SIR: I refer to this year's Grand National which had 37 horses in the race. Three horses died, a jockey was thrown, most of the horses refused to jump, six managed to finish the course, the winner was under the whip for a few lengths and the field was waterloggged and not fit to race on.

What a disgusting spectacle. Thousands of people paid to watch and have a bet. Do any of these people think of the suffering caused by this race? It must be banned. How can caring people allow this slaughter? And who paid for the police? That must be a colossal bill.

It is a national disgrace, cruel and immoral.

Irene Farnworth

Austins Lane

Lostock, Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.