Should the Grand National be cropped?

The Grand National, an event that captures an audience of over 10 million, who wait perched at the edge of their seats in excitement and hope that their bet may just be the triumph of the big race. It’s that day where winnings are celebrated by all. It’s that day where newspapers will capture moments and make it their top story for people to read and remember but, it’s also the day that will mark the beginning or the end for the runners of the race. It’s the day where lives of innocent horses are taken by the track.

Since 1839, when the first official annual Steeplechase was held at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, horse racing authorities have modified the course to increase its element of safety. However, the course still contains fences more challenging than any fence a horse would be faced with on conventional National Hunting tracks. The Becher’s Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn are all known for their danger and have in time been the cause of many fatalities and injuries during the big race, even just the name is sufficient in making any jockeys …show more content…
On an average steeplechase track there will be approximately four equine fatalities for every one thousand horses that enter, compared to the Grand National where there will be seven fatalities out of four hundred and thirty nine horses that enter. However, it is true that the last two decades have been the deadliest periods in the races history with a total number of eleven horses killed since 2000 with many of them suffering painful, miserable deaths ranging from broken legs to snapped necks. In addition, only thirty eight per cent of the horses managed to make the finish with many of their competitors left in the races death-trap with only time standing still to watch their agonizing falls and exhausting