Is it just me who feels like this about The Grand National?

I absolutely love racing. The industry is really getting cleaned up, and you should see the love and admiration in many an owner's, trainer's etc eye. It wouldn't really make sense to abuse or neglect them since many are worth millions. Then again, I have more experience in flat racing than in steeplechase. While sometimes there are accidents, it happens in every horse sport. I watched a well loved show jumping pony break his neck in a fall. It can happen anywhere. While some horses are more nervous than others, they really do love to run. It's in their nature, they truly love it. It also depends on the horse. Ex racers are often high spirited and jumpy after years on the track, but there are quite a few rescues that take in the horses that are not used for breeding. I'm sorry for what happened to your horse, but you the bad knees can happen anywhere. I once knew an arabian stallion who had them even though he was an english pleasure horse and not a racer. You are not necessarily wrong, but visit a respectable racetrack and you will find at least once horse with a light in his eye and a spring in his step when he sees a track.