Sad news. Two horses were killed at Becher's Brook today, one on each circuit. Gold Cup winner Synchronised went down the first time, and Accordingtopete met the same fate on the second.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17453652
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17712722
In other National related news, Ruby Walsh had to give up his ride after getting injured in an earlier race.
Grand National 2012
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stevezodiac
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Re: Grand National 2012
I love National Hunt racing but must admit it was sad to see Synchronised running free before the race after he unshipped AP McCoy and to then learn that his life had come to a close just minutes later. They debated it on Five Live last night and the most sensible answer seems to be to reduce the field to say 25 runners. Making the fences smaller, they opined, just made the horses run faster causing more accidents. Also the going is usually soft to good which also slows down the runners. Some of yesterday's fallers were brought down by fallers in front and smaller fields could prevent this. Its not possible to mend a thoroughbred's broken leg as it has to be immobilised for around two months causing all sorts of other health problems and a slower more painful death.