wedding and I believe it won..
(Obviously, I didn’t put the bet on myself)
And my uncle Jim l remember he put I think it was a two shilling bet on a horse called Foinaven And he won because he was so far behind there was a big pile up and he was so far behind he went on to win it…
I find it quite amazing that I can remember these facts from many many years ago and yet I can’t really remember what happened the day before yesterday. 🙄

A friend of mine owned a retired race horse. He was a 16.2 hands high, very placid, bay gelding.

He could only carry light people, despite his size, as one of his lungs had collapsed. She always had to exercise him gently and not for too long. He was one of the lucky ones.

Our family were always big on the grand national and it was a huge event in our house. However, over the years I've seen too many deaths happen and I'm not strong enough to watch anymore.
I was so terribly sad to hear about the one with the broken back yesterday. I foolishly looked it up online and was horrified to see him being made to hobble over the line. I've been in tears ever since and wish I could unsee it. Possibly the jockey didnt know but I'm sure I could see the gait was wrong.

No surprise I agree with cossy and FriedGreenTomaties2

ClicketyClick

I used to take part in the work syndicates thinking it was a bit of fun until I was educated on how the horses lived out the rest of their lives or not as can be the case.

Exactly my experience. I understand that another horse died today. All good fun????

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Well said Cossy
It’s an emotive subject. Best to just agree to disagree.

🩷 Sometimes it just all we can do 🥀

Allira

This is what cruelty to horses looks like.

What’s more seen too often, all across the UK

This is what cruelty to horses looks like.

I had a little bet and got 2nd, which is better than I usually do.
How about you?

JenniferEccles

Is anyone having a flutter?
Many years ago when I was working there was usually an office sweepstake which was fun although my horse never won !

No because it's awful.

Lowering the fences makes the race faster so not always a safer option.
There were quite a few fallers at the early fences in today’s race so maybe there should be more attention paid to fitness and ability before entering.

There are many signals given by jockey to horse in order to increase their speed including shortening the reins, moving their hands further up the neck, shifting their body weight forward away from the saddle and ‘pulling their whip through’ - changing hands. I’ve probably forgotten some others.

Horses respond to all kinds of signals. Over use of the whip should never be condoned.

I love horses, rode till RA stopped me in my late fifties. My daughters rode, my granddaughter does. My favourite hack was a retired race horse at our yard. He was fast but such an easy boy to handle unless something really spooked him, then skills and relationship between horse and rider important

I’ve said my bit earlier about the broken back, the fact I see the National as an unnecessarily dangerous race.

I have dogs, they go to training groups. I’m aware some non doggy people might think some of the tasks and tricks we teach aren’t ‘natural’ to dogs. Many believe we shouldn’t have pet dogs.

Animal welfare is a tricky one - unless we are talking obvious abuse

ClicketyClick

33GrannyGravy13

BlueBelle

Well at least two on here couldn’t care less about beautiful animals being driven to death

Au contraire! I have been around horses since I could walk, and went on to own several.

DD competed, we have had ex racehorses at our yard.

I also know that you cannot get a horse to do something it doesn’t want to, by kindness or cruelty.

So if you can't get a horse to do something it doesn't want to do why use a whip? Just awful seeing the photo of that poor horse.

You have a gas pedal on a car to accellerate. Horses accellerate when you use your legs to tell them to do that. Obviously jockeys can't do that as effectively because they monkey-crouch but they do need to fine-tune the burst of speed at the critical time.
I'm not of the racing world, but that would be one possible reason why limited use of whip is allowed ie not to flog the horse forward, but to communicate to them "Now!"