Grand National - Lowering The Fences
With The Wizard Of Big OddsYou are here: Home /
THE GRAND NATIONAL, HAS LOWERING THE FENCES MADE THE RACE SAFER?
Today we should be either sat around our T.V’s with a bunch of family and friends, or right there amid the live action at Liverpool in anticipation of watching the Aintree Grand National. Taking in the atmosphere, betting slips in hand and our bellies full of excitement in preperation of watching the worlds greatest race. Yet here we sit watching re runs of Fawlty Towers or Game Of Thrones, praying that all our loved ones stay safe and well. God willing, things will return to normal or as normal as is humanly possible, sooner rather than later.
I’m sure horse racing isn’t at the fore front of many of our minds at the moment but with the cancellation of todays race I wanted to write something about the sport I miss and love and the Grand National seems the obvious subject matter. I could of picked a few things like Red Rum (mentioned later) Tiger Roll or how the race has changed over the years but I’ve come down on the side of the Grand National fences.
Is it really safer now since the fences have been lowered or is it just a myth?
A few of the facts I’m about to reveal may surprise you. I know they did me.
Some within the horse racing community, including those with notable achievements in the Grand National such as Ginger McCain and Bob Champion have argued that the lowering of fences and the narrowing of ditches, primarily designed to increase horse safety, has had the adverse effect by encouraging the runners to race faster. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Grand National saw a total of 12 horses die (half of which were at Becher’s Brook); in the next 20 year period from 1990 to 2010, when modifications to the course were most significant, there were 17 equine fatalities. The 2011 and 2012 runnings each yielded two deaths, including one each at Becher’s Brook. In 2013, when further changes were made to introduce a more flexible fence structure, there were no fatalities in the race itself although two horses died in run-up races over the same course. There were no equine fatalities in the main Grand National race for seven years until 2019, when one horse died at the first fence. Maybe that suggests that animal welfare organisations and the racing authorities maybe on the right track but there’s a few other things to consider.
Firstly, that’s a very low sample to base a firm opinion on. Also then you have to go back to the figures of the 70’s and 80’s where 12 horses perished and then ask yourself why those numbers jumped to 17, twenty years after (after significant modifications), before stabilising again during the last decade.
Since 2013 the run down to the first fence was reduced by 90 yards in a bid to improve safety, resulting in the overall race distance being reduced by a furlong. This was obviously to help stop horses charging into the first fence at a rate of knots, which was common practice. In the first running of the race in 1839 a solid brick wall was actually one of the obstacles, although that was abandoned after 5 years. I think a big change then came about in 2009 when jockeys were not allowed to remount and although facts and figures regarding this are unobtainable, it was undoubtedly common practice that it occurred many times in the past. This obviously must have resulted in more accidents and potential deaths. You also have much better facilities nowadays regarding injuries which advance, year on year. In 2008 fences were trimmed which allowed horses to go round them which seemed a very wise move. Also in that year a new veterinary surgery was constructed in the stable yard which has two large treatment boxes.
TO SUM UP
Although many positive and much needed changes seem to have occurred within the last 12 years, with better medical facilities, the trimming of the fences (width wise) and jockeys not being able to remount, these improvements only seem to lend credence, that the actual lowering of the fences seems to have had an adverse effect if anything. With 7 more fatalities in the 20 years between 1990 and 2010 (when modifications took place) than the 20 years previous, that screams to me that the so called “do gooders” have actually done quite the opposite and made the race more dangerous. The similar figures regarding deaths in the last 9 years to those of the 70’s and 80’s are also quite revealing considering the advantages the modern day runners have compared to their older counterparts, as stated earlier. Jockeys and horses, like things in all walks of life seem to respect danger. Higher fences are treated with caution and therefore runners go slower into the obstacles. It really does seem a case that speed kills. As from a viewing perspective. The race now is a lot classier than it used to be, with the weights compressed. With many more runners completing the course nowadays and jumping not being the number one priority. I doubt Red Rum would have won one Grand National were he to be around now, let alone three and as such the world would be left without a legend. Although Liverppol in April is my favourite time of the year and always will be, the worlds greatest race doesn’t seem to have anywhere near the same je nais sais quoi it once did have and all for the sake of what I believe is Nothing.
I hope you enjoy this article best you can given the circumstances,
Take care all, stay fit and well.
Kind regards John
The Wizard of Big Odds
The Wizard of Big Odds is an incredible Tipster who has tipped up 100/1 winners and earned 50 points profit during a month on multiple occasions since the start of 2019.
In Form Tipster (August)
In Form Tipster (August):
Cotswold Racing
Key stats:
|
Points profit: |
32.00 |