Grand National 2012 Thread

[leclerc]

The 4.15 Aintree Full Race Card - 14 April 2012 | Racing Post

Currently these are the 82 entries into this year's Grand National. Those numbers will wittle down to the final 40 places for race day in April.

Current odds:

Junior 14-1
Ballabriggs 16-1
West End rocker 16-1
Prince de Beauchaine 16-1

My very very very early tip is: Synchronised 20-1

Some horses to watch for this year based on the fact that it is the Queen's 60 year since her coronation:

State Of Play 33-1
Mon Mome 40-1
Postmaster 40-1
King Fontaine 66-1

The Queen's own horses have never won the Grand National.

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

I actually agree with both of you about the petition. Though I have signed it, it is not well worded. However the stopping of one race, particularly this race, in the name of animal cruelty would undoubtedly make people think. Even if they did call it something else, 'The Grand National' would have gone - the very race that is the only thing in a year for many that takes them to the turf accountant.

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

Personally i think that the very fact that a race was banned because of safety issues would make others sit up and take notice, and hopefully may result in an increase in standards throughout the sport.

Peter

[leclerc]

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

The petitioner wants one single race banned? Now that is ridiculous cos it will simply mean that they call the event something else. Had they called for the race to be reduced in size then I might have been tempted to be interested. However, the lowering of fences is actually one cause that some have suggested has made the race more unsafe because it makes the race faster. I think that making the fences narrower might be one answer so that loose horses by pass some of the fences(that might have prevented the death of Synchronised who jumped 5 fences unaided). The death of According to Pete in the event was not preventable since the horse was brought down by another horse falling into him.

It's actually a very badly worded petition to be honest so I highly doubt it will get 100, 000 signatures to the petition.


Anyway, it's the Scottish Grand National this weekend at Ayr. One horse that does stand out simply because of the name is Quentin Collonges as is currently 20-1. Currently Junior, West End Rocker, Vic Venturi are competing who were in the English Grand National.

Last year 2 horses died in the Scottish Grand National, the first deaths since 2002 and I would add that not 1 single horse has died at the Ayr racetrack over the last 12 months.

Current favourite is Harry the Viking.
Runners are here: The 3.25 Ayr Full Race Card - 21 April 2012 | Racing Post

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

For anyone who's interested

The Grand National is legalised animal cruelty. Ban it! - e-petitions

[enaid]

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

USA and not a jump in sight a very sad film but just trying to point out it is not only the National that causes accidents and fatalities for race horses.

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

Actualy our local chemist used to sell a cure for this.
Had to stop, couldnt afford to have the labels printed.

Say G'night Gracie

pmsl! :beagle:

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

No, not equinophobia, but perhaps long words!

Chaz I do hope you are not trying to make Peter's word look like flockynockynihiliplifaction.

Actualy our local chemist used to sell a cure for this.
Had to stop, couldnt afford to have the labels printed.

Say G'night Gracie

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

No, not equinophobia, but perhaps long words!

Chaz I do hope you are not trying to make Peter's word look like flockynockynihiliplifaction.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

fear of horses?

[charitynjw]

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

Lol

Not that I would know - I suffer from
hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

yeh they do occasionally, the mad fit takes em and off they go.

sometimes if they are in the mood, they have a mad race across the paddock just cos they can, its lovely to watch. I used to sit on Grannys farm in Ireland and just watch them. normally they mooch about and chew on grass, then a young colt will eye up the fence and take a charge at it, sometimes the foals will have little races amongst themselves, and the mothers, like human mothers, shake their heads like "kids these days!"

normally this is accompanied with a look of either aint i clever or what did i do that for? they are quite amusiing animals, especially when they have been caught rolling on the grass and give you the look of I wouldnt do something so undignified!!

[quote=labman;259496]
I doubt it, but I have no more knowledge of horses than I do of astrophysics or even the impressive word anthropamorohasis until I looked it up lol!

quote]

Hi
Yes its true lovely creatures, bloody hard work though, up at 5am mixing the feed , home from school mucking out(yuk) then brushing and grooming cleaning the tack.

Yes labman sorry about that my english teacher used to say , Peter shouldnt you learn how to spell the little words before you start trying to use the big ones.

Peter

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

yeh they do occasionally, the mad fit takes em and off they go.

sometimes if they are in the mood, they have a mad race across the paddock just cos they can, its lovely to watch. I used to sit on Grannys farm in Ireland and just watch them. normally they mooch about and chew on grass, then a young colt will eye up the fence and take a charge at it, sometimes the foals will have little races amongst themselves, and the mothers, like human mothers, shake their heads like "kids these days!"

normally this is accompanied with a look of either aint i clever or what did i do that for? they are quite amusiing animals, especially when they have been caught rolling on the grass and give you the look of I wouldnt do something so undignified!!

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

I wonder if the horses were on the starting line, jockeyless, no starting gun, no crowd - would they naturally run and race, jump the fences?

I doubt it, but I have no more knowledge of horses than I do of astrophysics or even the impressive word anthropamorohasis until I looked it up lol!

I suspect they'd wander around.

Surely this would be the true test of how much a horse enjoys doing it. Does a horse left in a field with a jump go and jump it for pleasure occasionally? I doubt it.

Re: Grand National 2012 Thread

Having owned, bred and produced horses i feel i know a little knowledge here. 33 horses in 12 years i dont think an actual large amount. You have to think about the horse world as a whole. There are thousands of horses competing either in the race world, or showjumping or 3 day eventing. ALL of these sports carry a small risk. But also so does hacking out on a nice sunny day like today. The injuries horses sustain in instances like these CAN be fixed, a broken leg CAN be fixed but it would not be in the best interest of the horse as it is a long and dangerous thing to try, In no interest to the horse at all.

My point is horses look strong as they are so big and imposing but in a lot of ways due to their construction they can be fragile. The horses bred and trained to do NH and in any industry like this get the best trainers, riders, vets, nutrition and just over all care. They are pampered like only our very est athletes could wish to be pampered. They do something they genuinely LOVE. and with anything there is always a risk to both horse and rider but they could very easily be one of the many hundreds of cruelty cases that are left to suffer in a field with incorrect grazing appropriate to the horse, with no stabling, and left with illnesses that they suffer with.

I think this sport is so emotive as we see the horses in one moment looking full of like full of itself wanting to get on with it and the next a black screen comes out and the horse is destroyed. but that horse died doing something it loved to do, it will not have suffered a horse when it breaks a leg or any other painful injury emits a pain endorphin in its body so it doesnt feel pain. so in those few moments whilst the vet and owner make the decision what is best the horse will not be suffering.

I feel sorry for the owners, trainers, and stable hands no doubt when they got back to the yard and saw the empty stables they were truly devastated. I they probably think if only....but they will know what a good life that horse had led.

Hi

Obviously bow to superior knowledge in this but 33 horses in 12 years sounds like an avaerage of just over 3 horses per race, is this acceptable.

As for it being something they love to do, are we sure, i would say they love to wander free and make hay with lady horses,

Personally i think there is a degree of anthropamorohasis goes on when people talk about this subject.

I have a limited degree of experiance with them ,we had a couple when i was growing up , the hunt used to go through our garden every year.

In my opinion they are as thick as planks, IQ slightly less than a sheep.

What they do have though is a great deal of heart and the ability to give an instinctual and unwavering trust in the human they have become attached to.

That human can then make them jump over fences even though their every
instinct tells them to go arround, they will run into crowds waiving sticks or even machine gun fire.

They will also run beyond there physical ability if commanded untill their legs break or their hearts stop.

Thats why we should do our best to ensure that they are not badly treated.

only my opinion.

Peter