Grand National 2011

[Pie_x]

Who are you choosing?

Any good tips?

I don't know who to choose yet but I have had a sweepstake at work and got 'West End Rocker'

Never heared of it :lol:

x

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

Ive gone for Oscar Time ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen and The Midnight Club ridden by Ruby Walsh!

[daytona]

I'm having an each way on Silver by Nature. I love a grey.

[stepbystep]

Havn't had a look yet.... Although ^^^ sounds nice.

[Ally&Becky]

I got West End Rocker in the sweepstake at work too!

Then ive gone for:
Becauseicouldntsee
Hello Bud
Ballabriggs

RUN RUN RUN!

[casper_cb]

I've put £5 each way on Oscar for no reason other than my boy's called Oscar!
I've also put some each ways on some outside odds, 100/1.

Run, jump and keep safe to all. Xx

[Jessica]

I never put any money on but im going for the grey :D Easy to spot where it is :lol:

[fell lover]

Another 2 horses die at The Grand National

RIP Ornais and Dooney's Gate xxx

[Belle]

None - i hate it - the fatalities are not worth the entertainment value in my mind - but each to their own !

[vels mum]

^^^^^agree :(

[Bright Sparkx]

Put money on ballabriggs, oscar time, don't push it. RIP to the two horses who didn't make it :(

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

I had Ballabriggs, Oscar time and The Midnight club in the end!

RIP Ornais and Dooneys Gate.

[Loz]

I don't 'do' the grand national, don't think it's worth it personally, but that's just my personal opinion. I watched it for the last time this year, won't be watching again. RIP Ornais and Dooneys Gate x

[My Crazy Clan]

agree with fist comment!

poor ****** horses and what a day to make them run on.

[Teej]

What sort of 'owners' allow their horses to run in the Grand National knowing what type of a race it is :confused: Yes accidents can happen in any discipline or sport but entering your horse into this race is gambling with it's life and utterly beyond comprehension ! :mad:

How many deaths to there have to be before the racing fraternity put the horses & jockeys welfare before the money??

[RacingGirl]

What sort of 'owners' allow their horses to run in the Grand National knowing what type of a race it is :confused: Yes accidents can happen in any discipline or sport but entering your horse into this race is gambling with it's life and utterly beyond comprehension ! :mad:

How many deaths to there have to be before the racing fraternity put the horses & jockeys welfare before the money??

The horses and jockeys welfare do come first... horses die every day, not just on the track.. yes it is sad, but there was 2 deaths on the flat yesterday and not a peep said about those..

trainers and owners know the risks, please read this... its from the owner of Ornais:

ANDY STEWART, owner of one of the two horses killed in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National, has hit out at tabloid newspaper coverage of the Aintree contest, slamming it a “disgrace”.

A number of Sunday titles vented spleen towards racing’s showpiece event, none more strongly than the Mail on Sunday, which devoted pages two and three to negative coverage of the race and its broadcaster, the BBC.

Stewart on Sunday said he was still grieving at the loss of Ornais, who suffered a fatal injury when fallingat Aintree’s fourth fence. However, he also blasted headlines that sensationalised accidents that, he said, were an inevitable part of the sport.

“This was unfortunate, but I think the nonsense that has been written is a disgrace,” Steward told At The Races.

"Sadly, the horse fell at the fourth fence and died instantly.

"We're still grieving as far as that's concerned and I think this whole hyped-up situation regarding the Grand National is totally wrong.

“We love the sport and when I get up to read the papers, I think why are people writing this nonsense?”

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Ornais, backed Stewart and said: “We'll pick ourselves up and move on - you have to. I've never seen the course in such fantastic condition but unfortunately, although this is a great sport, accidents can happen.

"Like one paper said this morning, it doesn't matter how safe you make the M1, the M4, the M5, you're always going to have accidents. It's unfortunate when you have fatalities but it was a great race."

The Willie Mullins-trained Dooneys Gate also suffered a fatal fall, at Becher's Brook on the first circuit.


Did you know that there are just as many deaths in other equine sports, but I see nothing written against them...

[Teej]

...and that's supposed to make it all better that the owners are all for the race???? My point exactly ! I wonder how long they will grieve for...... :rolleyes:

Having owned several racehorses (flat) myself, I have met grieving owners who miraculously stopped grieving once they had the insurance payouts in their hand! There are not that many sentimental people in the racing industry.

[beano the nut]

How many of you anti national people take their horses hunting?? There are fatalities in that sport and plenty of career ending injuries, you are taking your horses over unknown ground and potentially taking a risk every time. Same with XC, your horse could easily tip up and break its neck but you love the sport and are prepared to take the risk.

Its gut wrenching to see horses die on the track but unfortunatley its a down side of the sport x

[Bright Sparkx]

I agree to disagree, i think the race is brutal and the horses will run themselves to death to win the race, With the force of the whips from the jockeys. I think each jockey should be made to race without the whip and then they win totally down to the horse thats running. No force involved. The horses are just as mad as the people riding them because they fall over a fence get up and continue to run the race through without the pressure of anyone. There are so many people backing the horse racing not just the grand national and so many people that bet theres no way this race or any other race is going to stop unless they stop the betting. No betting no racing because how many people are actually interested in watching the horses run they just want their money at the end of the race.

I do agree with other comments- people who take their horses, show jumping, x country, endurance & even hacking are just as much putting themselves and their horses at risk everyday and accidents can be just around the corner. People can argue through and through about the racing and whether its right or wrong the same as any other equestrain sport but i think it all comes down to the money making and the backing behind the sport.

[Gix]

There were 2 horses killed at Stratford when I went last year (flat).
I would hate to see an end to the grand national. Jockeys need to carry a whip, it is not just for moving the horse on it also helps to stop a horse 'wandering' across track into another horse, a horse doesnt stray across so much if it has the rails to follow but if it is in the middle of a track it can present a problem - remember jockey ride light out of the saddle with short lengths, the whip is very often the only way to keep a horse from veering. Anyone who has ridden exercise or raced realises this.
The grand national is a lot safer than it used to be, the tops of the fences now collapse when hit where as years ago if a horse hit it, it would likely end up somersaulting as is often the case in eventing.

[RacingGirl]

teej, go to a racing yard, meet the lads and lasses and then tell me about emotions and sentiments, bet all would say they would lay there life down for there horses.. I have seen owners and trainers cry there hearts out because they have lost one...

Racing is a business, horses can be replaced, but humans cannot be, a friend of mine is in hospital on life support with injuries from a fall he got on Saturday, from a horse that had never fallen before, believe me when the owner/trainer is devastated!

[Gix]

Most people working in the racing industry are passionate about the horses and the sport. Yes there is money to be made with the right horse BUT there is a lot more money to be made in other industries, there are a lot of easier ways to get rich.
Some owners enter top level races for the prestige, most are rather well off already and the money is an added bonus, but the kudos for being able to say that your horse/s was good enough to run the national is very attractive to some, and to win it is the ultimate. Unfortunately this leads to high amount of starters (I think its now limited to 40?), and horses not being ready or even good enough, which leads to fallers, fortunately most regain their feet and run on within the pack, unfortunately sometimes this leads to them 'interfering' with horses still with a chance, which in turn can lead to yet more fallers.

the race is brutally gruelling, its the ultimate test of stamina and skill for both horses and jockeys, if it wasn't then it would just be 'another race'.

[Bright Sparkx]

Most people working in the racing industry are passionate about the horses and the sport. Yes there is money to be made with the right horse BUT there is a lot more money to be made in other industries, there are a lot of easier ways to get rich.
Some owners enter top level races for the prestige, most are rather well off already and the money is an added bonus, but the kudos for being able to say that your horse/s was good enough to run the national is very attractive to some, and to win it is the ultimate. Unfortunately this leads to high amount of starters (I think its now limited to 40?), and horses not being ready or even good enough, which leads to fallers, fortunately most regain their feet and run on within the pack, unfortunately sometimes this leads to them 'interfering' with horses still with a chance, which in turn can lead to yet more fallers.

the race is brutally gruelling, its the ultimate test of stamina and skill for both horses and jockeys, if it wasn't then it would just be 'another race'.

Totally agree with this ^^ It would be such a shame to see the grand national banned, its such a big event in equestrian sport. It will prob all be forgotten when something more important comes on the news. And i agree that trainers are devistated by the loss of their horses, some more than others, but i know a trainer who cryed their heart out about their loss and wasnt just in it for the money. I think people see it as a bit of fun to shove a bet on a horse in the grand national then they sit down to watch it for a bit of fun but its not untill afterwards they realise how brutal the race actually is then its all blown into debates and arguments on tv.

[Pie_x]

I think its terribley sad and its played on my mind all weekend the casualities of these horses.

However, to me XC like the fences they have to jump in Badminton are humongous, solid and built so awkward for the horse to jump and they gallop most of the way round that huge stamina sapping course, surely thats worse is it not? We just hear of more fatalities in horse racing as it is such a big, popular sport.

x

[Bright Sparkx]

I think its terribley sad and its played on my mind all weekend the casualities of these horses.

However, to me XC like the fences they have to jump in Badminton are humongous, solid and built so awkward for the horse to jump and they gallop most of the way round that huge stamina sapping course, surely thats worse is it not? We just hear of more fatalities in horse racing as it is such a big, popular sport.

x

^^ I agree. There were two deaths this year in the grand national, but people forget about how many deaths there are in the small races too. Just because the grand national is such a big event theres a huge fuss made over it.