But if that horse really does not want to run then it simply won't run. It could kick and buck and probably throw the jockey off it wanted to but they are trained to race and in my opinion if they didn't want to run they wouldn't.

I'm not betting on a horse or jockey or race based on the number of horses or jockey's it has killed. I bet on it because it's a tradition that my family has always had. I don't sit there and think "oh horses might die in this race so i'll put more money on it".

I know it's a long course but i genuinelly believe that the horses enjoy the race, the training and the care of them that leads up to it. Take dog racing for example - I have yet to meet a dog that doesn't love to run or chase things so is dog racing really cruel as well?

I think horses can be trained to want the adrenalin rush as many other creatures can be.

This isn't a thread about dog racing though is it? It's a thread about the Grand National.
My mum and dad both had a habit of smoking 60 a day with all the windows in the house shut. Doesn't make it right or something I want to pereptuate.
Horses die. Every year. Painful deaths. Did you watch the video?
I have helped train dogs to work...they do it even when they don't want to, because they want to please. They do it because they have been trained to do it...Horses are the same. Not saying for all of them...but a lot of animals do things, purely because we ask them to (or whip them..I note the RSPCA have issued yet another warning about that at The Grand National....if a horse is loving it that much, why would it need to be whipped???????)
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/news/rspc..._national/2405
http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator...33345&mode=prd

Dont get the bit about it being part of British history so what? Because of that it should carry on? - history is just that HISTORY and this along with the rest of them should be just that history.

Sorry I just dont believe that 'because its tradition or history' we should continue to exploit animals.

Essentially it's not a thread about whether the grand national is cruel or not - it's a thread about which horse those who are interested are going to bet on.

And I said I am not going to bet because of....x,y,z.
Would it be better if the death of the horses wasn't mentioned?
I apologise if me mentioning horses dying has spoilt people's 'fun' in any way, shape or form.
I shall leave it at that. I hope all your horses make through the race alive. I have nothing more to say.

That I think says it all for me.

So if cock-fighting and badger baiting was part of british history and that has been banned then why hasn't horse racing? Is it maybe because it has not been deemed as a cruel sport?

Many would argue that it is because of money. I have not been discussing 'horse racing' however...just the national. I shall back out now and leave people to their little flutters...that add up to a LOT of money...why would anyone want to change a race that made a lot of money???

I would imagine it generates far too much money to be banned to be fair! Tax is a big incentive for the government to keep something going!