Each Way Bet

This time of year, the BBC covers a range of sporting events - the London Marathon, the University Boat Race, the Masters Golf - and yesterday, the Grand National.

I am not a great fan of horse racing in general, but I do love the Grand National. I was lucky enough to attend the race in person, way back in 1988. I stood next to the second fence and felt the ground shake as the horses approached. The sight of 40 odd horses flying over these immense brushwood fences was breath-taking and it was not hard to understand the heroism of both horses and riders.

The race has had its detractors over the years. This year's event was picketed by animal rights protesters and their issue with the race was illustrated when two horses died during the first circuit of the course. It was certainly tragic, and arguably quite unnecessary. The deaths have fuelled the debate about whether horses should be subjected to such a gruelling physical test, but there has also been some strange criticism of the BBC and the way it handled the coverage of the race.

Jockeys steer their horses around the fence to avoid a fatally injured horse

For the first time, jockeys were instructed to go around fences rather than over them if an 'obstruction' was lying on the far side. This happened twice on the second circuit and the BBC commentators pointed this out as it happened, without drawing attention to the horses that were fatally injured. As I watched it, I was aware what was going on. It didn't take a rocket scientist to point this out. Frankly, I thought that the commentators dealt with the issue in a sensitive way.

But the backlash today has been quite bizarre. There have been two main criticisms from viewers, responding via twitter and website messageboards:

• The BBC were barbaric to show the dead horses (covered over) as the action passed by on the second circuit.
• The BBC were callous to gloss over the deaths by not mentioning what had happened.

So, they were at fault for drawing attention to the deaths AND they were at fault for not drawing attention to the deaths. I thought that they did well not to dwell on the images of the fallen horses as the action swept past. I was also impressed that they didn't make an issue of it in the commentary and in doing so, they did well to avoid upsetting sensitive viewers.

The BBC have been criticised for doing too little and doing too much. It was, for the critics, an each way bet. However they had chosen to deal with the deaths, the BBC was going to take a beating. The real issue - what should have been the focus - was the nature of the race itself and the physical pressure it places on the horses. I would hate to see the race banned or the fences reduced. But I am also uncomfortable with the deaths of the horses. There is a debate to be had, but it will not be advanced when the focus is on the coverage rather than the nature of the race itself.