What is the Grandnational?
The Grand National is a big event on the UK calendar. It is especially big in the betting world, and the 'sport' world.
The event is basically horse racing. It's horse racing dressed up, with fancy names and costumes. Really, there is nothing much more to it than that.
What's the big deal?
Since 2000, there have been 42 horses, at least, which have died at the Grand National. These horses are put under immense pressure. Not only do they have to train. But, they also have to 30 jumps in the entire race. Everyone in the UK is familiar with seeing horses fall over at these hurdles. It isn't any wonder that they fall over, giving the amount of pressure they are under.
So far this year, the Grand National has seen two horses die.
Horses are treated badly on the course. They are whipped throughout the gruelling race. Why do we think that this is acceptable to do with horses? When, if we saw someone doing this to a cat, or a dog, we would be phoning the RSPCA immediately.
Just because many of the animals do not die, does not mean that horse racing is not cruel. It is.
Horse racing is Britain's bullfighting?
Well, let us look at the facts:
. Usually less than half the horses finish the race (exhaustion)
. The horses are forced to race for 4 miles
. Many of them die
.. There are cases of neglect. Especially
when a horse is of use no longer.
. Many of these horses are taken to be slaughtered
Horse racing is certainly cruel, barbaric, and in no sense of the word 'entertaining.' We need to pause and think if people were doing this to cats and dogs, forcing them around a field for miles, whipping them, sending them to slaughter or shooting them when they are no longer racing animals, would we put up with this? Put a bet on this? Cheer? I'd guess most of us would not. So, why do we think that this is acceptable with horses....