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Has the magic of the National gone for good?
Has the magic of the National gone for good?
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Brilliant post by silvergreaser slightly echoed by Pounf's. In the past there used to be a palpable sense of anticipation as horses approached Becher's knowing the test that they were about to face. Looking at the fence now it looks smaller than ever and as a contributor to the Post today put it resembles the Foinavon fence (smallest on the course) with no drop or Brook. The do-gooders have done their damage and moved on now - astonishing how many of these creatures are on this thread. The race is over and can only go downhill until it disappears forever. If I was the sponsor I wouldn't sully my products name by being associated with such a non-event.
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My views for what it's worth...as a father with missus and kids into horses it was a great day. We had the coverage on from 1300 and we all had a bet on every race.
The girls sat and watched whole race, really enthralled by it...they were on double seven each way who was up with the pace in recognisable colours. All in all a highly enjoyable family day. I suppose this is the reason for the sanitisation of the national, to ensure the next generation of race fans are developed, through their memories of such days. I found yesterday's race contained some decent enough high jinx and spills, without any serious injury to horse a jockey so we must be grateful of that. Of course, it's not like the good old days, but nothing is...as the Pies says above everything was tougher back then. But the kids are brought up differently to the way we were and it is important the sport and the industry moves with these times to allow it to survive and indeed flourish. The grand national is one of the sports opportunities to dominate the public consciousness. And it is right that they put in the measures to make sure the post race discussion is positive. However we can never underestimate the ineptitude of the establishment and even though there were no fatalities they still can't get a ****g stewards enquiry set up right.  |
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For those saying it's now a boring race, then how do you manage to watch racing through the rest of the year?
There were no deaths in those years 91,92,94 (we cant really count 93 as it was a no race) due to soft going and changes that were made to Beechers after the 89 running. |
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Very good post off the toe.
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Steamship - what a ridiculous post - they can muck about with the 2.40 from Wolverhampton on a wet Monday afternoon as much as they want. This is the Grand National we're talking about - as iconic a race as there is.
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I really enjoy looking back on old nationals, there have been many great races in the past but you have to accept those days are gone, no point in harping on about how much its been messed about with, just enjoy it for what it now is, its still a great spectacle & maybe not the one it once was but still an event you can look forward to & enjoy on an annual basis.
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The world has moved on, we don't have jim davidson's stand up routines to endure, paedophilia is being tackled, priests are being put in jail. This isn't the 70's any more we don't need the barbaric spectacle now.
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1998 and 2001 races were very exciting.
Hardly any finishers if I'm right. |
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I was not looking forward to the race for the first time in my life . Most years i get butterflies in the stomach as race time approaches , it is simply the greatest sporting spectacle imo.
However I thoroughly enjoyed the race . The fences still caused lots of problems , most of the major players had to survive some error or other ......perhaps Swing Bill should coach them how to do it , he makes it look easy. One of the biggest differences now is the sheer number of horses in contention 4 fences out, which keeps lots of punters interested. But as we know that final mile switches most of them to an empty fuel gauge. I just hope they dont pander to the animal rights people any further , especiall in shrinking the field size. Time for them to leave this high profile part of our culture alone and get on with the thousands of cruelty cases elsewhere. |
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I just hope they dont pander to the animal rights people any further
I think that's the worry. It's no where near like it was anticipation wise for me but it was still an exciting race. However the appeasement will continue. There will be fatalities at some point whether it be next year or the one after because thats racing and with the fences now as soft as they could possibly be it's going to be interesting whether they say enough is enough or pander to further pressure. Unfortunately it will likely be the latter. |
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There seems to be a mis-placed concept that animal rights groups are solely responsible for the changes when in fact no changes would have been made had popular opinion not been in favour of doing so. After all animal rights groups are in favour of vegetarianism but I don't see them banning meat being sold in supermarkets any time soon.
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I would say that the National is now an easier test than the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. It is more akin to the Festival Cross-Country race.
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think some of the jockeys believed some of the posts on here and disrespected the fences,[waley cohen on thurs said you can flick through the top and the clever horses no it ],
long run,teaforthree,big shu, burton port not so clever then,some hard falls yesterday horses thumping the fences barely half way up |
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billobaggins- You fail to see the bigger picture, you ttalk of the anticipation of them approaching Beechers, did you feel like that in 2011 when going round the second time they had to avoid the fence because of an injured horse?
You probably still find it acceptable to drink and drive |
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still a great race and even better for fewer injuries and fatalities but much more difficult to narrow the field down and find the winner
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Sport involves risk,People or Animals.
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Steamship,I walked the course years ago,when it was a true test.What we have now is a shadow of the "real National".To bring up one case is neither here nor there.Obviously much of the excitement disappeared with the altering of the fences.The people that count,owners,trainers,jockeys weren't complaining for years.If you didn't have the "right type" for Aintree,you didn't enter,or didn't qualify.
I have no time for the so called do-gooders that wanted the fences altered. |
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Obviously much of the excitement disappeared with the altering of the fences.
Why? What exactly is it that was so "exciting" about the old fences that isn't there now? |
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The magic will never go away. It's all part of our heritage.
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Well said Lizzy!
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I thought it was a great race. Lots of incident, thrills and spills, massive crowd. As for the bookies not being full that's because most people bet online these days and not an indication that the race is any less popular. The opposite is true. And it is the race which brings horse racing to the forefront of sport. If it wasn't for watching the GN on TV as a kid in the 1970's I doubt I'd have developed an interest in all horse racing many years later.
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Come to think of it, Red Rum ruined my life!
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Bechers brook was the national, nows its a **** fence.
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my views of the race changed 15years ago.... when i bought two horses both flat types ...they were good to me lots of fun a few good wins and an introduction to another world ...even the sight of one of them breaking a blood vessel made me uneasy and concerned ..ok they have the best of attention but why wd y risk injury to some things y get very close to ....i wdnt watch the race for a long time ... this was madified to watching the race but not the jumping at fences ..i did watch it this year but only after i had seen the massive changes in height and construction to the fences,,, the race was cruel ... it probebly still is but less so ... ohh i backed the second ... my first bet in race for years ... my old horses are still alive at twenty plus ... take part in show jumping and small eventing ... how a 5f sprinter took to this ive no ideaesp as it tripped ist time it was faced with a pole on the ground .... the girls who have them love them to bits as did i /
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cheltenham has lost its gloss since made 4 days
york is the same in august the fa cup is pish the premier league is filled with players who most people have never heard of no sport is as good as it was when it was sport and not a money making machine for tv |
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Yes. Not at all the race it was. Anything/body can win it now, and frequently does.
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forcing a horse to jump some of those old high fences was cruel. end of discussion.
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Make it much safer and more horse-friendly then brain dead and run it over hurdles instead! It is astonishing how quickly people swallow the propaganda and become brain-washed!
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