Cheltenham Festival
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0ver 70 the last 22 years
The numbers are staggering
Its 70 deaths in 88 meetings , almost one a day
There is something fundamentally wrong
Over the years I have heard about soft ground patches, reverse cambers on bends, tight corners, and too early fences off corners.
It needs a full enquiry now ,open and honest scrutiny for the good of the game
Come on B H A get off yer backsides and sort it .....
The numbers are staggering
Its 70 deaths in 88 meetings , almost one a day
There is something fundamentally wrong
Over the years I have heard about soft ground patches, reverse cambers on bends, tight corners, and too early fences off corners.
It needs a full enquiry now ,open and honest scrutiny for the good of the game
Come on B H A get off yer backsides and sort it .....
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RSPCA (England & Wales)
@RSPCA_official We are deeply saddened and extremely concerned to see two horses die today at the Cheltenham Festival- Born Patriot and Mindsmadeup. It is absolutely crucial that steps are taken to reduce the risk of these tragedies occurring. 8:32 PM · Mar 17, 2022 |
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Very concerning point Irish, I agree.
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NO body likes to see horses killed on the track.
Did'nt see a post from you reguarding the 5 deaths @Punchestown. Your anti English boll0x is getting fcking boreing fella. |
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No, Irish is right about this. Racing is regarded differently in Britan and Ireland. In Ireland, it's a core part of rural and agricultural life. In Britain, it's seen as a business and a sport. That makes it much more vulnerable to attack in Britain. The Festival is so high profile, horse deaths there are a huge negative for the sport, exceeded only by deaths in the Grand National. The BHA must do whatever it can to limit them.
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Just because in Ireland they are more thick skinned and view horse deaths differently doesn't mean it should not be highlighted by others regarding the issue as it is over here.
Blake used this excuse during the Elliott scandal as to explain away the disgust that many over here felt and suggested that in Ireland there would have been less of an issue made out of it. We saw an example of what we're talking about here with the Bumper, the authorities were addressing safety concerns and trying to keep the competitors safe whilst you had the likes of Mangan and Mullins laughing up their sleeve wondering what all the fuss was about. |
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Doesnt matter where the track is
Where the horses are from Not good for the sport end of. Nice bit of micro-racism their duffy "Just because in Ireland they are more thick skinned" |
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Anyone who thinks this situation is sustainable is a total bellend.
No matter where you are from dead horses on NH tracks are no good for the sport. |
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irish,
We can always rely on you to find racism, where there is none. It did not even occur to me that you would have interpreted the use of the word thick in such a way, all I can say is more fool me  Strontium highlighted the differences in attitudes and I gave an example of such that we all witnessed a few days ago. |
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Any death of a horse is tragic and something no one wants to see but there is risk in everything. People and animals die in all sports around the world....only way to stop it is to stop having sport and therefore the animals would not have a life to start with.
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Thats revolution dancing brave
We are in a process of evolution Animal welfare in NH is getting better without a doubt since the beginning of the sport. I believe its just a case of adjust and move on maybe in different ways at different tracks. Things like the recent study highlighted by fitzy about the colour of the running board in front of the fence are examples of attempts to improve things. There has to be common denominators , same fences ? Tired horses whipped into exhaustion ? Poor horsemanship ? I dont know .....but we need to find out and act upon it |
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Duffy
You seriously think Irish people have thicker skins ? |
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When I see a close up of the hind legs and hooves of a horse just clearing a fence as the horse's body has scraped over it I wonder who any horse goes back for more. Many of the cut/pruned stems and twigs, if not all, are razor sharp. It's no wonder to me that many horses reduce their efforts as they get wiser. They have to feel pain as they make mistakes and plough through them so it is little wonder that some don;t land properly, stumble, fall and get hurt.
In this day and age I don;t see how they can't make the "sharp" end of the fence more horse-friendly without reducing its characteristics as an obstacle. |
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It is a lot friendlier in ireland mate, the brush on the fence is often made of plastic
EASYFIX RACECOURSE STYLE CHASE FENCE EASYFIX Racecourse Style Chase Fence is designed for racecourses and trainers, to create a uniform profile for all steeplechase fences. "The safe, durable and hard-wearing artificial components eliminate the use of organic materials. The 3D moulded birch recreates the typical look and feel of natural birch, the padded apron creates a cushioned surface which reduces impact injuries and the orange strip gives horses a better sight line." |
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It is a lot friendlier in ireland mate, the brush on the fence is often made of plastic
EASYFIX RACECOURSE STYLE CHASE FENCE EASYFIX Racecourse Style Chase Fence is designed for racecourses and trainers, to create a uniform profile for all steeplechase fences. "The safe, durable and hard-wearing artificial components eliminate the use of organic materials. The 3D moulded birch recreates the typical look and feel of natural birch, the padded apron creates a cushioned surface which reduces impact injuries and the orange strip gives horses a better sight line." |
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I do not belittle any horse death on a racecourse. Nor was I looking for childish England v Ireland row. But I do firmly believe that national hunt racing in GB is vulnerable to attack on animal welfare grounds, it would be a soft target for a government that were so inclined, especially in tandem with the ongoing attack on gambling, and the BHA must do everything it can to minimise racing deaths.
Irish, I agree with you that the colour of the fences is an excellent example of things that can be improved. I was told years ago by a senior BHA official that the bars are orange because that is the easiest colour to see - now we know that for a horse, it isn't. Using colours that are good for horse and rider is clearly a positive change. Similarly the changes made to the Grand National fences has been positive in horse wlefare terms. So there are things that can, and therefore must, be done. |
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They are guilty of what phil mickleson called obnoxious greed.
£7 a pint and £30 sausage and chips |
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Where was sausage and chips £30
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I had lunch there everyday
From memory it could be any one 0f 4 Either the centaur or the members mezanine area |
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Honestly not sure but it was the same price as it was at the showcase meeting. The other nightmare was lamb pie, chips and mushy peas with no gravy 18 quid ?
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Dear me what was you doing in the centaur?
Dreadful place to be avoided even if it’s raining heavily. |
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Exactly why we were in there ....pi55ing down outside
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I was happier getting saturated outside than been dry in the zoo.
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Gone off topic a bit mate
Cheltenham festival record of deaths on the track doesnt make it the best festival in the world. |
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Always very sad when we lose a horse for me the game is all about the horses.
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The bha published a report in dec 2018 saying it was a springboard for better horse welfare at the festival.
like many of their actions .....It didnt work ! |
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whats your views on the 5 in dublin who died irish?.....
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His view is that they were in Ireland so are exempt, although far be it from me to put words into his mouth
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Where have the deceased horse gone? Buried or Irish/French horse abattoir?
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Panorama like program aired on BBC was an uk abattoir so where is the Irish French connection
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I am struggling to recall 5 deaths at the Dublin festival
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Think it maybe related to punchestown where in fact this is Kildare and not in Dublin,think leopardstown is only Dublin racecourse left
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There werent five deaths at Dublin
It doesnt matter anyway, if a course is unsafe then it shouldnt matter where it is. People trying to get laughs out of it is pathetic. |
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If I had wanted to pick on English deaths I would have plumped for the Lingfield all weather track.
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How ever hard the BHA or Irish authorities try to modify tracks and change the rules, so long as we race horses, some will be injured and a few badly enough not to be repaired. I feel fortunate to have enjoyed the sport for 65 years as I fear it won't be here for that much longer.
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A NH jockey get £194.63 per ride; 5 rides a day at the same track is almost £1k before expenses - a nice little earner. I understand being a jockey could be a risky profession - what profession does not(?) - nevertheless, the reward reflects the risk; add in the prize money a colossal could be had.
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Its no good deflecting the argument.
The reason we go is the horses, not the jockeys, not the bands,not the shopping centre, not the beer or the cocaine. If the horses are killed you are killing the sport. In doing so you also kill the books (who dont care anyway), the jockeys, the enjoyment and this forum.t |
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Get the course safe ....
.....and the sport will be safe Its that fecking simple |
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What changes would you make to improve saftety Irish?
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The reason we go is the horses absolutely in my case .
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