There is nothing worse...:(

A million words to avoid the obvious. Horses are dying coz they have to gallop at speed against other horses over large and unyielding obstacles. As an exercise in sticking one's head in the sand that report takes some beating.

Hibs

those figures are for racing ? Its a lot of reading for a wednesday night but i am sure those are figures for racing and not for the sprt overall. I still think overall far more flat horses are injured.but of course i could be wrong.

and either way its a sad thing

Put a jump in a paddock full of horses and see how many will jump of their own free will!! Jump racing sucks no matter which way you look at it.
I'm with Magic on this one.

"As an exercise in sticking one's head in the sand that report takes some beating."

You could say exactly the same thing about starting stalls. Does that mean flat racing sucks ?

Dr Who Wrote:

---

> You could say exactly the same thing about
> starting stalls. Does that mean flat racing sucks
> ?

I don't see the connection. Please explain?

so what happens to these horses when there flat careers are finished a nice retirement to the home for ex flat racers no more likely some dinner plate in france or a trip to the glue factory

no2son, that is a lame excuse. You make it sound as if a similar fate doesn't face ex jumpers. Or don't they live long enough to end up on a French menu? Plus many jumpers, especially chasers, are custom bred and are not ex flat racers.

Easy I must compliment you on your consistancy - We had words over a similar topic a year or two back when I called for an outright ban of the sport. At the time you spole of Mc Coy and a few others. I must admit since following racing a bit more closely everyone has to admit that AP Mc Coy must be one of the best horseman in racing. He has such an understanding of each of his mounts. I have watched him take a horse from standstill to a gallop without much sign of visible movement on his part. I have the greatest respect for AP and the other jump jocks but still do not believe that this sport is fair on the animals and must admit my stomach turns when horses go down.

McCoy is a great rider. Vincent O'Brien was a fantastic jumps trainer before he switched to the flat. None of which changes anything in my book.

Agreed Magic - I feel the same way, tragic loss of life in the name of "sport" or is that gambling.

alcaponee,

there is no doubt its a tough sport. Horseracing that is. Its not for the feint hearted and of course it goes without saying that no one wants or indeed takes pleasure in seeing one of the majestic beasts hurt or destroyed.

I think the factor here is best illustrated in the following true account. Horseracing here in the UK is a passion and its actually in the DNA of most of the folk involved.

A few weeks ago i went to Ascot on a Sunday with my bird for the day out. I was invited by a friend of mine to his companies box and we had a wonderful day. After the last race i looked in the race card and there were 2 more races. the "7th " race was for ponies under 1.60m and riders under 14. I scanned through the card and saw the following names:
Sangster
Nicholls
Quinn

We wacthed the race and young Miss Nicholls won the race. We went down to the winners enclosure and there was her dad to lead her in. The grin on his face was as wide as when Kauto Star won at Cheltenham. Sangsters granddaugher ran 5th after making the running.

Watching that all unfold before my eyes was inspiring, knowing that my beloved sport IS being passed on from generation to generation is important.

And now reading this thread i HAVE to believe that people like Nicholls and McCoy and Henderson etc would not do it if they thought for 1 second that it was cruel.

racing is great, i love it. All forms of racing BUT i have to tell you that since i moved here the NH scene has really captured my imagination.......

I hope i have been able to convey what i saw and felt.