I always wonder, even though racehorses enjoy better lives than other animals what happens to the one's that don't cut it? Like, let's say Ballydoyle or any big stable have 100+ 2yos and let's say half of them are still in the yard at 3 - where do the other 50 end up?
They just need to pay me enough not to punt. That would save the lives of hundreds of racehorses.
Dark Ivy, Winter Rain, Dondieu, Our Conor, Golden Cygnet, Valiramix, Gloria Victis (one old betting-shop buddy thought it was named after a film star), etc etc.
All carrying the dessie death penalty.
Seriously, though, the arguments for racing need to be stronger. I watched the Opening Show debate and they missed the argument completely.
The anti brigade know that sport carries risks. They understand the risks jockeys take. And they understand the top-class care horses get.
Their argument is that humans opt into risk-taking, animals are 'forced' (in their opinion). We need vocal and active pro-racing animal welfare people, vets etc to explain the benefits the horses get from training, racing and competition, how it's good for the breed in the wider sense etc etc.
You don't get many critics of Crufts etc when some dogs are (ore at least used to be) bred not even to breathe clearly. That is cruelty.
Maybe they will keep the courses open for Gypsy horse racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXBotak4P5o
Thanks for all the replies. The nightmare scenario, ultimately out of our control, the favourite jumps the last in the National, is coasting home to a 20 length victory, the camera zooms in and a horror break like befell Sir Erec occurs. You can bet your life at least one newspaper, a whole host of celebrities, politicians looking to make the headlines and a huge swathe of social media will be screaming for the race to be banned, the thin edge of the wedge.
Said this to my mate other day. Whip Will be gone in next three years. NH racing has no longer than 15 years left, especially in this PC world we live in.