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comingupthehill
22 Apr 12 21:36
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Date Joined: 10 Jul 05
| Topic/replies: 6,716 | Blogger: comingupthehill's blog
pretty much everyone who have written an article about it ,or wrote a letter about,or anyone who works in  racing.

the national is the one time of year that racing gets mass appeal,its like its open day,or try it first day.

so if racing wants new customers,chances they will first get the bug from the national,

so we want the most challenging safe race as possible - ask non racing fams what they want as the race is effectively aimed at them.

but be prepared that the public as a majority arent too bothered,

when you were young and watched motor sports - you only watched it for the crashes ,and the spills of the national are a selling point to the average punter,but just make the landings safe,what about staggered start 2 rows of 20 a few seconds apart,top weights behind.

but theres no point racing people second guessing normal peoples feelings.
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Report grumpyjim April 24, 2012 1:05 AM BST
put up a suggestion along these lines last year ,,maybe  slow horses  that  go off,slide them on in two lots  15  to 25 yards apart  ,   quickly  at same time   would help  starter as well     back 20 or therby  as normal  the front a fraction  earlier  as  the early part is being run too fast  .J OCKEYS GO MANIC PACE AS BETTER HORSES  ARE  DOING WELL IN RACES NOW .

HUGE MONEY AT STAKE  DOESN'T HELP REALLY   ..M istake to tinker too much  i'm afraid  or the spectacle  is  going to be lost  ??????   some expect to back a faller    .if your horse wins and in first  6  on the last circuit at passing  winning  post on last  time round  lose 25%  of your winnings will slow it down  ,and  maybe just maybe we can  acheive more finishers ..?
Report Desmond Orchard April 24, 2012 12:07 PM BST
I wonder?
Following the sad death of a runner in this years London Marathon, will the organisers be considering changes to the course to make it less challenging? Perhaps reducing the distance or disallowing inexperienced entrants?
Will FIFA find a way to reduce the challenge that is football following the Muamba incident and the recent death in Italian football? Smaller pitch, 20 minute halves?
Will the organisers of the boat race consider changes in light of the harrowing scenes, broadcast to millions, when an Oxford rower collapsed in the boat?
We know the answers to these three questions and of course they are right. NH racing is too easy a target and the animal rights lobby are very adept at manipulating public sentiment, it has all pretty much blown over now - until next year.
Report rocky ttotal April 24, 2012 4:49 PM BST
you are spot on Desmond they never miss an opportunity to bring themselves into the spotlight ,surely their efforts would be more appreciated by animals that have actually suffered cruelty.
Report Steamship April 25, 2012 9:18 AM BST
To counter your arguement Desmond. The majority of people have not had an accident whilst driving and using a mobile phone, or being drunk at the wheel. So why do we have laws stopping the majority who can do this without hurting others?

What I'm pointing out is, you cannot bring other aspects of life into the GN arguement.
Report Desmond Orchard April 25, 2012 2:07 PM BST
I'm sorry SS, I don't buy that. The majority of motoring related deaths involve neither alcohol nor mobile phones, yet nobody has banned driving.
Besides, my examples were specifically sports orientated and I think you can therefore use them as examples of the hypocracy surrounding the National, in this instance.
As an aside, I was saddened to hear that Great Endeavour sustained a life ending injury whilst frolicking in a field on his summer break at the weekend. Perhaps horses should be banned from frolicking, or can we do something about these fields?
I suppose that the point I'm trying to make is that life in general, and sport in particular, is fraught with risk.
Report buddeliea April 25, 2012 5:01 PM BST
Cant agree with the Great Endeavour point,or indeed mptoring comparisms.
Both of those are neccessary,horses have to be in fields and we cannot ban driving.

The Grand National however is not neccessary.
Banning that would mean just one race less a year,and we could still have a substitute race instead,if so desired.
Report Steamship April 25, 2012 5:47 PM BST
No I know horses die in fields, mine did, I see there were no fallers in the Scots National, won by a specialist in a good finish. I think the GN has been unlucky in the last 2 years, but you create your own luck. A drop in runners at this stage seems the wisest move.
Report rocky ttotal April 26, 2012 3:00 PM BST
How the hell can you have a substitute race for the Aintree Grand National?,The worlds greatest steeple chase!some people just haven't got a clue.
Report buddeliea April 26, 2012 5:08 PM BST
What i meant was,if the race WAS banned,maybe a similar sort of race could be introduced.
Its just sunmmising sunshine,no need to get all hot under the collar!!
Report Steamship April 26, 2012 6:02 PM BST
I disagree the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the worlds greatest steeplechase.
Kauto Star
Denman
Best Mate
Burrough Hill Lad
Silver Buck
Arkle
Report rocky ttotal April 26, 2012 7:02 PM BST
tell that to the ten million plus who watched the national on the bbc, not to mention worldwide.The gold cup is the blue riband, the national will always be the greatest.
Report buddeliea April 26, 2012 7:36 PM BST
Most of those 10 million probably only had a sweepstake from the office,and a fair few of those 10 million have never heard of the Gold Cup i would wager.

Most proper race fans will say that Cheltenham is the highlight of the NH calendar,and the GC is the blue riband of Chelt.
I personally could live without a handicap,even if it is the GN,but take away Cheltenham,thats me done.
Report rocky ttotal April 26, 2012 8:21 PM BST
It was the national that got me into racing at the tender age of four, take it away and Im done.Sick of the sport having to appease opportunist welfare groups who can't see the bigger picture from the top of their raised soap boxes.Let them do away with the national and cheltenham and n/h racing in general will be next on their somewhat skewed agenda.
Report Steamship April 26, 2012 9:20 PM BST
If we are going on viewers or people turning up then Chester must have the best racing in the world.
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