ONCE again two terrified horses die at our Grand National.

There is nothing grand about it, it is a national disgrace.

Since 2000 and just within the three-day event at Aintree, 33 horses have lost their lives. All for human entertainment and vested interests.

These horse deaths are not accidents because they are very predictable, as the national is extremely gruelling and is expected to take its toll.

This is not sport, but animal abuse. Only 19 stricken horses out of 40 managed to finish this marathon.

If you care to look into their eyes you will see fear and panic.

And why are people so accepting of the horse whip? A whip is used to cause pain. A horse fears the whip because it fears the pain the whip causes.

How can 21st-century people accept all this? Yet, apparently, 600 million people worldwide watch.

Please, to all those with a heart, take a look at the animal aid website, Race Horse Death Watch, for the numbers of horse fatalities and other facts surrounding this money- making racket. Dark ages? We are still in them.

Eileen Girling,

Sigston Road,

Beverley.