My thoughts, John?
I'm in two minds. As a former TV cameraman who covered the Grand National many times, it's clear to me that the horses love to run. They're pack animals, evolved to gallop, and they undoubtably do enjoy these events.
What I don't agree with is the hypocrisy of the coverage, the racing fraternity, and many competitive horse owners in general. We were told, for example, to "avoid" showing horses on the ground: it passes on "the wrong message" to the public. Well, I'm all for honesty: if horses die in events like this, then it should be made absolutely clear.
But the biggest problem I have is that horses rarely die in events like this: they tend to break a leg. And then they're shot.
It is surely not beyond the bounds of veterinary skills today - especially when some of these horses are worth many many thousands of pounds - to plate and repair a broken leg? A bit of care and compassion shown by the owners might not go amiss.
Andy