posted Apr 7, 2008

Drew2211 thank you for your comment, at least we know the truth. Peter and Karen do not need all this bad press right now especially as it is all based on speculation. They have just lost a horse that they loved dearly and our village has lost its best friend.

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posted Apr 7, 2008

I would just like to express my utter disgust at this year's Grand National Horse Race and the way in which the death of a beautiful animal has been brushed under the carpet as if it were menial.
It was your 'BBC One Show' that has been following this beautiful horse for some time now, showing stable cam's etc. People have grown to love this horse so I feel justice has to be done for McKelvy.
Firstly, why, before the race started, was McKelvy said to have a 'indentation under one of his eyes, as if he has been kicked'? These were the words of the BBC presenter. Surely if he had such a noticeable 'indentation' on his face this could be a severe injury? Also, how was this injury gained?
Secondly, as the race was being run, the commentator stated that McKelvy had 'unseated his rider'. Again, the words of a BBC presenter. If he had only unseated his rider how on earth is he now dead?
Thirdly, there were reports from spectators that McKelvy had carried on running then ran into a fence and could not get up again? Again, if this is so, why is he now dead? After last year and his horrendous injury, this poor horse should have been retired and looked after with plenty of tlc. It seems to me that his owner purely wanted the glory from him. What a shame.

THE BBC ONE SHOW VIEWERS, WHO HAVE GROWN TO LOVE MCKELVY, HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

RIP MCKELVY - whenever it thunders from now on, I'll think it's you running around in heaven XXXX

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posted Apr 7, 2008

fabhayley22 - I appreciate that you are upset at this tragedy, but it is clear from most of the reports what happened.

McKelvey unseated his jockey and then carried on running loose, at which point he ran into one of the running posts on the side of the course, which caused the injuries in question.

I agree it is a tragedy but it was also unconnected with his previous injury and had nothing to do with it being the grand national.

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posted Apr 7, 2008

>>I can confirm that I backed four horses for the National; they came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. You may not believe it - but I have the winnings to prove it. I was simply interested in finding out what the odds of this happening are <<

If all horses had an equal chance then the chances of picking the first 4 from 4 bets are about 1 in 91,000. That's what you imply if you say you went solely on the names without reference to prices, form etc.

If you placed a 4 horse accumulator at the odds that the first 4 had then you would win £22,400 for a one pound stake. So 1 in 22400 must be a reasonable approximation of the chances of a serious punter picking the first four home. Which only goes to show that the person in the GN tipster's competition who got 5 out of the first 6 was absolutley awesome.

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posted Apr 7, 2008

If he had only unseated his rider how on earth is he now dead?
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Because as you state later in your comment he ran into a post.
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Again, if this is so, why is he now dead?
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Because the injury was too severe for him to be saved. A seriously damaged leg for a horse is not the same as one for a human.

To be frank a death of this type could have happened anywhere. If you don't believe me then look into the tragic death of 1982 Gold Cup winner Silver Buck. He bolted at the Dickinson farm where he was trained and ran into a wall.

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posted Apr 7, 2008

Gelliaur, my comments regarding Mckelvey were purely based on his previous injury etc.

After seeing the incident it is quite clearly a tragic accident.

Thanks for your comments its nice to see stories from both sides of the fence.

Like yourself i loved this horse and it will be grately missed.

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posted Apr 7, 2008

Quote from Pippin19
"I was not able to watch the race - perhaps just as well as the four horses which I had backed (based purely upon their names, I must admit) came in first, second, third and fourth. What are the odds of that?"

I would guess the same odds as this actually being true.....


I can confirm that I backed four horses for the National; they came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. You may not believe it - but I have the winnings to prove it. I was simply interested in finding out what the odds of this happening are.

-------------------

If you think that's good check out this thread on letsbet.ie http://www.letsbet.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=2884. The guy picked 7 horses and 5 of them were the first 5 home.

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posted Apr 7, 2008

I too was shocked and distraught by the tragic news of McKelvey. But like many other people I,ve spoken to, I also felt sick to the stomach, and very uneasy about the whole thing. This horse received a life threatening injury in last years race. He survived this,and was entered again 12months later into the same gruelling race, only to die this time.
Something just doesn,t sit right at all!
What was the facial injury he had prior to the race, that a BBC commentator mentioned? The poor horse, I feel totally gutted. I wrote a poem to help me deal with it.

Our hearts were broken on Saturday
The day McKelvey died
Fate conspired to be so cruel
Everybody cried

So I prayed for the angels to take him
And ride him across the sky
To a place where pain and suffering cease
A place where he can fly

He cleared the gates of heaven
Didn,t need a key
And now gallops around in lush green
fields
Spirited, happy, and free.

The other animals watch in awe
Amazed at what they see
A beautiful horse, so strong, so brave
A horse called...McKelvey

R.I.P. McKelvey

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posted Apr 7, 2008

everyone knows the risks stop the race or put up with it

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posted Apr 7, 2008

Comply or die simply awesome! Said to my daughter just after he had jumped the third (and Timmy Murphy had taken a pull!!) that he was going to win - and no I hadn't backed it! Depressing to watch knowing your money has gone but what a display he gave.

On the matter of McKelvey - Can all those know-nothings who haven't the first idea about horse racing, trainers, owners, lovers of horses, nature of thoroughbreds ,etc,etc please go and moan on some other site?

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