I don’t know why McManus had him race in the Grand National – he was too good a horse to risk in a lottery like that – you don’t race a rolls royce in a demolition derby.

Greedy pigs for racing him so soon after Cheltnam. That horse deserved to be in pasture for at least 6 months.

Get over it people. These horses are treated like kings when in training. There are hundreds of horses and being mistreated by young fellas in fields around housing estates all over the country. If people are that concerned with animal welfare get out and do something about it. It’s easy to sit at a computer and preach about what should b done and then do nothing yourself. Yes it’s unfortunate that a horse dies every now and then, but these were two strange accidents and were had nothing to do with the layout of the grand national. once the PC brigade get there claws into something, and the media latch on to that then there’s gona be a clamour for something to be done by people who have only a passing interest,or no interest in the sport and who only see a headline

Joan,
A horse weighs approx 600 kg. to mend the leg it needs to lie down for 12-16 weeks. Itis near impossible to keep a horse in that position for so long. If the horse was to be kept in that position for so long, at 600kg, u can imagine the sores that would develop. The horse thrashes around and can do much more damage to the injured leg. The immobility combined with the sores drives the horse crazy

I was brought into a high profile stud a while back and you would not get better facilities in a private hospital … These animals are bred to do what they love, to jump fences … Note that most horses that unsaddle their riders keep on jumping cause it’s what they do ….. Yes they are trained to do a certain skill as an animal so what is the alternative …..? Stop breeding horses ?

Race horses are treated very well. There is no cruelty. Unfortunate accidents happen from time to time. But there are more jockeys hurt than horses, people don’t want to see racing banned because of that.

I really don’t understand this sport and especially the grand national itself. Every year it would appear (I don’t have the full facts admittedly) that at least one or more horses die needlessly in this race just so human can experience some form of enjoyment (it can’t be because the horses want it). I accept that accidents can happen or that tragedy can occur in contact or physical sports but I really do wonder if it’s time to call a halt to the sheer brutality that horses endure during this race.

Again…it all boils down to money…poor animals do not count…they would not break their legs if they weren’t required to jump ridiculous jumps…

I totally agree. But there is so much money involved for Trainers, Owners, Jockeys etc that this immoral race will continue. Too many entrants and frightening high jumps. Total disgrace.

Two wrongs do not make a right. Just because cruelty to horses exists in urban areas does not diminish cruelty in racing.

This is the same JP McManus who sponsors the “Irish Cup” Three day hare coursing event. Film footage of this year’s event (on Limerick racecourse) has been posted on UTube and shows hares being mauled and battered as they run for their lives from hyped-up greyhounds.

Concern for animals?

Its a pil of horse manure.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100909101909AAVXjsp