It is just a brutal race, absolutely horrendous. Swept under the carpet and now I hear commentators say "we must praise the horses connections ambition". Sadly, I cannot share that view, and I feared for him when I saw how petit he looked and I think it was a damn awful decision to run him. The race is an absolute lottery, sadly of equine life. If you take away the headlines and glory, it is a very shallow, dark race to analyse over the years. I can't be having it. I'm not here to be the animal police but it is one race that is just a nightmare IMO.
Noel Fehily has a suspected broken leg as well. Lets hope me makes a quick recovery. Frankel retired as well
Completely gutted, if only he would have ran loose another mile or so they may have withdrawn him. To lose a gold cup winner through running him in a handicap, i wish the fascination with this race would run itself out. So So sad for all connections.
RIP Gold Cup Winner Synchronised and According to Pete - sad loss for connections and both horses have given a lot and had a lot more to offer
one of the worst hours for racing I have ever known the gold cup winner killed in the National and one of the greatest flat horses ever probably retired
I don't place additional value on one horses life over another but the fact that one of those lost is Synchronised cannot be a good thing for racing in general because the wider public will place greater emphasis on it. I hate to say it but I was adamant they shouldn't run him. He was never going to have the scope for the race. Horrible that I am saying it.
Look what has crept in to the trends. #Banhorseracing. Every year. Time to scrap the national me thinks
Guys can the two of you just **** off or ignore one another. now is not the time. I agree Zen entirely, I think this will get a lot more coverage because of who it is. I agree also with you Toppy. I said last year that I would give this race another go because I thought conditions didn't favour the race but after today that could be it. There are too many runners for starters. One horse falls and 3 go down with it. What a shambles, is this the sport we know and love? Not for me. I appreciate horses dying is part of racing but why increase those chances so much in a race like this just so once a year punters have a spectacle. Hope Weird Al plugs through.
Btw is everyone really buying the Frankel injury ? just a quick question to see what you all think. First it was just a little cut now he is retired ? maybe not sparkling on the gallops
Bickering after such sad news makes no one look good. It is terrible news, and as a lifelong racing fan I am horrified to think of the ignorant stick we are gonna get from hypocrites. But as neither of the fatalities was due to falling then you may as well say ban racing as ban the national. You cant get rid of something because it's' popularity makes negative publicity associated with it seem worse, look at the stayers race in Dubai last week. Horse Racing is dangerous.
There was a lovely piece on BBC about According to Pete and his connections. Raised him since he was a foal and was a member of the family.They must be even more devastated. If anything is going to raise even more public concerns(And justifiably), its going to be a human interest story like that.
Sorry but I am not bickering. I was just pointing out about the horses and wayward comes on mouthing off. All I have said is move on. Anything wrong with that lads?
DB They were almost crying before the race so god knows what they are going through now. Always very sad to see a horse break down or fall
So now ATR and RUK change their minds and claim Frankel hasn't been retired. They both said otherwise 10 minutes ago
