I hate the National
Being a horse lover, I will NOT be watching tomorrow's (Saturday 5 April) so-called 'Grand' National steeplechase. I hate the National, and I hate National Saturday. It bemuses me that a nation of supposed animal lovers accepts, and indeed, celebrates, a race which more often than not, year after year, results in the death of at least one horse. Including, I might add, last year, where Graphic Approach, a faller, was destroyed some weeks after the race due to complications after his fall.
Please don't get me wrong. If we are to use horses at all, we expose them to some risk. Even in riding out down a road, there is risk. I don't have a problem with us riding horses; I ride myself. Indeed, at the moment, I am working in the racing industry! The issue is with the degree of risk of fatality. There is a sevenfold greater risk of fatal injury in Steeplechasing than in Flat racing (Wood et al 2000, cited in Pinchbeck, et al 2004, I can supply the full reference). The National in particular is extremely dangerous for horses; there are many more years when there are fatalities in the 'Grand' National than those in which there aren't (for example, in each of the past two years, 2007 and 2006, one horse has died). How can we celebrate a race where we can EXPECT (based upon previous years) fatalities- or is spectacle, tradition, amusement of the masses, and indeed the huge amounts of money to be made, more important than the lives of horses? I know what the cynical answer is, and it demonstrates the fundamental contradiction in anyone who claims to be an animal lover yet watches, bets upon, or supports in any way, the National.
This single race, based on its past history, is lethal. It is NOT a harmless flutter.
I hate it.
Blacksnip Out.
Please don't get me wrong. If we are to use horses at all, we expose them to some risk. Even in riding out down a road, there is risk. I don't have a problem with us riding horses; I ride myself. Indeed, at the moment, I am working in the racing industry! The issue is with the degree of risk of fatality. There is a sevenfold greater risk of fatal injury in Steeplechasing than in Flat racing (Wood et al 2000, cited in Pinchbeck, et al 2004, I can supply the full reference). The National in particular is extremely dangerous for horses; there are many more years when there are fatalities in the 'Grand' National than those in which there aren't (for example, in each of the past two years, 2007 and 2006, one horse has died). How can we celebrate a race where we can EXPECT (based upon previous years) fatalities- or is spectacle, tradition, amusement of the masses, and indeed the huge amounts of money to be made, more important than the lives of horses? I know what the cynical answer is, and it demonstrates the fundamental contradiction in anyone who claims to be an animal lover yet watches, bets upon, or supports in any way, the National.
This single race, based on its past history, is lethal. It is NOT a harmless flutter.
I hate it.
Blacksnip Out.