2012 Grand National - the result

And so the 2012 Grand National has happened. Before it was run it was billed as the safest Grand National ever, with changes having been made to several of the historic jumps, and the media has been full of reassuring statements about how things had been improved this year after two horses were killed last year.

40 horses started.

16 horses fell on the first lap - 40% of those that started.

Use of the whip was excessive by many riders in the final run-in.

Only 15 horses finished - that's just 38% of the starting line- up.

Two horses were killed and a third is being treated on the course

So much for it being safer. So much for the horse race industry caring about animals. The BBC commentators ignored the atrocities.

The Grand National is the single biggest gambling event in the UK with something in excess of £200,000,000 being staked on the race today. Clearly there are many who put the chance of winning a few quid above the safety of horses and, even, jockeys. There is no such thing as a harmless flutter. Every person who placed a bet is partly responsible for the deaths and injuries.

It's time for the Grand National to be stopped but, more than that, it is time for all horse racing to be thoroughly investigated. I fear it will only be the death of a jockey that will bring the horse racing industry to change their ways.