DOUBLE STANDARDS

Sprintre Sacre won the Arkle and wasnt whipped once.I have seen SA races where the horse has been
hit many times,When the horse isnt whipped a lot of clansmen moan like hell.UK has strict whip laws to appease
the PC brigade.The fences are there to be jumped and there isnt a better site than a chaser soaring over a
fence.What do you think these horses would be doing if there was no jump racing,they wouldnt be bred.
Its an unfortunate aspect of any racing,flat or jumps.Horses get injured and some die.
Ou Ryperd why do you watch it,if your so against it ?

three horses died at Cheltenham yesterday

I think Cheltenham messed up with the ground conditions.
The layout of the cross country course does not allow them to water it.
They had one race on it with 2 fatalities,its going was firm and thats not good for horses
going over obstacles.That needs addressing.

C & C - I rest my case then . . . .

ground concerns are well founded, especially with NH racing. having said that NO ONE ever says a word about the 1000 2 year olds in SA every year that are born that never see a racecourse.

Or at coolmore where their breeding operation is VAST, they dont all make it to the course.

I conceed that sometimes i stir it up a bit BUT please take the following as gospel.

"since i moved to the UK and got to appreciate NH racing, i have NEVER met so many people that have the horses interests first"

In my 1st year or so here, i was still under the sa mentality, unless a horse falls over ride it to the line....it was only when i got to know a bit more that i appreciated that even though i had backed the horse if the jockey thought it was not going well it would be pulled out the race. I accept that and would not have it any other way.

I will also add that NEVER have i backed a horse and having seen it run in 2nd wished for the leader to fall.

there was one whip ban yesterday. and sure there will be more

homer,

how many horses died in SA yesterday?

for me yesteday was about Hunt Ball and Queveda both have awesome stories surrounding them.
Rock On Ruby one for the future and Sprinter Sacre was super impressive

Easy - on the race track (because that is what we are talking about) none.

How many got electrocuted at Cheltenham?

only thing i hate about jumps is when the animal falls with my money, otherwise i find jump racing very entertaining to watch, especially when a good thing wins a canter.....

homer,

its NOT only about the race track........try a week in the UK (i know its kak and its going to rain) but try a week at a NH stable. Then tell me that what you thought you knew about horses welfare (sa point of view) is still valid.

To even assume that a trainer/owner that rests a horse for 686 days / feeds a horse for 686 days / nurtures a horse for 6866 days does so as an act of selfihness and cruelty is mental