Grand National 2012 - final list!

[PeterLe]

Just checked mine; I backed Sunnyhill Boy at an average of 24..and laid him for 146 pound at 1.48..so that was bloody lucky! Thanks JG! )

We would have had close on 800 pounds between the family if he had won so you can imagine the hysteria in the closing stages...(I wish now that I had put some lay bets in unders 2's - never mind!)

I looked at this race more from a traders point of view this year. I dutched some of the horses JG recommended a couple of days prior and they all came in except for Treacle..so I had 50+ on them with no liabilities..
I also found that laying literally just before the off was a good tactic as the prices didn't didn't drop at the off (in fact I made a few ticks with the false start), so had fairly big green on synchronised at the off. Even in the first 35 secs or so i got plenty more lay/backs in. I may even automate this next year.
Anyway hope you all made a little from it.
Cracking race; but such a shame about those that died
Regards
Peter

[JollyGreen]

I have little knowledge of horses, but someone explain why a broken leg is often fatal? You'd think in this day and age, they could treat injuries like this without shooting them on the spot

The main problem with a horse, particularly a thoroughbred is the amount of weight they must bear on their legs. Horses are also genetically programmed to stand up, they are flight animals and they even sleep standing up. This makes it very difficult for a horse to cope with an immobilised limb.

Then you have to add in the chances of infection in the fracture and in turn this will spread to other parts of the body. They can get respiratory issues, I know Richard Pitman mentioned this on the BBC. They can also develop pulmonary embolisms as their system is designed to keep moving so a horse suffering with an immobilised leg will struggle. If you watch a horse at the end of a race the connections will try and keep them moving for similar reasons.

They cannot really be sedated too much because this poses similar problems to the ones I have listed above. Ultimately they do not want the horse to suffer and more often than not this means euthanasia - it is the least painful way. Thankfully they don't shoot them anymore, they are injected with powerful drugs.

It's sad but it is the kindest way.

Hope that helps

JG

[andyfuller]

I have little knowledge of horses, but someone explain why a broken leg is often fatal? You'd think in this day and age, they could treat injuries like this without shooting them on the spot

Two further issues are Laminitis and the huge cost that would be involved in trying to save a horse with a broken leg.

I personally lost my second horse to Laminitis and it is a very sad thing to see develop and the pain that it causes the horse is horrible.

Probably the most famous/well known cases where a horse was tried to be saved from a broken leg was the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

His case is well documented on Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbaro

As you can imagine the costs involved are huge and as such it is extremely rare for it to be economically viable to try and save the horse.

With such a good winner of the Kentucky Derby there was a chance that if they could get him back to being able to cover mares it would be possible to recoup the costs. Remember AI is banned in TB racing.

[LeTiss]

Cheers JG & Andy, I didn't expect such detailed responses.

It just seems a shame that such magnificent animals are put to sleep, when for humans it's a fairly routine recovery

[CaerMyrddin]

I have little knowledge of horses, but someone explain why a broken leg is often fatal? You'd think in this day and age, they could treat injuries like this without shooting them on the spot

My wife posed me the same question and tbh I was a bit embarrassed not being able to give her a proper answer.

After a few searchs, I read something that is also very interesting. As horses are ruminant animals, they cant be imobilized, as that would mean they wouldn't be able to ruminate and digest the food properly and would get infected in the gastrointestinal tract.

[andyfuller]

On BBC Radio 4 now, You and Yours has a call in about the National and injuries/deaths.

Will be on Iplayer later if you miss it now

[hgodden]

On BBC Radio 4 now, You and Yours has a call in about the National and injuries/deaths.

People talking about crap they don't understand - the 21st century disease