Paul Nicholls shows how horse racing is out of touch

Paul Nicholls, the owner of the winning horse at last Saturday's controversial Grand National, thinks that it wads "fantastic race" and that critics of the race, which saw two horses being killed, should "grow up".

He also called for the media to focus more on the positives of the race.

Paul Nicholls is one of horse racing's most successful owners, and, while he's not a spokesperson for the horse racing industry, it's fair to say that his views are typical of those within the racing fraternity - a "sport" which sees around 420 horses killed at racecourses annually and many more killed away from race days.

Mr. Nicholls went on to say that everyone knows the risks but that it is the Grand National. He ignored the fact that do many horses die in less high profile races throughout the year.

Paul Nicholls outburst shows our of touch with the public mood the horse racing industry is and why restrictions need to be placed on future races and the risks involved.

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.

Last year's Grand National...

Don't forget your Grand National Sweepstake for this year's race!

Grand National Sweepstake!!!

Here's your sweepstake kit for this year's Grand National.

Simply print this page and cut out the individual numbered tickets.

Everyone gets to pick a number.

If a horse dies, or is killed, during the Grand National by the method listed on your ticket YOU WIN!

CONGRATULATIONS - AND HAVE FUN!

1 Broke down - destroyed

2 Fell - fatally injured

3 Collapsed and died after winning race

4 Fatal fall

5 Collapsed and died during race

6 Pulled up - broke front leg - destroyed

7 Collapsed and died after race

8 Fell - broke elbow - destroyed

9 Broke leg - destroyed

10 Pulled up lame - destroyed

11 Broke Hind Leg - destroyed

12 Fell - injured - destroyed

13 Fell - broke foreleg - destroyed

14 Fatally injured

15 Lost action -injured - destroyed

16 Fell - broke neck - dead

17 Stumbled and fell on bend - fatally injured

18 Heart attack during race

19 Leg injury - destroyed

20 Collapsed during race - dead

21 Slipped landing over jump - injured neck - destroyed

22 Broke down - fatally injured

23 Tendon injury - destroyed at later date

24 Broke hind leg - destroy

25 Fractured pelvis - destroyed

26 Collapsed during race - fatally injured

27 Fell - Broke Shoulder - destroyed

28 Pulled up - fatal injury

29 Ran loose - heart attack

30 Fell - Broke Foreleg - destroyed

31 Collapsed and died after race

32 Fractured knee - destroyed

33 Pulled up lame - destroyed

34 Struck into - destroyed

35 Injured in race - fractured pelvis - bled to death in horsebox

36 Broke Cannon Bone - destroyed

37 Broke leg after finishing line - destroyed

38 Broke fetlock - destroyed

39 Slipped up on bend - injured - destroyed

40 Hit fence and nearly fell - broke leg - destroyed

These are all ways that horses have been killed as a result of races in the past year. Approximately 420 are killed at race courses every year but many more are disposed of during training, often because they are a financial burden.

Horse Death Watch

COMMENT: There is no such thing as a harmless flutter

Yesterday, in a minor race not even run over the big Grand National fences, a horse was killed at Aintree.

Between the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree's Grand National meeting, a period of less than a month, 8 horses were killed on British racecourses across the country.

Every bet, every single flutter that people have contributes to this carnage.

The horse racing indistry don't care about horses - if they did they would end their barbaric business, or, at the very least, do more towards caring for horses, but instead, of the millions the horse racing charity raises annually 0.05% is put into caring for retired horses. The rest are massacred because they are just a financial burden.

Tomorrow, instead of your flutter on the Grand National, why not put that money to better use?

And so the Grand National meeting begins...

The Grand National might not be until Saturday afternoon, but the Aintree meeting starts today.

To keep up to date with the latest news from the course: CLICK HERE.

It's worth a look through at how many horses die at racecourses and go, largely, unreported. Since the Cheltenham Festival, only one month ago, 8 horses have been killed at British racecourses.