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Points made on CH 4 Morning Line this morning about the ‘damage’ done to racing last Saturday via –
the by-passing of the fences
the dis-mounting after the race
the buckets of water
Much of that fall-out was self-inflicted and the impact could have been significantly lessened if those measures had been widely and effectively communicated beforehand.
Forgetting about the details of what could/should be changed about the race itself for a second, I think one of the key lessons that needs to be learned is on the PR front.
It didn’t help that it took two days for the BHA to issue a clear response. The events (the deaths, the dismounting, the by-passing of fences) were all foreseeable and it wouldn’t have taken a great leap of imagination for the BHA to have envisaged possible (likely) scenarios that they may have had to respond to.
It appeared there was little preparation by way of a ‘crisis plan’ around the media response to the National. For next year surely the response will be (broadly) thought out, representatives briefed, prepared and lined up for the media immediately after the race if necessary. Media briefed properly beforehand and after on what will be happening on the course and pre/post race. Etc, etc.
Imagine the events had stayed the same. But also imagine that the BBC and dailies had carried details of the by-passing, the dismounting, the buckets of water beforehand (perfectly do-able). Wouldn’t that have been infinitely better?
Also imagine that, instead of taking TWO DAYS to issue a response and waiting around for the media to approach them, the BHA had their people responding immediately. I can’t think of anyone better than our very own (well, sort of!) Silvoir (Paul Struthers) to appear live on the BBC within a half hour of the race finishing explaining clearly ‘racing’s’ position on events (i.e. we took this/that/the other measure(s), we’ll learn from x,y,z and we’ll make it safer/better but there will always be a risk I’m afraid). Wouldn’t that be better and more engaging than a two day wait for a sanitised statement released much too late to have any effect?
I appreciate that resources at the BHA are stretched but the powers-that-be really need to look at the funding of that part of their organisation, is is key and Paul and his (very small) team do a fantastic job within the structure they operate in but I suspect he and his team could do an even better one if they were more effectively supported.
Its all very well to write glowingly about the joys of jump racing and how smashing it is and how sad but understandable the mortalities are …except one thing …The National is a public domain race , and outsiders ie 99 per cent of those watching whom dont normally bet or watch racing except for this one race , will be appalled and shocked AND PROBABLY ashamed as its a waste
To those once a year viewers , this will have been a shambles , and as such , the momentum to ban the race will gather apace
If this keeps happening ie, horses are in public view wrapped in Tarpaulin then its only a matter of time when politically it will be untenable to run it
That’s what my post was about originally , and I stand by my view , it was a disgrace , if the winner collapsed and died , where would the National stand now ??, as for the Jockey striding in alone that was a really striking sight , how bad was that !!!
I wont be bothering with it again , you are welcome to it
Ricky
I was just wondering how many of us developed a love of horse racing from watching The National in our early years; it was certainly what brought me to the sport. It saddens me to think that in future that may not [or probably already isn’t] happening.
Its all very well to write glowingly about the joys of jump racing and how smashing it is and how sad but understandable the mortalities are …except one thing …The National is a public domain race , and outsiders ie 99 per cent of those watching whom dont normally bet or watch racing except for this one race , will be appalled and shocked AND PROBABLY ashamed as its a waste
To those once a year viewers , this will have been a shambles , and as such , the momentum to ban the race will gather apace
If this keeps happening ie, horses are in public view wrapped in Tarpaulin then its only a matter of time when politically it will be untenable to run it
That’s what my post was about originally , and I stand by my view , it was a disgrace , if the winner collapsed and died , where would the National stand now ??, as for the Jockey striding in alone that was a really striking sight , how bad was that !!!
I wont be bothering with it again , you are welcome to it
Ricky
I think you’ll find that they’ve been calling for its abolishment
ever since Lottery crossed the line in 1839.If those Animal Aid people really care about Animals then do something about Circuses. On way to work yesterday I passed a poster advertising a real family circus and on it was pictures of animals. That’s real cruelty!
Hi Richard,
Did you consider a range of measures necessary for the National prior to last Saturdays race or just since?
Most seemed to think everything was fine and dandy about the race before last week.
Are they in response to the ill informed outcry from the media etc and/or a knee jerk response to what occurred in one year’s running of the race?
All this has happened despite the added "safety" measure of bypassing of fences, can’t recall any major incidents when fences were still jumped despite the "near misses", in fact as Choc Thornton pointed out, a major incident was narrowly avoided last Saturday as a loose horse still jumped Bechers narrowly missing a paramedic, what if it had become impaled on a dolling arrow or landed on someone? Some horses still to prefer to jump which they could still do with the fences partitioned.
The sight of two dead or dying horses being so publicly and openly displayed to TV audiences as the field ran round them was not good and was witnessed by millions of non-racegoers, many of them children, screens will not solve that now. A massive own goal and it’s hard to see how the race will recover from this.Hi Yeats,
No I can’t say that I did consider some of the measures necessary and to some extent still require convincing that they hold water.
However I think based on events at the weekend doing nothing is not really going to be a viable option and it was against that backdrop that on RUK I was trying to weigh up in my own mind the merit of some of the propoals that had been discussed.
Each will have their own views and opinions which is as it should be but the ones that for me don;t fundamentally destroy the essence of the race but also have some logic in being seen to reduce the potential for accidents seem the ones worthy of most consdieration.
We will have to agree to differ on bypassing, I still remain convinced it is far safer and defendable than an incident where someone is landed on by only dolling off part of the fence or the injured/dead horse is hauled off the track as under the old method.
The error in not having erected a screen around Ornais (which should have been done but was not) along with the lack of communication of the post race procedures that were to be implemented to combat dehydration were indeed both self inflicted wounds though not unprecedented (many will remember Dark Ivy prostrate in full view on the second circuit many years ago so.)
As has been pointed out all of this is risk management and given the position the race finds itself in, have to be coupled with those that can be logically sold to those uneasy after watching the race at the weekend.
Those who view the death of any animal in the name of sport will never be won over but others are more capable of weighing up the issues in a more balanced manner.
It seems as if the major change in the aftermath to this may actually turn out to be to the whip rules rather than cosmetic changes to the National as despite the deaths etc both the BHA’s and C4 postbag has had more outcry over this than the fatalities themselves, along with change to the fence design which I have to say I am less certain of depending on its impact on speeds.
Forums such as this are good for positive debate and helping formulate and arguing a view.
Whatever occurs the National will again have been fundamentally changed by the events of last Saturday, only time will tell in what way.( to those who have quoted the 1996 27 runner race did lead to a fatality (pulled up lame 13th) but not from falls/bd’s (though there were several of the former) over the early fences which is the more relevant fact IMO re any reduction)
I was just wondering how many of us developed a love of horse racing from watching The National in our early years; it was certainly what brought me to the sport. It saddens me to think that in future that may not [or probably already isn’t] happening.
Without the 2008 National (when I didn’t even back the winner) I doubt I would even be interested at all.
If we want to lower the profile of the race to lessen the fallout from fatalities (as some have suggested, taking it off tv altogether), then there needs to be another big Saturday race to take up the reins as it were.
And at the moment, there isn’t one.
I wasn’t converted to racing because of the national, I was converted because the horses just try so damned hard in all races, they want to win, it brings a tear to my eye. I cannot watch the National anymore, or indeed any long distance chase/hurdle races, I was appalled after the Eider this year and I only watched the run in! they all looked as if they should have been pulled up on welfare grounds. I am sure that the NH rules encourage jocks to over ask of these willing fellows (yup change the whip rules – I ride so I would never advocate not using one – but I never use one to encourage to go faster, thats up to Sean the horse and how he responds to my urging), and owners and trainers are encouraged to run their horses at all costs by economics. Poor Wilson Renwick took the brunt of my tweets on the Eider subject.
I do bet just to keep things lively and love PP cause they treat me fairly, so I am a punter not just a racing fan.
I also cannot and will not watch/bet on jumping in the flat season, even if the ground is running good to soft. National hunt horses in my humble opinion should be turned away for summer and their bellies left to drop just like the hunters they are. I do watch Cheltenham, the last horrific meeting was the Granit Jack, Wilyanwoody debacle that quite rightly resulted in that damn down hill fence being re-sited, I have seen enough potential lost at the one thanks. I take it that horses break down and can accept it when all reasonable risks are removed, the horse hasn’t been driven at fenches when clearly tiring, run on unrelenting ground, the jumps are fairly sighted an have no surprise drops – I always cringed in the 70’s at the Bechers drop….. I don’t think I’m any different to any of you, or indeed the general public, we just like fairness. I have not seen the pictures of the fallers or indeed seen the falls in the national but the comments say it all on Dooneys Gate …. he didn’t stand a chance… all we ask is they are given a chance and treated fairly. A bit like we treat each other.
Oh and that damn starter assistant and his whip can do one too, I will always remember Cavies Clown (spelling?), perhaps we should just let them not run if they don’t want to, I mean its all a gamble isn’t it
Minella Four Star, as I have said on Memorials, am so gutted about this and imo this horse has been run to death, too many long, hard races over too short a space of time and pu in two of them. Don’t know what David Pipe is thinking about. How owners can do this to a horse I don’t know and certainly cannot understand, especially after his great win at Uttoxeter. Should have wrapped it up for the season and let the horse enjoy a well earned break. Woeful.
The error in not having erected a screen around Ornais (which should have been done but was not) along with the lack of communication of the post race procedures that were to be implemented to combat dehydration were indeed both self inflicted wounds though not unprecedented (many will remember Dark Ivy prostrate in full view on the second circuit many years ago so.)
I didn’t recall Dark Ivy visible to viewers at Becher’s 2nd time, and on checking on Youtube I am not sure what footage you got your recollection from?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QXDcwOaj3Q
If memory serves the real controversy surrounding Dark Ivy’s demise was the debate over whether or not Niall Madden had deliberately jumped across Gordon Richards’ charge at Bechers.
I am surprised you are quibbling over canvass/tarpauling versus green screen.
At the very brutal end of the argument lies the fact horses get killed and we need to be able to stand up, admit it and move on. It seems to me that certain quarters of the media are leaning towards a "lets cover the carnage up" in the hope the public ignore it. As I have said a couple of times, Land Lark under tarpaulin is no different to Ornais.
Some of the best horses we know and love die in freak accidents – from Tryptych in her paddock to Persian Punch in a flat race. Yes, we need to discuss whether or not the National can be made safer, but ultimately we should not be talking about how we present to the public the plight of the National casualties – as long as we are giving them as dignified a send of as possible thats what really counts.
I still think the one thing we really can control is the jockeys persistent use of the whip (maybe Richard you would like to comment on that?) and that is completely controlled by an immediate ban. Also we can commission extensive research into the frequency and casues of equine fatalitie in horse racing and then present those findings to the public in as detailed a fashion as possible – ideally weel in advance of next year’s renewal.
An equally sensible step would be for the racing industry to get Animal Aid across a table and look to find a workable solution. At present it is clear animal aid have certain journalists in their pocket and have them dancing to their tune.
Not all of what Animal Aid says is "b*llocks" I am sure, and simply dismissing certain opinions as "the animal rights brigade" serves only to further alientate the racing industry.
I wonder where our great freinds "Racing for Change" are amongst all of this. Clearly racing needs change of some kind at the moment where National Hunt racing is involved, and yet RFC are strangely silent. Maybe they are too busy dreaming of a "champions day" at Sandown in May where tha Cheltenham Gold Cup, Grand National, Derby and King George are all contested within the space of 65 minutes watched by a global audience of literally billions.
Two more deaths at the Scottish National.
Minella Four Star and Regal Heights.When you say two "more" deaths, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you able to provide detailed statistics of the occurence of deaths during the Scottish National meeting either since inception? Are you able to provide a scientific opinion on the possible causes of the incidence of equine fatalities identified at that specific meeting?
Unless you can provide that why make pointless one line statements of the obvious which will almost certainly further entrench and alienate a National Hunt fraternity feeling as under attack as they have ever been?
As Venture To Cognac has made abundantly clear, there are some people who have been raised from a very young age to be totally mesmerised and completely in thrall of the Aintree National. It is therefore very hard to come to terms with the public outcry from the past week. However I am sure most reasonable people ( and the vast majority of National Hunt folk are actually that, reasonable good and law abiding) immediately react against sound byte attacks such as your post.
Time of the race tells you they under-watered.
Of course there will be fatalities on softer and with 35 instead of 40. But it will be safe
r
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It is interesting your example of 1996 was the last time the ground was as hard as it was this year. 99 wasn’t that much better either.
There was nothing wrong with the ground last Saturday, the professionals at the coal face by common consent stated it was beautiful ground. If that ground is not good enough for a race then the race should not be taking place.
Regards the other, in Earth Summits National in 98 on your favoured soft ground more horses were killed than last Saturday, two of those when there was less than 30 runners left in the race.
Two more deaths at the Scottish National.
Minella Four Star and Regal Heights.When you say two "more" deaths, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you able to provide statistics of the occurence……………………………………………………… etc etc
I mean that two more horse sadly lost their lives in another National.
I didn’t say anything else. The rest you imagined.
My view on the whip is that it should be carried and used for corrective purposes only.
I think it would improve horsemanship and strength in the saddle which should be greater measures of ‘jockeyship’ than rhythmic striking/ or flailing.
I am not in favour of any rule that leaves itself too open to inconsistent stewarding decisions hence the reason for no minimum number of strikes etc as think these would just be ignored in big races and certainly not in favour of disqualifications based on number as to hard to implement. I think the time has come for this change reinforced by the fact that depsite the deaths etc more complaints re the National were received for whip to both BHA and C4 than any other single issue.My point about the insensitivity canvas and not a screen was to point out this was an error and whilst you may feel it is cosmetic in that it doesn’t change the outcome to me you answer the reason later on in the same paragraph in that in the eyes of the general public it lacks dignity and respect and enchances the races ‘callous’ approach.
As regards Dark Ivy my memory may well be failing me but similarly edits such as the infamous Mr Wilson’ dead horse’ quote in commentary have taken place before to both vision and audio so depends where the u-Tube version you refer to was sourced from. Pretty sure the papers also carried shots of horses jumping around the grey on the floor (perhaps stragglers from 1st circuit) though as I say can’t prove just a strong recollection of the impact the scene made.
Can’t have engaging with Animal Aid, sufficient involvement of constructive welfare groups has taken place and contiunes to do so.
Re the Scottish National deaths, does that mean the argument will widen to NH racing in general and make the National less of a specific target or will it attract no more than a passing mention showing how unique the coverage of the National in mainstream media compared to other events which Racing would take as seriously,
Two more deaths at the Scottish National.
Minella Four Star and Regal Heights.They the first to happen in the Scottish National since 2002 and caused by Internal bleeding, although Regal Heights trainer tweeted that his horse suffered a heart attack. So that could have happened anywhere really.
I rewatched the end of the race last night, as I was quite concerned when I read that Regal Heights had been tailed off but made to finish the race. What I saw was a horse that, when it was obvious would not take part in the finish, was eased down and allowed to finish in his own time. He didn’t appear particularly tired as he crossed the line, and certainly didn’t look distressed in any way. As Red Rum pointed out, a tragic accident that could have happened at any time. The same applies to Minella Four Star who obviously had an underlying problem that had not been picked up. Unfortunate, given the amount of tests that these horses are given to establish their well being before they race [David Pipes father being at the forefront of such testing]. My condolences go to the connections of both horses, who are suffering enough distress at the moment without having false allegations made about them.
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