Letter: Nothing grand about barbaric, disgusting horse race

SIR – With reference to the recent protest by animal rights campaigners at the Grand National, this is just another case of horses dying in this barbaric race, that is all about money.

I admire those animal rights activists so much. The commentators were saying how well the horses are looked after and invited the activists to take a look at the stables and how well they are cared for. Missing the point!

Then they said all sport has danger – boxing, rugby, Formula One; but that is the person's choice to play these sports. Horses have no choice and don't know the dangers, no matter how well they have been looked after.

It is no good saying they are looked after really well from the moment they are born till the day they die. Too many die in this race. This is not a sport. A sport is when people do things and they know the risks. Horses don't, even if they are intelligent and obviously more intelligent than their owners.

They all put money before the horses life and I am so upset those brave animal right protesters couldn't stop the race. Now we have more needless deaths; disgusting and sad world we live in.

Shirley Martin,

New Milton