Should 2004 Hunting legislation be strengthened, left as it is or repealed?
Gauging broad racing sentiment towards Hunting and its horse racing offshoot, Pointing
- Ban trail Hunting too
- Stay as we are
- Repeal 2004 Act and allow all hunting
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If chasing an animal around for entertainment isn’t retarded behaviour, I’m not sure what is. Get a PlayStation if you’re bored; it’s the 21st century.
I read last week that 80% of the UK now favour a complete hunting ban.
I’d expected a different sentiment on a predominantly UK racing forum, which will contain many Jumps fans, or National HUNT fans, to refer to its old title.
It’s only a small sample (16 votes) but thus far it looks like at TRF 56% favour a complete hunting ban, given that without trail hunting there is effectively nothing left.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I had missed Glad’s post and would not say im ok with it. From reading many of his other posts I think he’s better than that.
I don’t claim any sort of moral high ground, or to represent the views of anyone else. I give my opinion and if people wish to agree or argue it that’s fine, just no need to lower ourselves to insults.
On the point about job losses, would ‘thousands’ of people be out of work if you stopped all hunting? It’s a seasonal activity anyway.
“I’d expected a different sentiment on a predominantly UK racing forum, which will contain many Jumps fans, or National HUNT fans, to refer to its old title.”
Whenever the huntsman and hounds appear on the track at Aintree before the Foxhunters, they are often booed and jeered.
Aintree is in an urban area (although not far from open countryside) and not typical of National Hunt tracks. I expect the reception would be different at somewhere like Ludlow.
Nevertheless, it shows how that a lot of jumping enthusiasts do not have any regard for the hunt. As such, the poll results here do not surprise me.
Really interesting point, CAS, IMO.
I was in Hereford recently – their racecourse is in a very urban area.
Ditto Aintree as you rightly say.
Ludlow, conversely, is in the middle of nowhere – it’s almost like being at a Point-to-Point.
I hadn’t expected 80% – tbh I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect – but 56% tends to confirm the impression there’s no great love for hunting among racing fans, but then there’s no great love for hunting among a fair few Point fans, despite the knowledge that’s the current raison d’etre for Pointing’s existence.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Ian, were those in the poll you quote 80% from asked the same question and given the same options as here? i.e. some of the remaining 20% do not want to see a return of the currently illegal form of hunting and some wish for a repeal. I would be interested in the full figures if you have them.
I read the figure on the ITV News website, Richard.
This story is now four years out of date, but I doubt sentiment towards hunting has warmed in the intervening four years: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/fox-hunting-poll-boxing-day-league-against-cruel-sports-ban-theresa-may-election-a8127851.html?amp
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Thanks. The 85% ‘opposed to a repeal’ quoted by the Indy would seem to be analogous to the first two options here which on current figures stands at 87.5%.
YouGov backs up the 80% figure and suggests that public opinion remains static.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/should-fox-hunting-remain-illegal
All in all I think Team TRF is quite well aligned with the general public here.
Fair comment, Richard – thank you for your interpretation of the comparative figures (which upon reflection I can now see is more accurate than my own!)
In the meantime, in the wake of the latest ITV News story last week, three arrests apparently: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9emjxpj133o
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I think splitting those opposed as you have done is important. I am not the only one who has expressed the view that I would be fine with genuine trail hunting but the fact that the trust placed in hunts not to use it as cover for the real thing has been abused leads me to oppose the activity more than I otherwise would. The cynic in me believes that those making the law damn well knew what would happen, but one shouldn’t speculate too much.
At a guess I would say the general public might as a whole take a more hard-line stance on it than our (admittedly small) sample and you’d see a bigger vote for a total ban.
I am not even sure the huntsman and hounds appeared at Aintree last year. I did not see them anyway.
Their reception is in contrast to when I visited Downpatrick. The hounds from the East Down Hunt were applauded by many people in the crowd. I think I am right in saying hunting is still legal in Northern Ireland.
On a different matter, I was intrigued by the comment that a point to point is held at Fakenham on an inner track. How tight must that circuit be?!
Fakenham used to be officially called “West Norfolk Hunt”, just as Downpatrick was “County Down Hunt”. I can certainly remember Perth being known as Perth Hunt until quite recently. And Fairyhouse was referred to as “Ward Union Hunt” until as recently as 1964 (according to Chris Pitt’s book “A Long Time Gone”).
Actually, CAS, I just checked and it’s portable Point fences on the hurdles course.
Numerous racecourses have staged Points over the years, mostly on the inside, bjt you’re right to question that assumption on my part in this instance.
Hexham, Ffos Las and Bangor-On-Dee still do it and in the past Wetherby, Market Rasen (going left handed!) and Exeter are among those to host it.
I’ve been rules racing at Fakenham, but never to a Point there.
Point info: https://pointtopoint.co.uk/courses/756
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I have been to one rules meeting there. I keep meaning to visit again. It is a very good track and it offers good prize money now.
I knew Bangor staged point to points but did not know about the others.
I believe the old racecourse at Buckfastleigh is still used for point to points. Lincoln was too but that might have stopped now.
Yes, Buckfastleigh has a Point meeting next Saturday.
They have switched to racing left handed now so bizarrely they old crumbling stand is now down at the second last just after they turn into the home straight.
Old right handed Buckfastleigh: https://youtu.be/4pf3L5z3bzA
Old Grandstand: https://youtu.be/LXJWLckO0qI
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Lincoln closed because the local council said it was OK to hold point-to-points…, but they didn’t want any association with hunting.
Bogside staged point-to-points until 1994. I presume it closed because it would have been expensive for up keep, but I know there was some issue about it’s proximity to the Ardeer explosives works.
Buckfastleigh’s switch sounds just like Wexford. The stand is now nowhere near the finishing line since the track was switched around. But it does mean there is a fence right in front of the stands, which makes for a good spectacle.
“On the point about job losses, would ‘thousands’ of people be out of work if you stopped all hunting? It’s a seasonal activity anyway.”
A ‘seasonal activity’ shows a certain naivety of the subject.
The repercussions would extend through much of the equine industry with the removal of hunting.
Directly of course would be those employed by the hunts and many rely on the hunt for accommodation.
The abattoirs would of course benefit, but feed, veterinary, tack and many other businesses would suffer a fair hit.
I can’t see the P2P scene continuing and if it does, it will be in a vastly reduced format and that will only exacerbate the issue.
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