Penalty £5

I was reminded when looking at last year shots a few days ago quite how brutal and gruesome a spectacle is the Grand National so I decided to skip it this year and go for a walk by the river. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it now. Were I to have bet on the race, I would have put money on Synchronised, so that saved me £20 or so because he fell at Beachers and had to be put down.

I'm not making any big political point; I've read a lot today about the pros and cons of jump racing (I have no problem at all with flat racing) and I'm still on the fence (sorry). Race horses have a good life and no appreciation of the risks involved in a race such as the National. They are well treated and well cared for. If they have to be put down, then it's done quickly and humanely. I think it's also legitimate to note that the National meet has a big impact on Liverpool's economy - I'm not so naive to think that pressures from that direction don't come into play.

However, just because it's OK (or not) doesn't make it pretty to watch. The Guardian's As It Happened page described the race as "carnage". I choose not to watch carnage. The rest of you - as you were.

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S27 Road Traffic Act 1998

Control of dogs on roads.

(1)A person who causes or permits a dog to be on a designated road without the dog being held on a lead is guilty of an offence.
(2)In this section "designated road" means a length of road specified by an order in that behalf of the local authority in whose area the length of road is situated.
(3)The powers which under subsection (2) above are exercisable by a local authority in England and Wales are, in the case of a road part of the width of which is in the area of one local authority and part in the area of another, exercisable by either authority with the consent of the other.
(4)An order under this section may provide that subsection (1) above shall apply subject to such limitations or exceptions as may be specified in the order, and (without prejudice to the generality of this subsection) subsection (1) above does not apply to dogs proved-
(a)to be kept for driving or tending sheep or cattle in the course of a trade or business, or
(b)to have been at the material time in use under proper control for sporting purposes.
(5)An order under this section shall not be made except after consultation with the chief officer of police.
(6)The Secretary of State may make regulations-
(a)prescribing the procedure to be followed in connection with the making of orders under this section, and
(b)requiring the authority making such an order to publish in such manner as may be prescribed by the regulations notice of the making and effect of the order.
(7)In this section "local authority" means-
(a)in relation to England and Wales, the council of a county, metropolitan district or London borough or the Common Council of the City of London, and
(b)in relation to Scotland, a .
(8)The power conferred by this section to make an order includes power, exercisable in like manner and subject to the like conditions, to vary or revoke it.