Postby Shrews » Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:23 pm
I had seen horses killed in The National even from a young age. Dark Ivy springs to mind s a youngster, however the death of Synchronised was a real choker for me. I absolutely hated it and it put a big question mark over the race for me. It just felt a bit sickening and 'not right'
And this is coming from someone who has been involved in racehorse ownership. I know that the horses are highly privileged and love their lives. They have the best feed, the best veterinary care (imagine being a 'free' pony, covered in ticks and suffering from a whole number of curable ailments), they are groomed fantastically and are super-fit. For that luxurious lifestyle us humans expect them to 'race' for our entertainment every now and then. A very small die because of it. But I'd know which lifestyle I'd choose.
However, on average the National does have double the amount of fatalities as compared to steeplechase races in general and that stat is notable and needs improving on. It'll never be risk free of course, however surely in this day and age more can be done ? It's really a race for the public and I believe more than anything that the public don't want to see dead horses in what is a British Institution and a chance for racing to show off that it is a great sport and to encourage more people to go and watch it.
I don't buy into the whole argument of 'making it easier will ruin the race'. It won't, as said, this is the publics race, the race for a once in a year bet, the public will bet on it no matter how easy it is.
I have never heard anyone say 'i'm not betting on the National because they've made it easier'
Personally i'd like to see a few changes:
Increased watering to try and ensure softer ground
4m maximum distance (and not just The National)
30 runners, not 40
With National Hunt in general, no horse should ever be expected to jump on Firm ground EVER. With that in mind there should never be any Summer jumps meetings IMO. The Flat is for the Summer, the jumps are for the Winter.
Hopefully, they will continue to improve the race and we will get to enjoy the race without wincing that horses are going to die in front of our eyes when it's meant to be a showcase race to show our sport off to the world.