Should horse racing be banned?

My name is URL · 14-04-2012 05:17PM #1

Or at least, should they get rid of jump racing?

Two horses died at the Grand National today. I never actually watch or bet on the sport but just happened to see the race today. Loads of other horses fell while going over the fences. It's a wonder that there were only two fatalities.

Is it worth it? Would the sport not be just as enjoyable if there were no fences? Doesn't make any sense to me to risk the lives of both jockeys and horses by having them jump.

What say you?

Digits · 14-04-2012 05:20PM

Hurdles>Flat Racing

dr.bollocko · 14-04-2012 05:20PM

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

edit: this was a joke. Please contain your outrage until you read more of the thread.

eth0 · 14-04-2012 05:21PM

No there are enough things banned. Government interferes in one's daily lives too much already

and I don't buy the 'mere humans can't/shouldn't be allowed to think for themselves' crap either

Cantona's Collars · 14-04-2012 05:22PM

Lets ban all sports on health & safety grounds:rolleyes:.I hate to be callous but they are only horses.When an animal dies we get all the animal rights loons coming out of the woodwork.

A footballer in Italy died today from a heart attack while playing for Livorno,should we ban football?

LilyCricket · 14-04-2012 05:22PM

This actually really upset me.

Such a huge cost

LilyCricket · 14-04-2012 05:23PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

Cheltnam winner actually got put down today

Princess Peach · 14-04-2012 05:23PM

I believe it should be banned, along with greyhound racing.

Cruelty to animals for sport and gambling pretty much disgusts me.

Sadly is never going to happen though.

Mycroft H · 14-04-2012 05:24PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Or at least, should they get rid of jump racing?

Two horses died at the Grand National today. I never actually watch or bet on the sport but just happened to see the race today. Loads of other horses fell while going over the fences. It's a wonder that there were only two fatalities.

Is it worth it? Would the sport not be just as enjoyable if there were no fences? Doesn't make any sense to me to risk the lives of both jockeys and horses by having them jump.

What say you?

I've been behind the big screen that they pull over when a horse's life is been ended at the races. Not a pretty sight. The horse knows its coming even when sedated. I've also seen a young vet missing the first time and having to do the job twice.

I would have no qualms about banning it.

Da Shins Kelly · 14-04-2012 05:24PM

This comes up every year after the Grand National. I don't think racing in general should be banned, but I wouldn't miss the Grand National if it was gone. I like a bet from time to time, but there's too many horses in the field and the fences are just ridiculously big. I know it's meant to be the ultimate test, but it just ends up as complete carnage with horses dying almost every year.

Synchronized won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, and had to be destroyed today which is gutting and such a waste of a promising horse (eerily, the horse threw off Tony McCoy before the race, and seemed very stressed beforehand). Then According To Pete, who was jumping beautifully throughout didn't even fall, but was brought down by another horse. This is a horse bred and raised by a man at his home in Yorkshire. The same man said that he didn't expect the horse to win, but to just put in a good show and come home safely. It's a terribly sad story.

Over 20 horses have died in the Grand National since 2000. If they scrapped the thing after this, I wouldn't object.

Princess Peach · 14-04-2012 05:25PM

zerks wrote: »

Lets ban all sports on health & safety grounds:rolleyes:.I hate to be callous but they are only horses.When an animal dies we get all the animal rights loons coming out of the woodwork.

A footballer in Italy died today from a heart attack while playing for Livorno,should we ban football?

The footballer chose to play the sport knowing risks, the animals aren't given a choice.

Digits · 14-04-2012 05:25PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

Surely a joke. Synchronised won the gold cup this year.

jack presley · 14-04-2012 05:25PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

Good to see that intelligence isn't required to become a mod

Pherekydes · 14-04-2012 05:27PM

They died doing what they loved.

14-04-2012 05:27PM

Princess Peach wrote: »

I believe it should be banned, along with greyhound racing.

Cruelty to animals for sport and gambling pretty much disgusts me.

Sadly is never going to happen though.

Couldn't agree with you more!!

My name is URL · 14-04-2012 05:27PM

zerks wrote: »

Lets ban all sports on health & safety grounds:rolleyes:.I hate to be callous but they are only horses.When an animal dies we get all the animal rights loons coming out of the woodwork.

Well that's not really where I was coming from. I'd sooner see the short-arsed jockeys than horses be whipped and made to jump over ridiculously high fences.

It just seems like a crude sport.. and it's considered to be one of the main sporting occasions of the year. That race did not seem very sporting to me. The winner was whipped far more than the rules are supposed to allow for.

People get all preachy and upset over bullfighting whenever it comes up here, so why is it not the same for this sport?

Where To · 14-04-2012 05:27PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

I'm actually pro horse racing and pro Grand National but jaysus . . . . :eek:

titan18 · 14-04-2012 05:27PM

Horse Racing as a whole no, but I think races like the Grand National should be banned.

As a personal choice, if I could, I would ban it, but not a chance that'll happen

dr.bollocko · 14-04-2012 05:27PM

jack presley wrote: »

Good to see that intelligence isn't required to become a mod

Tongue in cheek buddy.
Watch the personal stuff in future though.

BattleCorp · 14-04-2012 05:28PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

If you died while working in a dangerous environment, would people say that you deserved your fate - I think not.

dr.bollocko · 14-04-2012 05:28PM

Where To wrote: »

I'm actually pro horse racing and pro Grand National but jaysus . . . . :eek:

Does anybody have a gif which involves a bad joke backfiring quite badly?

That sure would be useful about now.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 14-04-2012 05:29PM

Is there an argument to be made for the horses enjoying the racing?

Mickeroo · 14-04-2012 05:29PM

Get rid of the hurdles. Leaving the ethics aside, considering the amount of time and money that goes into breeding and training horses to that level it seems like an unecessary risk.

I don't think horse racing should be banned in general though, race horses are generally treated very well and genuinely loved by their trainers/riders.

Mocha Joe · 14-04-2012 05:31PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Does anybody have a gif which involves a bad joke backfiring quite badly?

That sure would be useful about now.

I hope you get put down.

*Just a joke. Like yours. :rolleyes:

Mickeroo · 14-04-2012 05:32PM

My name is URL wrote: »

People get all preachy and upset over bullfighting whenever it comes up here, so why is it not the same for this sport?

In fairness, thats a complete straw man. The very point of bull fighting is to hurt/maim the animal. That's not the case with horse racing.

GetWithIt · 14-04-2012 05:32PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Does anybody have a gif which involves a bad joke backfiring quite badly?

That sure would be useful about now.

It looks a bit like this -> :I'm sorry)

Samich · 14-04-2012 05:32PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

That's Coontish!.

FueledByAisling · 14-04-2012 05:32PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

If they were race horses and died while racing they were most likely crap horses to begin with and deserved their fate.

If I forced you to run a long race, pushed you to the extent where your heart can explode does that mean you're a crap human being? I would have thought the person forcing you to the action would have been the crap human being

Green Diesel · 14-04-2012 05:32PM

Digits wrote: »

Surely a joke. Synchronised won the gold cup this year.

Had a few quid on Synchronised. Feel a bit guilty now.

Jimoslimos · 14-04-2012 05:33PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Does anybody have a gif which involves a bad joke backfiring quite badly?

That sure would be useful about now.

Think that joke fell at the first

dr.bollocko · 14-04-2012 05:34PM

I truly apologise and will post haste ban myself for as long as I deem necessary until rehabilitation kicks in.

Should horse racing be banned?

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