Harsh fatalities at the Grand National
The Grand National gets critisised each year due to its aftermath. The winner does get to enjoy the glory, fame and success, but at the expense of what. Once the field starts off, it is more of a good-bye scene as the connections besides the jockey, can
never be sure if either will come back unscratched or if the duo will survive at all. Calling it a sport, enjoying, attending and betting on it does not support the human nature.
Just over this weekend, not the Grand National, but the StanJames.com International Hurdle witnessed a fatal injury of the Paul Nicholls’ trained, Cristal Bonus. His other representative, Zarkandar, however, did win the race. It is brutal of the connections
to put these animal athletes through a test that is beyond the stamina of many.
The Grand National only is responsible for seven fatalities out of the 439 horses who participated in it in 2000 to 2010. Due to its intense nature that includes thirty fences at Aintree Racecourse, it has become a popular target for the animal rights activists.
Several committees have been formulated year after year to introduce measures that will reduce the severity level of the race, despite that many horses end their career at one of the thirty fences.
The racecourse officials have tried improvising the veterinary facilities and have also made efforts time and again to reduce the testing level of the fences. Many have proposed the abolition of the race altogether that has been taking place since 1839.
The most recent fatalities were incurred in the most recent edition of the race where Synchronised fell and According To Pete was euthanized after fracturing the left-fore humerus.
The fate that awaited Synchronised was far worse than According To Pete. He fell at one of the most challenging fences, Becher’s Brook, and did not stop racing even after unseating the rider. By the eleventh fence, he fractured his right-hind tibia and fibula
which then led to his enthanising.
He is not the only horse who met the fate once the jockey had fallen over, many other s have ended their lives in the similar manner.
Tags: