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Poor Celebre D’Allen
can’t help but think he should been close to enjoying a retirement. Rip xxxVf x
Such awful news I feel so angry about the way this horse was treated during the race not a thought for his wellbeing.
Totally agree with Lochinver’s post, the jockey should be given at lengthy ban if not struck off.
RIP Celebre D’Allen🌷He deserved so much better than this and at 13 years of age his welfare should have been top priority. The jockey should have pulled him up at the first sign of distress.
✨️😪Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...RIP Celebre d’Allen. You will not be forgotten.
“Only ignorance! only ignorance! how can you talk about only ignorance? Don’t you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness? — and which does the most mischief heaven only knows.
Terrible news but is this a case of a jockey getting tunnel vision of finishing the “greatest” race and not seeing or feeling what is happening below him.
The more I know the less I understand.
Looking at his race record he ‘ finished tired’ in the 2023 Becher and he was younger and it was over a shorter distance. He was such a good jumper who seemed to try his best whenever he ran. What a terrible end for him. He didn’t deserve this.
The sad truth is that every one of us who takes an interest in racing is complicit in the deaths of horses to some degree. It’s a horribly complicated and uncomfortable topic.
For those posters who are confidently making statements about Nolan’s severe failings and calling for the end of his career, I’d urge them to bear in mind the unavoidable riskiness of the sport, and the very difficult balancing act that jockeys face.
I know it is not easy to find empathy with Nolan when poor Celebre D’Allen has died, but I think anyone who follows racing owes it to him to at least try and see how this sad situation could have arisen without him being some kind of villain whose life must now be ruined.
I agree. Sportspeople go through pain barriers that most of us would never cope with. And they’re in races to win them. An accident is a series of events, not just one unfortunate one. If he could ride the race again I’m sure he wouldn’t continue the way he did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. He shouldn’t be demonised for it.
I’ve usually got alot of empathy … this time I can’t find it for MN who could not find it for Celebre …
Also both the winners of Grand National and Foxhunters have received bans for their use of the whip almost as long as MN’s … I can understand their actions far more … although of course they were out of order …
Agree Marlingford.
Micheal Nolan made a poor error of judgement on Saturday. I expect he is feeling terrible about it now. That could affect him more than any formal penalty handed out by the stewards.
But when people are calling for him to be permanently banned or (as seen on some social media) prosecuted, should his whole life be ruined because of one lapse of judgement? It strikes me our secular age, which likes to think of itself as so much more progressive and enlightened than the past, can be remarkably unforgiving at times.
“The sad truth is that every one of us who takes an interest in racing is complicit in the deaths of horses to some degree. It’s a horribly complicated and uncomfortable topic.”
I started the attached thread last year, after witnessing yet another horse as good as walk through a fence and not lose much (if any) momentum. It provoked a discussion in which Drone observed all National Hunt fans make “a pact with the Devil”.
I think that is true. We need to be honest and admit that if we watch racing, especially National Hunt racing, sometimes horses will get injured and sometimes they will be killed. No matter how much they tinker with the course and race conditions, the Grand National will never be safe.
Even if that was possible, would it be worth having? Part of the race’s appeal is admiring the skill of the riders and the bravery of the horses. A Grand National without any risk or jeopardy would be a bland and rather dull spectacle.
The problem is it is becoming more difficult in the modern age to make these arguments in the public arena, when we live in a culture where feelings and emotion have precedence and where there is no longer a mature understanding of risk. And where social media allows clips of falls and half baked arguments can reach millions of people in seconds.
The BHA needs to keep putting the argument about the fatality rate being low and within the acceptable parameters of risk; explain the research constantly being done to improve safety; and to stress what a disaster abolishing racing would be for the horse population.
Right now, I think most of the public are still favourable to racing, or at least not hostile to the extent they want to see it banned. However, I think attitudes are starting to shift more towards the animal rights argument. The BHA and racing supporters need to be vigilant.
I am deeply saddened to know that Celebre D’Allen didn’t make it. I have watched thousands of races over many years when I have shouted at the tv “pull it up”. When I can see a tired horse with no more to give is urged to continue & obviously has no chance of finishing placed. I love horse racing/horses but this really has hit a nerve. The jockey is NOT inexperienced & has ridden a lot of winners for the Hobbs/Johnson team. On reflection, whilst I am, like many of us, saddened by his actions, I don’t want it to end his career. I know it is a hard life for most jockeys. I just hope he & others learn from this that horses are NOT machines & that there welfare is the most important thing. We certainly don’t need fuel adding to the fire for the Anti brigade RIP Celebre D’Allen, you deserved better 🥀
I believe Micheal Nolan has deleted his X and Facebook accounts due to the level of abuse he was receiving. Abuse issued by people who no doubt make a habit of thinking they are the morally virtuous.
It is good to know they have nothing better to do than get worked up about a dead horse. Meanwhile, monstrous injustices are taking place in this country right now. And the twitter lynch mobs don’t give a damn about them and get upset if some of them are even mentioned.
Jusbluey, I can see a comment from you posted at 9:05 this morning, between two comments made by Cork All Star.
I too have found myself shouting “pull up” at the TV on occasion, albeit I believe these decisions are sometimes more nuanced than they appear.
CAS – Agree with your comments above. It is interesting that, although “be kind” is one of the mantras of the age, “show understanding” and “show forgiveness” don’t seem to accompany it.
I wonder what would actually satisfy the baying mob on social media? I suspect absolutely nothing in a worryingly high number of cases, and that they would only be happy if they hounded him to the point he topped himself.
I had best emphasise these latter comments are in no way aimed at any posters on this forum, whose upset I totally understand.
Agree Marlingford. I have often referred to the “Be Kind” mob on other forums. They take that attitude when it suits them and on issues which they care about – but they show a distinct lack of kindness towards people they do not like or towards anyone who disagrees with them.
The horse was in the lead approaching the second last and seemingly travelling OK. He clearly emptied quickly in the 75 yards before the fence and after it and I am sure he’d pull him up before the last if he had the moment again but it’s not like he thrashed a beaten horse for half the track. There were plenty horses around him that were well beaten that also jumped the last.
Albeit he could have done things differently knowing what we know now, I think the off-the-scale criticism of the jockey is totally over the top.Cormack
can’t help but think he should been close to enjoying a retirement. Rip xxx
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