BEHIND horse racing's glamorous facade lies a catalogue of suffering and death.

According to national campaign group, Animal Aid, more than 400 horses are raced to death every year. Some 38%of these fatalities occur during, or immediately after, a race and result from a broken leg, back, neck or pelvis, fatal spinal injuries, exhaustion, heart attack or burst blood vessels. The other victims perish from training injuries or are killed after being assessed by their owners as no-hopers.

The punishing Grand National is Britain's longest horse race covering a distance of four miles and 856 yards. The horses are required to jump 30 formidable obstacles, some of which include perilous drops, ditches and sharp turns. Forty horses usually take part — an excessively crowded field, which adds to the risk of collisions and falls.

Thirty-eight horses have now been killed at the three-day Aintree event since 1997. This 'sport' is only kept alive through betting income and course attendance fees. Please don't back the cruelty — for you it's only a harmless flutter, but horses could pay with their lives.

For more information, and to view Animal Aid's powerful 90-second film, please visit the Animal Aid website.

LISA SHELLEY,

Berrynarbor.