Should horse racing be banned?

BackScrub · 14-04-2012 06:06PM

eldwaro wrote: »

however the jumps in todays race were the height of men, and far too dangerous. I think normal jumps should be used.

Fatalities have increased since they made the fences 'safer'. It encourages the jockeys to go faster IMO. Increasing the heights of the fences would make it safe again.

dr.bollocko · 14-04-2012 06:07PM

Morricone wrote: »

Are you for fúcking real?! One of the horses put down had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most prestigious event in National Hunt racing.

You're either trolling or else you're an incredibly thick cúnt.

I'm gonna take the ban that comes with that because someone needs to call you out on your bollocks.

It was a joke. I have already apologised for it.

The above is completely uncalled for to be fair. I have edited my first post to indicate it was in fact a joke. The tongue was in the cheek. It was meant in jest. I wish no specific ill will to any horses, alive or dead.

As per above, best left at that, with the apology made btw. Which you seem to have missed.

Bowing out now.

El Inho · 14-04-2012 06:08PM

BackScrub wrote: »

Fatalities have increased since they made the fences 'safer'. It encourages the jockeys to go faster IMO. Increasing the heights of the fences would make it safe again.

hmmm...i didn't know that.

was just my first opinion that the fences were far too high...

we'll ive watched 85-90% of jump racing and noone falls...so there is one system that works!

Discodog · 14-04-2012 06:10PM

Carolina Disgusting Paperback wrote: »

There are far bigger problems with animal welfare in Ireland and around the world , the horse racing industry shouldn't be brought into it.

That's always the Irish answer. The Greyhound Industry say the same thing. The sad part is when multi millionaire owners kill their horses rather than paying to rehome them.

cynder · 14-04-2012 06:10PM

Joey. wrote: »

grindelwald wrote: »

I would love to see a ban in using the whip while racing..

I would like to see fences lowered.

I wouldn't like to see a complete ban on horse racing.

something has to be done to stop all the horse deaths...

Lowering the fences won't help as they'll probably just go faster over them, possibly causing more injuries.
The main problem I think is the size of the field. When one horse falls it tends to take a number of others with it. It does seem like there are fewer fallers once the field has been halved, but they could just be better jumpers than the ones that fall.

I can see when they are all scrunched up on the field there are more falls. It's sickening to watch. Sometimes after a fenced has been jumped it flattens down and is more easily jumped.

Take the whip from the jockey and the race would be more interesting. If a horse refuses to jump it cant be forced...

Widen the field and lower fences by a foot... See what happens , it may or may not work but leaving it the way it is isn't working.

Da Shins Kelly · 14-04-2012 06:11PM

Here's a list of all the fatalities in the Grand National since its beginnings if anyone is interested. Interestingly, John Joe O' Neill, trainer of Synchronized, trained Alverton in 1979 who fell and was killed at the same fence as Synchronized this year. He must have been having awful flashbacks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equine_fatalities_in_the_Grand_National

Also, the idea that there would be more fatalities if they lowered the size of the fences is just not true. Pretty much every other steeplechase race is run over smaller fences and with smaller fields and there are far fewer fatalities. The reasons contributing to the amount of deaths over the years in one race in the calendar is something that needs to be reviewed. We all know the reasons though - the height of the fences, the size of the field and incapable horses being allowed to run. There are some trainers and owners who need to reflect on their own doings in this too.

MagicMarker · 14-04-2012 06:12PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

It was a joke. I have already apologised for it.

The above is completely uncalled for to be fair. I have edited my first post to indicate it was in fact a joke. The tongue was in the cheek. It was meant in jest. I wish no specific ill will to any horses, alive or dead.

As per above, best left at that, with the apology made btw. Which you seem to have missed.

Bowing out now.

Ban the **** out of him doc, ride him like a pony!! gidiup!

cynder · 14-04-2012 06:12PM

BackScrub wrote: »

eldwaro wrote: »

however the jumps in todays race were the height of men, and far too dangerous. I think normal jumps should be used.

Fatalities have increased since they made the fences 'safer'. It encourages the jockeys to go faster IMO. Increasing the heights of the fences would make it safe again.

Take the whip from the jockey!

Min · 14-04-2012 06:12PM

Televisions should be banned so not to upset people in letting them know animals die too.

A football player playing in Serie B in Italy died on the pitch today as well, but no one will be saying it should be banned as competitiors can die on the pitch.

El Inho · 14-04-2012 06:14PM

@ discodog

and do you not support animal cruelty....hypocrite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDySAqR7HQA

Discodog · 14-04-2012 06:15PM

grindelwald wrote: »

Widen the field and lower fences by a foot... See what happens , it may or may not work but leaving it the way it is isn't working.

Then it becomes no different to any other race. The people want "spectacle" & that includes falling horses. The same crowd will be back next year, fatalities won't stop them.

KeithAFC · 14-04-2012 06:16PM

The race would be more interesting if you were allowed to ram into the opposition and try to knock them off their horse. That way the skill of the jockey would be tested more and the strength of the horse.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 14-04-2012 06:16PM

I think dr.b should be put down like a stupid crippled horse for his rubbish joke.

Mint Sauce · 14-04-2012 06:16PM

Joey. wrote: »

Successful ones are. What happens to the majority is another story.

McDonalds Hamburgers.

14-04-2012 06:17PM

grindelwald wrote: »

Take the whip from the jockey and the race would be more interesting. If a horse refuses to jump it cant be forced...

If a horse doesn't want to run he wont, if you watch racing regularly you will often see a horse refuse to start. The whip is mostly used near the end of the race so has little effect on making a horse jumping a fence, unless the horse is completely on the wrong stride he might get a smack to waken up, without that he would most likely fall.

The whip is not to hurt a horse it is to waken them up and keep their concentration, some horses need it more than other but its totally unfair to deny it. Some of the best horse ever wouldn't be the same if they couldn't get a few reminders

kincsem · 14-04-2012 06:18PM

They should build ramps over the fences. Then the jockeys could dismount and lead the horse over the ramp, then remount. It should be a winner with audiences.

Richard Hillman · 14-04-2012 06:18PM

Carolina Disgusting Paperback wrote: »

Horse racing is a fantastic sport and the thought of banning it is crazy, racing makes up my favorite times of the year Cheltenham, Aintree, Galway summer festival, Christmas meetings. Banning jump racing is just as carzy, its far more exciting and a much better sport than flat racing.

Nobody wants to see a horse put down but it happens from time to time, they are put down so they dont suffer, so its the right thing to do. Were horse racing banned, where would all the horses end up? Why would people pay to keep horses, they would end up put down or wandering around starving like so many unwanted horses are already.

Race horses are treated like kings, much better than an awful lot of humans.

Also people calling for an outright whip ban havent a f***ing clue, can they not understand you cannot compare giving a few smacks of a whip to a horse with hitting a human with a whip. The whip does not hurt the horses. Just for comparison a horse kick can kill a human, but horses often kick each other with little or know effect, with this in mind how can a few slaps of a stick hurt the horse.

Really use yer heads and ignore the bandwagon that rears its head this day every year.

Jumps horses are not treated like kings. They are gelded and have to run 3+ miles in each race and have to jump over 5ft hurdles. Its a travesty. Flat horses are treated like the kings they are. They are usually retired after around 5-6 years and have a nice retirement in stud to look forward to.

Tom Cruise · 14-04-2012 06:19PM

It should not be banned as we would have less dog food and they would starve.
Think of the poor doggys wanting their tin of food with all that horse meat.

Discodog · 14-04-2012 06:19PM

eldwaro wrote: »

and do you not support animal cruelty....hypocrite.

I haven't a clue what you mean - care to elucidate. If it's a question then it's pretty clear that I totally oppose animal cruelty.

El Inho · 14-04-2012 06:21PM

Discodog wrote: »

Then it becomes no different to any other race. The people want "spectacle" & that includes falling horses. The same crowd will be back next year, fatalities won't stop them.

generally people place money on horses and hope to jesus they dont fall.

Da Shins Kelly · 14-04-2012 06:21PM

Min wrote: »

A football player playing in Serie B in Italy died on the pitch today as well, but no one will be saying it should be banned as competitiors can die on the pitch.

Entirely different. Football is not anywhere near as high risk a sport as racing. The Grand National is intended to be incredibly tough, with 40 horses galloping in a group together, jumping fences that are over 5 ft. The risk to both horse and rider is enormous. The Grand National is a very dangerous race in which horses die almost every single year. It is not comparable to a footballer suddenly and unexpectedly having a heart attack on a pitch - that doesn't happen all the time, and is not expected to.

RIP to the young man though.

Joey. · 14-04-2012 06:21PM

Carolina Disgusting Paperback wrote: »

If they are put down and dont suffer whats the issue. They are used for pet food etc so its not like they are killed for nothing. Its no different to any other animals slaughtered for food/animal food. That said I would never eat horse meat as I look on them as athletes or pets (I have no problem eating beef, lamb etc btw).

The problem is with horses that are abandoned etc. Any respected horse owner/trainer etc will treat their animals humanely good or bad.

There are far bigger problems with animal welfare in Ireland and around the world , the horse racing industry shouldn't be brought into it.

I have no problem with slaughter, it's how they are transported for slaughter is a concern but that's another story altogether. The racehorses that do well (a very small proportion) are usually treated well, the others often add to the problem of unwanted and abandoned animals. But again, that's not what this topic is about, just thought I'd mention it.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 14-04-2012 06:21PM

Carolina Disgusting Paperback wrote: »

The whip is not to hurt a horse it is to waken them up and keep their concentration, some horses need it more than other but its totally unfair to deny it. Some of the best horse ever wouldn't be the same if they couldn't get a few reminders

My girlfriend is the same way.

El Inho · 14-04-2012 06:23PM

kincsem wrote: »

They should build ramps over the fences. Then the jockeys could dismount and lead the horse over the ramp, then remount. It should be a winner with audiences.

made me laugh far more than it should have...

Discodog wrote: »

I haven't a clue what you mean - care to elucidate. If it's a question then it's pretty clear that I totally oppose animal cruelty.

just a joke...

your name and a video of your namesake insinuating animal cruelty...

14-04-2012 06:24PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Jumps horses are not treated like kings. They are gelded and have to run 3+ miles in each race and have to jump over 5ft hurdles. Its a travesty. Flat horses are treated like the kings they are. They are usually retired after around 5-6 years and have a nice retirement in stud to look forward to.

Absolute bull s**t, they run a couple of races a year and they are fit animals who are born to jump, travesty my hole. Go to any stable where national hunt horses are kept and they are treated much better than other animals. That all have stables, their health is monitored closely, groomed regularly etc etc.

Also so what if they are gelded, if that's cruel you should tell all the animal rights people to stop encouraging people to neuter their pets.

Discodog · 14-04-2012 06:24PM

eldwaro wrote: »

generally people place money on horses and hope to jesus they dont fall.

They don't bet on the whole field. They don't care if horses fall as long as it's not their horse.

KeithAFC · 14-04-2012 06:24PM

I would rather watch two people enter an arena with shield and sword and a fight to the death happens than watch horse racing to be honest. Get the old ways back into entertainment. It is far to safe today and I honestly think back in the days of the Roman Empire, the thrill of fighting would have been greater than anything we have today.

It is just betting on horses and many of the horses don't have a clue. Boxing isn't that good now and UFC is too safe. Perhaps one event a year could happen in which convicts who are serving time for murder can battle it out and the winner of the event is released.

An event for convicts could involve horses and say 20 convicts serving murder having to run a long course and while they race to win, they are allowed to use bow and arrow to kill the other convicts.

Richard Hillman · 14-04-2012 06:26PM

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

Here's a list of all the fatalities in the Grand National since its beginnings if anyone is interested. Interestingly, John Joe O' Neill, trainer of Synchronized, trained Alverton in 1979 who fell and was killed at the same fence as Synchronized this year. He must have been having awful flashbacks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equine_fatalities_in_the_Grand_National

Also, the idea that there would be more fatalities if they lowered the size of the fences is just not true. Pretty much every other steeplechase race is run over smaller fences and with smaller fields and there are far fewer fatalities. The reasons contributing to the amount of deaths over the years in one race in the calendar is something that needs to be reviewed. We all know the reasons though - the height of the fences, the size of the field and incapable horses being allowed to run. There are some trainers and owners who need to reflect on their own doings in this too.

Bechers brook seems to be the cause of just under 50% of those fatalities. They have to address this hurdle.

byhookorbycrook · 14-04-2012 06:27PM

It's not true to say "many of the horses don't have a clue". The National is not a place for schooling green horses.

RichieC · 14-04-2012 06:27PM

No.

Should horse racing be banned?

Comments