The Grand National

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.

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

This is what cruelty to horses looks like.

Allira

This is what cruelty to horses looks like.

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

FriedGreenTomatoes2

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

🩷 Sometimes it just all we can do 🥀

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????

No surprise I agree with cossy and FriedGreenTomaties2

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.

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.

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. 🙄

… 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.

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.

No! I don't agree with animal abuse

Well said 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.

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

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!

Time it was stopped !!! ✋️

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.

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.

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

Horrible event.

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.

Alliraunfortunately cruelty comes in many guises and the picture you show is visible cruelty, there is far more ‘invisible to the eye’ cruelty to both people and animals than just that

Horse racing is cruel and particularly the GrandNational is indefensibly cruel and is kept going by greed and anyone who ‘has an innocent little flutter ‘ is also guilty. Each little flutter is a whip on a poor horse and an encouragement to keep this ghastly race running.

I cannot understand how seemingly nice people can defend it.

I'm with you on that, BlueBelle. I've been around horses all my life - I've been to racing yards and I've ridden ex racehorses. But I can no longer defend the likes of the Grand National. I've said this before and I will say it again - if jockeys were dying or suffering horrific injuries in the same numbers as the horses, can you imagine the outcry?
Yes, there are jockeys, owners and trainers who genuinely care for the horses and look after them well, but when it comes down to the bottom line, horse racing is driven by the betting industry and it's the money which talks - as far as that side of it is concerned, the horses are just a commodity.

nightowl

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.

Please read and endorse nightowl's message.