I FEEL I must take Mr Day to task over his somewhat misguided comments regarding his allegations of cruelty in the horse racing industry (EA February 19).
He deems all owners and jockeys to be bullies who "send injured horses to race and be abused by jockeys with whips."
Anyone who has witnessed a field full of horses galloping free, will know the urge to race is a natural one and anyone who has attempted to try to make a horse do something it does not want to, will know it is almost impossible to "force" it to do something against its will.
There are sadly, some occasional fatalities in racing, but the racecourse vets are always on hand within seconds to dispatch any horse humanely, should any owner's worse nightmare happen.
No owner or trainer would allow an injured horse to race, they are too valuable and loved to be allowed to run other than at their peak of well-being. The rules of racing are very clear on whip abuse, any jockey who breaks these rules faces a long spell on the side line and a hefty fine.
SUSIE GOESS-SAURAU
Rockley
Marlborough
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