FIONNUALA MCCORMACK IS a long-distance runner. She is a professional athlete, who eats, drinks and sleeps athletics. She trains everyday, represents her country with pride and distinction and, nearly two decades on, still loves what she does; that will never change.
A three-time Olympian, a two-time European Cross Country gold medallist and a 3000m European Indoor bronze medallist. A medal record which speaks for itself and positions her alongside the likes of Catherina McKiernan, Sonia O’Sullivan and Derval O’Rourke as one of Ireland’s most eminent athletes.
We should, in truth, be talking about an illustrious 16-year international career and a superb performance at the most recent Olympic Games, during which McCormack finished 20th in just her second championship marathon; but first we need to address the elephant in the room. We need to talk about athletics and the issues infecting the sport.
Her achievements may have placed her on a pedestal but McCormack would prefer not to be talking at all. If it was up to her, she’d just run yet there is a sense of responsibility there. A duty to speak up, raise concerns, ask questions, provoke a conversation and, in an ideal world, make a difference.
So here she is. Again.
In July of last year, McCormack gave a forthright and impassioned interview shortly after coming off the track at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam. She had just finished fourth in the 10,000m final, agonisingly missing out on Ireland’s first medal at the event.
The Wicklow native recorded the second best time of her career over that distance but it wasn’t enough as Yasemin Can, the Kenyan-born Turkish runner, stormed to gold.
Two months previously, Can – formerly Vivian Jemutai — and Meryem Akda had their switch of allegiance to Turkey approved by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). Neither had lived or trained there. It wasn’t unprecedented, but the anomalies in the system were beginning to be laid bare.
In the heat of the moment, McCormack vented her frustration.
She might regret it now — “I may have said too much” — but her words provoked a response. It wasn’t the way she wanted to hit the headlines that week, and the 32-year-old feels she may have been slightly misquoted, but it got people talking.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything that can be done about it,” she said at the time.
“Someone just needs to lay down the law and that should be the end of it. It doesn’t need to be something you have a debate about. It’s obvious.”
Fast forward seven months and nobody has laid down the law. It remains patently unscrupulous and immoral but there’s still no debate.
Yasemin Can and Meryem Akda are still running for Turkey, winning European medals for Turkey and not one thing is being done about it. Doping is inexcusable, country hopping is just wrong and the IAAF is burying its head in the sand and masquerading under false pretences.
“It’s not normal what has happened and it’s just not just eligibility issues I don’t think,” McCormack tells The42.
“To even change from one country to another like that with no connection is wrong but you also have to ask the wider question of how do you switch to one country with a questionable background and have large amounts of money involved and no eyebrows raised at the top?
“I came straight off the track at the Europeans after coming fourth and I was frustrated with myself for coming fourth. I’ve come fourth in a lot of Europeans in both the track and the cross country and my frustration was completely with me when I came off the track and nothing to do with what happened in front of me.
“I don’t want to be seen as someone who is giving out. I know you can’t win every time and that’s sport. I came fourth, an issue was brought up and I gave my opinion on it. It was pushed and pushed from there. I don’t want to have a go at people but sometimes athletes and coaches more often or not need to ask these questions.”
McCormack has a lot of questions. By her own admission, she overthinks everything and it all stems from a genuine love of the sport. She gets so frustrated about it because athletics is her sport. It’s what she’s passionate about and, in her own words, all this hurts.
It doesn’t hurt any more because she has been one of the athletes denied by the IAAF’s rules. It hurts because those at the top, those sitting on boards who are meant to be protecting, governing and promoting the sport, are making a joke out of it.
“The fact that it’s allowed to happen is part of the problem and I don’t think we should not blame the individual athletes either because they’re adults and they’re making this decision but they shouldn’t be allowed make it,” she adds.
“It’s purely money because it’s not patronage. They don’t sing the Turkish national anthem, they fly in from Nairobi for a race and warm-up separate to everyone else. The relationship isn’t even frosty between them and the Europeans. There just isn’t a relationship.
“The questions I want to ask are how do they improve by two minutes over 10k in one year? To me that’s the massive problem. It’s kind of glossed over by the fact people are changing country but that has been happening for years and it’s turned into a complete farce really.
“In a way I wonder why other people don’t talk about it and I wonder if it is better to keep the mouth shut. That’s not really what we’re there for but it is the athletes who have to say something at some point.”
The issue reared its ugly head again in December last. At the European Cross Country Championships in Italy, Can and Akda stormed to gold and silver respectively. The gap between them and the rest of the field was such that it left another sour taste in the mouth.
McCormack finished fifth that day in a time of 25:28 and had been in contention for bronze for much of the race but faded in the closing stages. She crossed the line 42 seconds behind Can.
“At this stage I don’t really know what else I can say about it,” McCormack continues. “I can’t do anything about it, someone else has to do it and it’s at the top that it needs to be sorted out.
“Sometimes I see it like a TV series being played out in front of us but the only positive thing is that in a world of war and terror, the inadequacies of sporting organisations are generally not matters of life and death.”
It’s not, but it matters. It matters to McCormack and to those of us who want the sanctity of sport restored. Those of us who want athletics to be about athletics. Speed, power, endurance, close finishes. Sport at its purest form.
All of this is evident in the video European Athletics produced at the end of 2016 but the ‘highlights reel’ doesn’t tell the whole story. It tells the story the governing body want to tell, or, more specifically, avoids the one they don’t want to face questions about.
In a video titled ‘the best moments of European Athletics in 2016′, the omission of a three-time gold medallist from that year speaks volumes. Yasemin Can is conspicuous by her absence.
“Is this a case of European Athletics glossing over their inadequacies or avoiding the inevitable questions about athletes rising from mediocrity to becoming world-class Europeans on the other side of the world in a matter of months?” McCormack asks.
“Would anyone other than an athlete who has been consistently denied medals by Turkish athletes even notice these anomalies? Should I even mention having noticed? Is it a sign of incompetence or just an oversight?”
These questions reverberate, but McCormack’s focus remains on what she can control, and that is her training and steadfast commitment to a ‘hobby’ which has given her so much.
A couple of weeks ago, McCormack finished ahead of Akda, but behind Can, to claim silver at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country. It was an encouraging start to a year which includes the World Athletics Championships in London this summer.
“It doesn’t put me off at all,” she insists. “I try that bit harder. Last weekend [in Edinburgh] I was closer to Can and there is hope. Ideally you want to win but you want to run for enjoyment and as a passion and to represent your country even if I did have questions about who else is running.
“With all the negativity in this sport, and I can be negative about it as well, you have to put all that to one side, ignore it and run for what you want to run for.
“It’s as simple as that and I don’t think it needs to put you off what you’re doing. Athletes from Turkey have done me out of medals a good few times so I suppose that is motivation as well but I don’t really feel like I need that to motivate me.”
It must be stressed that McCormack is not resentful or bitter. She isn’t doing this for the publicity or the headlines. She doesn’t like the spotlight and certainly doesn’t like being quoted. If truth be told, she would prefer if this interview wasn’t published at all.
She would be far happier if it was someone else doing the talking but this all fascinates her; the issues blighting athletics, the stench of injustice and the challenges faced by women in sport and, in particular, in minority sports.
But she is the one doing the talking and standing up. She is the one raising questions and looking for answers.
“Surely people can see that there is a problem here,” she adds. “Athletes have to take responsibilities for their actions but shouldn’t be aided in their amoral ways by amoral money grabbing, power-hungry federations and governing bodies.
“It’s almost like a catch 22 situation. I just want to run but I think about these things a lot. You have to be so careful about what you say but then if you don’t say anything you’re not helping the cause or not creating the discussion.
“I never started running to be famous. When I started running I never thought I’d go to the Olympics, I never thought about it that way. It’s just a hobby and one thing led to another and I’m competitive and love training so it just went from that.
“I’m not on Twitter or any of that. I just want to get away from all that yet there’s time when I do recognise that I have to say things or put the questions out there or the ideas out there. To invoke an interest so the wider public can hold their own discussions and for this to be talked about.”
Let’s hope McCormack gets people talking and the issues she raises stimulate some semblance of change or action from those in power. Meaningful action, not mumbling excuses.
“You won’t want or need to listen to me any more,” McCormack adds. “But I hope my voice doesn’t fall on deaf ears any longer.”
Fionnuala McCormack was speaking ahead of the Great Ireland Run. It takes place on Sunday 9 April 2017. More details available here.
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Complete bollox above. These horses are treated extremely well, they are for the most part loved by their owners and they the are bred to be raced. This horse obviously had some condition, it didn’t die from trauma. If you want to get on your high horse (unintentional one there) then do it in the slums of limerick or ballymun where horses really are treated like shit. A horse could just be trotting around an it’s leg might break and it would have to be out down. Every sport has the ability to ‘gratify gamblers’. Don’t knock what you can’t understand
I gave you a thumbs up til you called my hometown Ballymun a slum..how are things in your ivory tower pal? Nice is it?
I love horses, especially those manufactured for and behalf of Tesco.
Can’t understand?
This is my response to that entire comment – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkodTydUR0E
This clip is a pretty good description of horse racing too – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls73u3SckF4
The slums of limerick…Up there with mumbai and rio….truth!
Except for the weather
@Conor. Go find you’re Galway girl or guy you Mundy wannabe.
Sure Glen! Do you reckon the owners would love the horses as much if they were unable to race and of no stud value. They are bred to race, win and are loved while these conditions are met.
Your generalisations re: slums are hardly a surprise to me considering the media stable you hail from. The polarised reporting of the Mail has rubbed off on you.
I already found her casper!!
Showing your ignorance there Cathal, all the male horses in the Grand National are geldings (look it up) so therefore have zero stud value.
????
” If you want to get on your high horse then do it in the slums of limerick or ballymun where horses really are treated like shit”
What about ballybane, rahoon, tuam, coolock, tallaght, jobstown, cherry orchard, ballyfermot, blancharstown, clonsilla, lisduggan, knocknaheeny, mayfield, togher, holyhill, grunabraher, bishopstown, wilton, swords, finglas, finglas west, finglas east, finglas south, finglas north, glasnevin.
Why do people like you always pick on ballymun…….
Glen, was there a need for u to go naming Limerick and Ballymun in your rant? Have a little think in future! Foolish comment.
Monksfield , an entire horse, won the Champion Hurdle.
Conor, you haven’t seen ballybane, rahoon, tuam, coolock, tallaght, jobstown, cherry orchard, ballyfermot, blancharstown, clonsilla, lisduggan, knocknaheeny, mayfield, togher, holyhill, grunabraher, bishopstown, wilton, swords, finglas, finglas west, finglas east, finglas south, finglas north, glasnevin.
All of Limerick’s “slums” would fit into knocknaheey or coolock.
Look I’m sorry for naming limerick and the mun. I genuinely meant no offence and should not have used the S word. I actually really like both areas, but there is a massive amount of mistreated horses there and in plenty of towns around the country. cathal, you proved yourself a hypocrite by ‘polarising’ your opinion on a very popular newspaper. Foolish comment
The views above, with respect, is pure bollock. The ISPCA/ RSPCA both approve of the sport and actually work continuously with race courses to make them safer for both horse and jockey. At Aintree Fences have been lowered, landing sides of fences have been made safer and RSPCA inspectors are in attendance for all three days of the National, the Aintree authorities have taken significant steps to remodel the course and make it as safe as possible for the horses. As have other courses around in both England and Ireland. Narrow minded protestors forget that horses were born to race and the care and attention given to the average racehorse is beyond comparison
The idea that racing people, who adore horses, would put them through something that they believe to be cruel is clearly complete nonsense. And anybody who suggests that horses are “forced” to do something they don’t enjoy has clearly never seen the reaction of a thoroughbred who doesn’t want to do something.
The handful of animal rights extremists, who seem determined to wreck the pleasures of ordinary folk, should redirect their attention to real, rather than imagined, animal cruelty
You say ACTUALLY like people don’t know or would be surprised that the ISPCA/ RSPCA work with the racing bodies in Ireland and the UK. Everyone is fully aware of what their function is. They are hardly just gonna walk away and “leave them at it”.
Also ask yourself why the Aintree fences have been lowered and landing sides of fences have been made safer. Maybe they were deemed..wait for it…too dangerous? and just maybe in another 50 years times they will have been made safer still because…wait for it…
Well said Colin, couldn’t agree more
Also a better word to use would be bred. Horses where not BORN to race. There were BRED to race. And your right, the attention given to the average racehorse is beyond comparison. Much like the attention given to the average Porsche. I mean why wouldn’t you take care of something that cost you so much money to buy and train and that has the potential to earn you money and glory?
the problem isn’t with the height of the fences etc etc, its due to the shear no of horses running esp in the grand national, 40 or so last count
If anything making the fences smaller makes them more dangerous as horses go quicker and take more chances. But it was something that the RSPCA demanded. Anyone who thinks the RSPCA is in the pockets of racing just shows their ignorance.
If you go through the record books there’s no correlation between number of runners to number of fallers or fatalities. You have to go back to 1882 to find a tiny field of 12 runners with 1 fatality, yet in the 1960s there were a number of runnings with 65+ runners and no fatalities. There have been multiple runnings with 40 runners and no problems.
Shhh Richard! You’re making too much sense!
Screw you, people ate entitled to their opinions. Who are you to say bollocks to anyone.
“If anything making the fences smaller makes them more dangerous as horses go quicker and take more chances. But it was something that the RSPCA demanded. ” So you know more than the RSPCA when it comes to improving the safety of horses at Aintree? In fact in your “opinion” the RSPCA are putting the horses in more danger.
The horse didn’t fall. He was pulled up and had a heart attack. Could have happened while he was cantering at stud but it just so happened it died at Aintree. Wouldn’t have got the same reaction if it had died at stud!
Are horses programmed for this type of rich mans sport? I think not. There are levels and then some. Pushing a horse to its limits for gamblers gratification simply isn’t on.
I agree it’s a disgraceful “sport” where animals needlessly die for others gratification.
rich man’s sport? – no more so than football. the rich man own the club/horse. the punters are the man in the street who likes to put a few bob on with the bookie.
Some of ye really have no idea about horse racing. These animals are treated better than most people, very very few people involved in the Irish horse industry would permit cruelty never mind engage in it. Many people in rural areas of Ireland, people of every income have horses, it’s not a rich man’s sport in Ireland & saying it is is ignorant.
In these hard times, anyone that can afford to gamble is rich.
The horse dropped dead lads. Get a grip.
Oh so the horses volunteer for grueling training regimes Thomas do they? Sorry and thanks for enlightening us.
Wild horses run all the time. It’s in a horses nature. Is that enlightenment enough for you? I’m 100% sure you’ve never ridden a horse in your life with such a mis-informed comment.
No, but they are very fit animals that gallop and jump when they’re loose in a field too, look at when the jockeys fall off, if the horses didn’t like it they’d just stop running
McCoy didnt say to Synchronised last year after he fell “you go on without me”! No the horse did it of his own accord!
It’s no more gruelling than you or I going to the beach. These horses are athletes in peak physical condition
They run when they’re afraid of something. When the danger has passed they stop. Some of you horse experts are not so expert.
Really? Are you a horse whisperer or something?
Read all his comments. He obviously hasnt a notion.
Never heard such utter tripe. My family part owns 2 racehorses and we are certainly not part of what was called in a previous comment this “rich mans sport”. We don’t do it for “betting gratification” either! We do it because we love the sport of horse racing and love horses. Both our mares absolutely love running on track and are extremely well looked after. More horses have died this year in Ireland due to malnourishment and neglect then have ever died on track! Re direct your anger at neglectful owners and don’t be so narrow sighted in your views of the horse racing community!
We are not only rich but also of the boastful type aren’t we Gertrude?
Can’t see how I was boasting at all there?
I do think that while the horses enjoy the fast racing and jumping and are trained for such; to see them being pushed to the limits by a jockey at times is cruel and is never nice to see a animal of any kind harmed especially die in such circumstances.
Battlefront was the 27th horse to die this year in UK/IRE racing.
And how many horses have ran this year? While the death of any horse is regrettable, the 27 horse’s that have died are a very small percentage of the number of horse’s that have ran on the flat or over jumps this year.
totally irrelevant point, fact is that 27 horses un-needfully died because of human interference.
The horse dropped dead. Before it died it was pulled up. It didnt die jumping a fence or flogged unmercifully. It was gonna happen no matter what that horse did today. For example that horse could have been in a field today galloping on its own no rider and dropped dead. Some people on here haven’t a f*cking notion what they’re talking about. As the lads said these horses are bread to race. They are treated like trainers own kids. I’ve seen horse cruelty up close and horse racing is so far away from that level of sh*t its not funny. How about all the people who drop dead on sports fields in this country ? Do we blame trainers and coaches ? No because it happens. It happened to my cousin. Its sad and anyone who has lost a loved one I apologise but anyone kidding themselves about how cruel horse racing is , well your talking through your hole.
Well said John!
That’s bullshit
Sorry to hear about you cousin lad and very eloquently put some people on here dint know their arse from their elbow
The comment was in reply to Pat Murphy
100/1 … Get in you beauty!
The funniest comment of the day! Great!
Rode to death… I could think of worse ways of going…
Barbaric ”sport.” Cue the avalanche of red thumbs from the gamblers.
I’m part of a syndicate and you can rest assured our horses are treated very well, and I’m shit sick of you people coming on here and talking shite about something you know SFA about.
You lot don’t know what it feels like to. Lose a horse ….do you ?
The jockey takes exactly the same risk as the horses you anti everything moanbags .JT McNamara now paralysed from doing a job he loved, Racehorses love the thrill of it too, that’s what there bred for, if there was no racing they wouldn’t even exsist. There treated very well and fed the best feed and all is asked of them is to runs a few races every year. Not a bad life at all IMO . Go moan at the travellers on hundreds of roads over Ireland beating the crap out of baby horses pulling sulky traps,that’s what you call cruelty to horses.
Horses are more likeable than humans..
Jockeys have a choice.horses don’t
Chris, chris chris! You obviously never saw a horse refuse to do something then ;) if they don’t want to do something they won’t.
lucy, do many racehorses choose not to race?
Horses refuse to leave the start line sometimes. I think thats the horse making a choice ;)
i think your right, that is a horse making a choice..but what i mean is do some racehorses just go ” naw i don’t fancy this at all as a life”…
I wouldn’t think so Chris because they can’t speak but if they did they would say ‘yeehaw look at me go’.
I meant to say Alex, i do apologise.
Cop on with all the ridiculous comments. I wouldn’t know even how to make out some of the bets in a bookmakers but i do know this an an intelligent person. No horse is pushed to its limit. There is a rule in racing that only permits a jockey to ‘strike or whip’ his or her horse just a limited number of times to prevent the cruelty side of the sport. And honestly how many of you criticising would ever turn down a free drink or a few €uro’s winning from a winner. Answer. None.
horse are pushedto the limit – juts like athlethes – and this may damage tem . But in genral they are well treated IMO – better than many humans .
But again I think that when a horse goes down – the are ” put down ” too quick . One hears of them being put down becaue of a broken leg etc . Well if they are to be raced – they should be as well treated as the jockeys – and not be put down becuse they are of no more commercail value . They have served their mentors well – and should get the best of treatment .
wish all Humans got the best of treatment .
the jockeys aslo take massive risks – especially in National Hunt – and there have been many tragedies as we all know .
These horses have better lives than most humans! The horse had a heart attack and died, it happens in every walk of life! If a fit 21 year old man has a heart attack and dies on a football pitch should that sport be banned?! In other words the tree huggers can shut the f¥*k up!
did that fit 21yr old have a saddle on him and have the be-jaysus whipped out of him?
I think not.
Ever gone Pre season training?
Uv obviously not picked up a whip lately. Padded beyond being any use so they are. Just noisy.
Getting a bit hysterical there nor. What’s the matter? Afraid someone might interfere with your gambling?
My gambling is my business, but I’m willing to bet that you don’t actually have a clue what you’re talking about!
I hope all the people saying that its barbaric didn’t tuck into a nice meaty dinner tonight. Afterall, those little piggy’s and moo moo’s just thought they were going for a little spin. Surely these people wouldn’t have double standards??
If you don’t like it don’t watch it.
And they were raised with the explicit intention of killing them…. Barbaric farmers … Ban farming!!!
What about the lorry driver? He knew where he was taking them…. Ban lorry driving too because thats barbaric. He should have taken them to the beach for a picnic instead
PETA are out in full force today.
Why are the pro-horse torture/red-thumbers hiding behind the icon pushing? What’s your argument for this inhumane act of “sport”?
Horse torture? Get real. What are your arguments against it? These horses are treated extremely well and a lot better than most other animals.
Lest we all suffer collective amnesia regarding the treatment of large quadrupeds around the globe, I’d like to ask all the vegetarians(if you are not one then you are a hypocrite regardless of how you have dressed it up for yourself) on here complaining about how the poor auld horses are treated if would they prefer if we treated them like cows? Because that is the only realistic alternative to keeping them as pets. Perhaps we should let these beautiful creatures roam free to frolic and dandy! I’m sure the horses would rather be sheep our perhaps pulling a plough.
It should be pointed out that many of these horses weigh in excess of 700 kg. no jockey weighs more than 65 kg. that is less than 10% of the horses weight, give me 10% of my weight and ask me to run around for 5 mins, no bother!! The weight does not affect the horses at all! They’re remarkably strong animals…
There you are!
What waffle! Would you like to be saddled with a weight and then told run full tilt around a hazardous course that could potentially be fatal to you? I sincerely doubt it. And you certainly wouldn’t do it just so you can be treated humanely by your owner. These owners by the way are in it for the money and the lifestyle, simple as. The trainer may develop a feeling for the animal, perhaps, but the owner sees it as a straight-up investment, it’s that simple.
If they were bred for it then why so many falls, injuries and deaths? They clearly aren’t bred for this level of activity, highlighted by their inability to perform the task being asked of them without fail. Dogs have been bred for centuries to perform certain tasks and they, without fail, perform those tasks due to the tasks being within the animal limitations. Hurdling fences at such speed clearly is not within all horses limitations and therefore they sadly get found out.
The horse has no choice here. When you say that any sport can gratify gambling, the competitor is in the sport of his/her own free will. They aren’t thrust into it just because they are bred for it.
You clearly are a gambler/owner and will not be swayed on this topic as it supplies you with endless great craic and something to do or talk about with your mates. All I’d say is look at this without the rose-tint, think of the horse in all this and you may see things a bit differently. Won’t someone please think of the horses!! :)
Your ignorance of the industry is outstanding. Serious achievement.
lets put a saddle on you and create a new industry!!! ha,ha!!!
I know Animal Aid are ignorant of horseracing and after reading that if you aren’t a member already you should join up. The race today was a Hunter’s Chase, the horses running in it are mainly pets, often owned, trained and ridden by members of the same family. The riders get no fee and even the prize to the winning owner is the lowest of any on the card. Apart from the odd mare, the runners are overwhelmingly geldings with zero investment value. The Hunter Chases they usually run in have very weak markets so they will never get rich gambling on them, but that is not the reason for owning and spending a fortune looking after them. They do it because they love horses and the sport, two things the antis don’t. How much do Animal Aid invest in animal welfare, not much, if anything. All their time and effort goes on campaigning against racing or against cancer research (another of their favourite causes). They are the only group I know who are disappointed when no horses are killed as it stops them getting the publicity they crave. Why aren’t they campaigning about people riding on roads – about 3000! horses are killed in the UK each year in road traffic accidents. I put my money where my mouth is and am a paid up member of World Horse Welfare which actually works to help horses worldwide (and support the National ), racing spends millions on research into horse health which helps non-sports horses too and most racing people are quick to help when horses are in trouble.
To Danny.
Please listen up because I’m only going to say this once as I really don’t care what you think of our great sport/industry. Horse racing is a sport which is dangerous to both horses and jockeys alike. There is a lot of money to be made from racing a successful horse. These horses cost hundreds of thousands to buy and then you start with veterinary and training costs. Everyone involved holds the safety of the horses in utmost regard. I could tell you this is because we love them and some other cobblers but really it’s because it is a massive financial loss to lose a horse. Horses are bred to race. There are thousands of horses in training all over the country if racing was to stop tomorrow what would we do with them?. Also what would you do with the estimated 12000 new foals that will be registered this year?. These horses are athletes not pets. The horse knows nothing but racing. Through decades of selective breeding we have fine tuned the racehorse into a racing athlete. You must also remember that horses are animals. Same as cows sheep pigs. Do you object to them being raised to be killed. What about chickens raised intensively who never see the light of day?. We cannot
Get away from the fact that horses are raced for sport and money but they are at the end of the day animals. One final point Do you object to the arctic explorers who brought pack dogs with them to pull the sledges an then one by one killed the dogs to feed themselves and the rest of the pack?.
How about you answer the questions yourself…Do you object to the arctic explorers who brought pack dogs with them to pull the sledges an then one by one killed the dogs to feed themselves and the rest of the pack?
No, because they are animals. A means to an end. The fact is that humans are the dominant species on the planet, are able to train and control other species for their own gain. Or would you have it another way?
well I wasn’t asking you…
Let me ask a simple question! Are some of ye here saying horse racing should be banned?
A common argument here, in fact it seems to be the only argument, of the pro-horse racing people is that the horses “get treated better than most people.” That may be the case but the fact remains there is a substantial risk that the horse will not return alive after a race. Now how many people here are “treated well” at home yet fear going into work for the risk of death? Exactly, no one
There is a substantial risk everyday when i go to work in my car to go look after racehorses that i might crash and die. There is a bigger risk which i fear most that my 2 little dogs who come to work with me in my car get killed if i am involved in an accident. I love them with all that i have and that fear is in me everytime a car tailgates me or i take a bend too quick. I love them but i take the risk. Same as me and everyone who care for horses 11 hours a day 7 days a week for less than minimum wage take a risk and run horses in races. If u dont know the care and love bestowed on racehorse then u have no right to judge us. (When u point ur finger at someone there are always 3 pointing back at u)
Why, are you drunk driving to work? I’ve driven to work for over forty years. I’m not frightened even though there is a theoretical risk of death. That’s a pretty thin argument Niamh.
Niamh, you take these “risks” with your own informed consent and intention, yes? Now, these horses are not designed to race, it’s not instinctive, and they certainly wouldn’t sign up for something which had a realistic chance of death if they could . That is a fact, and it is the key factor which cancels out your argument.
How substantial Andrew. Let me do some rough figures for you. On average 1 race meeting in Ireland and 4 in England per day. 7 races per card. Lets be conservative and say 15 horses per race. We are 90 days into the year. So 5x7x15x90 = 47250 horses raced this calendar year. Using the figure from a previous comment of 27 fatalities this year. Gives .057% chance of a horse not coming back. .057% not very substantial. A lot of people seem to think horse racing only exists during aintree and cheltenham.
John Sheridan, you are the man!! Too many people here haven’t a clue about horse racing or any of the equine industries. Let me break it to some of you, horses are made to run, their whole physiology is designed to run, but then only people with real knowledge of horses know how much they can love to run, and race, and jump.
Over 40 people dead on Irish roads since Jan 1st. Every journey is a risk.
I’ll try to remember that when one is running a bit keen with me in a bit of work!
Hates it when the pc brigade come to town with zero knowledge of the industry (except for what they have googled).
what happens to there horses when they finish their career? that’s when the cruelty seems to start for many of them !
Noo. Noo. You can be sure that the lovely Niamh Mangan nurses and minds them tenderly until they die of old age. Especially the geldings.
There are many many retraining centres across the country, the racing school takes horses to teach young jockeys, trainers favourites are retired to pasture, mares are retired to stud and many individuals take them in as riding horses.
and still the majority of them end up in tescos!
Off to Tesco with him!
27 horses dead this year nobody gives a fcuk i human is paralysed an everyone has an outpouring of grief?
I imagine his wife and kids see it that way too. Whats 30 or 40 years of being paralysed from the neck down compared to 27 dead horses. Good comment man yeah.
What a vulgar, crass comment! If you are looking for notice or seeking notoriety, there are less offensive ways! Cop on to yourself.
Niamh is typical of the wonderful people who are the lifeblood of racing. Committed, talented and energetic , they could make a better living doing something else yet choose “the horses” out of love for the sport. Long may they prosper.
Walsh is a knob
There is only one alternative to horses as a form of entertainment, that is as a source of food. Anyone who believes anything differently is naive and had no idea of how expensive it is to keep/own a horse. Down with racing, up with abattoirs!
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