Horse Racing

[msc 18,476]

I remember the outrage when Synchronised and a few other horses died during the 2012 Grand National, and there was a lot of talk about banning horse racing, and the folk who run horse racing events said they'd make it safer for the horses. I am not a horse racing man so have no idea if they did that, or if they just waited for the furore to calm down and carried on, but this is the first bout of fatalities I can recall since then, and horse racing wasn't banned then or now, of course.

[Deathrace 1,171]

While the fences are undoubtedly safer than they were, the Grand National is now generally faster and the falls are often at a greater speed than in days gone by. This means there's a different kind of danger now. In addition, for about the past decade the Grand National has had a maximum 40 runners which was by no means common in the 1990s and 2000s. The more runners, often the greater scope for mishaps. For example in yesterday's race Eclair Surf's fatal accident was when another horse (Annibale Fly) landed of top of him. 

 

Ironically many of the recent fatalities have been a result of horses going wrong on the flat (as what happened to Discorama yesterday). In reality such accidents could happen to a horse in a field and there's nothing the race organisers can do to mitigate against such incidents. I think the one remaining option left is to reduce the field size probably from 40 to 30 which may help slightly but in reality there will never be such a thing as a completely safe horse race. 

[The Old Crem 3,606]

1 hour ago, msc said:

I remember the outrage when Synchronised and a few other horses died during the 2012 Grand National, and there was a lot of talk about banning horse racing, and the folk who run horse racing events said they'd make it safer for the horses. I am not a horse racing man so have no idea if they did that, or if they just waited for the furore to calm down and carried on, but this is the first bout of fatalities I can recall since then, and horse racing wasn't banned then or now, of course.

This was the first national to have two die since 2012. There were no fatalities between 2014-2018 then one in 2019 and last year. 

[Deathrace 1,171]

For context, these are the number of fatalities in the Grand National in the past eight decades. To be honest, I don't think there's much of a pattern here at all. 

1950s: 9 

1960s: 2

1970s: 9

1980s: 6

1990s: 10

2000s: 7

2010s: 5

2020s: 3 

[DevonDeathTrip 2,358]

1 hour ago, Deathrace said:

While the fences are undoubtedly safer than they were, the Grand National is now generally faster and the falls are often at a greater speed than in days gone by. . 

 

Agree with this.  Great speed, rather than great height tends to be what kills horses.

 

There were only two fatalities in about thirty years towards the end of the nineteenth century, when there was little in the way of safety measures in place and fences were much, much bigger.

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218]

1 hour ago, Deathrace said:

While the fences are undoubtedly safer than they were, the Grand National is now generally faster and the falls are often at a greater speed than in days gone by. This means there's a different kind of danger now. In addition, for about the past decade the Grand National has had a maximum 40 runners which was by no means common in the 1990s and 2000s. The more runners, often the greater scope for mishaps. For example in yesterday's race Eclair Surf's fatal accident was when another horse (Annibale Fly) landed of top of him. 

 

Ironically many of the recent fatalities have been a result of horses going wrong on the flat (as what happened to Discorama yesterday). In reality such accidents could happen to a horse in a field and there's nothing the race organisers can do to mitigate against such incidents. I think the one remaining option left is to reduce the field size probably from 40 to 30 which may help slightly but in reality there will never be such a thing as a completely safe horse race. 

No, not really.

The finishing times have not changed drastically for many, many years.

In context, Red Rum won his first national, in 1973, with a time of 9mins 1.9 and last years winner won in a time of 9 mins 16.

There will be many factors that decide winning times but, broadly, the race is not much faster now than it was then.

That makes Red Rums 3 wins and 2 second places over a much tougher course something that no other horse will ever get near.

[Toast 16,140]

I think what can skew perception is the number of finishers.  The National is well known for the number of horses failing to finish, but a lot of these are just pulled up and most are none the worse for any mishaps. 

 

It's striking that there were only two fatalities in the whole of the 1960s.  That of course was the decade of Foinavon's race (1967) when most of the field fell or were brought down at the same fence (ironically the smallest fence).

 

Speed is all about the going.  I think the record for the fastest time is still held by Mr Frisk (1990).  8 mins 47.8.  That's 32 years ago!

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,689]

It’s generally a bit slower than in the late 20th century because they make sure the ground is at least good to soft by watering, one of many safety measures brought in over the last few years.

 

Anyway, brothers and sisters, come the Glorious Revolution, it’ll be toffs like Sam Hoorah-Henry being euthanised by the lumpen proletariat! 
 

Actually, he seems like a jolly nice fellow, so maybe we’ll let him off. 

[time 8,606]

Julie Cecil, ex-wife of Henry, and daughter of Noel Murless died yesterday, aged 80. She was a jockey, trainer and owner, once being joint ladies champion.

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,689]

Ah, the one he dumped for a bit of skirt half his age, who then fucked Kieran Fallon in the shower, which made Henry sad and mad, before he got cancer and kicked the bucket. All very Jilly Cooper. 

[YoungWillz 21,050]

 

[Toast 16,140]

50 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

 

 

And?  She was more than an appendage to Henry Cecil, as Time explained.

[nantonian2013 50]

https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/ondemand/125216

 

Oliver Sherwood has apparently been having chemo and didn't look particularly well when interviewed at Cheltenham yesterday. 

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Zippy Chippy, horse racing’s lovable loser for never winning in 100 races, has died at the age of 31. The bay gelding was living at the Bobby Frankel Division of Old Friends Thoroughbred Farm at Cabin Creek near Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York since 2010. The farm said he died Friday night.

Owner-trainer Felix Montserrate acquired Zippy Chippy in 1995 by trading a 1988 Ford truck for him.

The gelding’s pedigree suggested he had potential to achieve success on the track, coming from a line that included such famed horses as Buckpasser, Bold Ruler, 1943 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet, Man o’ War, Native Dancer, and La Troienne, one of the most influential broodmares of the 20th century.

Alas, it was not to be.

SC

 

[Deathrace 1,171]

8 hours ago, Sir Creep said:

Zippy Chippy, horse racing’s lovable loser for never winning in 100 races, has died at the age of 31. The bay gelding was living at the Bobby Frankel Division of Old Friends Thoroughbred Farm at Cabin Creek near Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York since 2010. The farm said he died Friday night.

Owner-trainer Felix Montserrate acquired Zippy Chippy in 1995 by trading a 1988 Ford truck for him.

The gelding’s pedigree suggested he had potential to achieve success on the track, coming from a line that included such famed horses as Buckpasser, Bold Ruler, 1943 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet, Man o’ War, Native Dancer, and La Troienne, one of the most influential broodmares of the 20th century.

Alas, it was not to be.

SC

 

Despite his lack of racing success, 31 is a good age for a race horse so I'd say that's a life well-lived. 

[MortalCaso 1,629]

On 16/12/2020 at 12:27, arghton said:

---Snip

Died at an Old Friends Equine "retirement home" for horses. Other notable horses that live in Old Friends homes include 1996 breeders cup winner Alphabet Soup, animal actor Popcorn Deelites known from the Seabiscuit movie (played Seabiscuit) and Zippy Chippy, a horse known for holding the record of most losses in modern racing.

 

On 29/01/2022 at 05:15, arghton said:

----Snip

The earliest/oldest Breeder's Cup Classic winner is now either Cat Thief (1996-, won in 1999. Not sure if alive) or Tiznow (1997-, won in 2000 and 2001)

 

There's a list of horses currently at Old Friends here. Here are the ones with a wikipedia page:

Kentucky:

Silver Charm (1994-), Thornfield (1994-), Sarava (1999-), Commentator (2001-), Birdstone (2001-), Awesome Gem (2003-), Nobiz Like Shobiz (2004-), Eldaafer (2005-), Rapid Redux (2006-), Game On Dude (2007-), Little Mike (2007-), Soldat (2008-), The Pizza Man (2009-), Work All Week (2009-) and Stormy Liberal (2012-)

New York:

Zippy Chippy (1991-2022)

As @Sir Creep posted elsewhere, Zippy Chippy died April 16th. That means @arghton the three original horses from your post all died in 2022, the first two almost within a week of each other. All within four months, Popcorn at age 23 and the other two age 30. Ironically they died youngest to oldest...quite sad + interesting.

 

[MortalCaso 1,629]

American Racehorse (Wiki) Midnight Bourbon has died at age 4 from GI issues.

 

 

[Deathrace 1,171]

Legendary hurdler Istabraq is 30 today which is the equivalent of about 90 in human years. Looks good as well. 

[Bibliogryphon 9,586]

Following the loss of Lester Piggott who was the earliest surviving Derby winning Jockey here are the next ten earliest

 

1963 - Yves Saint-Martin (b.1941)

1969 - Ernie Johnson (b.1948)

1971 - Geoff Lewis (b.1935)

1973 - Edward Hide (b.1937)

1979 - Willie Carson (b.1942))

1984 - Christy Roche (b.1949)

1985 - Steve Cauthen (b.1960)

1988 - Ray Cochrane (b.1957)

1991 - Alan Munroe (b.1967)

1992 - John Reid (b.1955)

[Deathrace 1,171]

For the hell of it, here's the Grand National equivalent to the best of my knowledge:

 

1960 - Gerry Scott (b. 1938)

1966 - Tim Norman (b. 1944)

1969 - Eddie Harty (b. 1937)

1972 - Graham Thorner (b. 1949)

1977 - Tommy Stack (b. 1945)

1978 - Bob Davies (b. 1946)

1979 - Maurice Barnes (b. 1951)

1980 - Charlie Fenwick (b. 1948)

1981 - Bob Champion (b. 1948)

1983 - Ben De Haan (b. 1959) 

[gcreptile 10,972]

Benjamin Messina, a young and upcoming jocked dies just days after winning his first major race in a head-on car accident, aged only 19:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/horseracing/18955708/jockey-benjamin-messina-dead-aged-19-car-crash/

[time 8,606]

French trainer Alec Head reported dead aged 97. DDP pick.

 

[Perhaps 1,423]

Alec Head QO:

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/horseracing/18969263/alec-head-dead-aged-97-horse-racing/

[Grim Up North 3,726]

16 minutes ago, Perhaps said:

Alec Head QO:

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/horseracing/18969263/alec-head-dead-aged-97-horse-racing/

 

Lost A Head

[Toast 16,140]

Transferred to my theme team after being a unique pick last year - and surprisingly still unique.

Reposez en paix, monsieur.