Yeah what a shame trying to make the fences safer so more horses don't die. Becher's is still a very dangerous jump even though they've softened the inside of the jump. Two died at that jump last year and one the year before. Becher's is still lethal due to the height, the spread, diagonal angle of the run up and it's also the last in the end of a fast straight of five demanding fences. The fence is also lower on the take off side. There's a very good chance that more of these poor animals will die again this year all in the name of sport so please think before you support this by placing a bet. Bang your money on the Reds to get a draw at Palace instead.
What a load of CRAP!!! Everyone knows the Reds are going to win!! Do not bet on the National. Send a few pounds here instead. http://barnsleyanimalrescue.org.uk/
Haha! We racked up one of the longest threads on this last year. Team Mr C/Kanecat definitely won the debate!
I`d prefer em to limit the number of runners rather than alter the lead up, height and landing sides of the fences, which makes the National what it is a true test over the distance. Bookies wont have that though cos they`d make less cash. Would give the horse/jockey a better sighter of what they have to jump and fewer horses brought down by fallen horses. As for plastic fences with the rubber matting should be a good thing like when the wooden/concrete running rails were replaced by the plastic ones.
I've been saying this for years. There's far too many horses competing, they bring each other down and that's what causes the fatalities. I also agree with changing the fences though, anything to make it safer.
The National is ridiculous They should electrify the fences. That would make things interesting. I'd switch the horses for convicts too. And position random snipers around the course. Apart from that it's fine.
50 horses died during the race between 1839-1990 - 0.33 horses per race. Major modifications were then made following advise from Animal Welfare groups - as the 1990 race was run on un-seasonably firm ground which resulted in two deaths that year. 19 horses died during the race between 1991-2012 - 0.9 horses per race. Whilst its obvious that one horse death is too much, it can be argued that in trying to help, animal welfare groups have actually increased the death rate in that by lowering the height of the fences, the speed that the horses travel has increased. And its the speed that kills, rather than the height of the fences. Yes the landing side of Beeches Brook is unacceptably steep (14 of the 59 deaths occurred at that fence) and needed attention. But to make all fences smaller is folly. What I would do is basically water the fell out of the ground until it is at least 'soft', that way, the horses themselves travel at a slower speed, reducing the chance of falling. Also, should a horse come to grief, the softer ground would then cushion the blow. For me, you either do that or cancel it completely. By making the fences smaller, people trying to help are in effect increasing the chance of injury or death. And no one wants to see that.
Look when an hoss dies it goes towards helping feed those who can only afford tesco own brand ready meals.
I'm still nursing my wounds over that one. It would have been kinder to shoot me on the spot. It was shocking how vitriolic folk could be when you criticise their vices and implicate them in the deaths of animals. The truth is hard to stomach sometimes.
I wouldn't that far personally, but the horse are sport stars in their own right and should be given the same protection as people. A jockey was killed in 1862, it is the only human fatality in the history of the race. If that happened now, the country would be in uproar and there would be serious changes.
We're on about the last year's thread on the National where I argued that everyone who gambled on the race was partially responsible for the deaths of those animals. This isn't an attempt to reprise that argument, I said my bit then and it still stands.