The well fare of horses and other racing animals are looked after by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Unfortunately, horse racing has an underworld that many people either are or pretend to be, oblivious to.

It has been revealed that race horses are subjected to extreme patterns of in-breeding, training and competition and suffer broken bones, viral disease and devastating conditions such as bleeding lungs and gastric ulcers.

Three times as many foals are produced every year than 45 years ago, only one third are now rated sufficiently healthy to make the grade. The rest are disposed of.

The other problem is the way in which old race horses are treated. Once they are no longer fit for racing they can be dumped or put down so as not to become a burden. The same treatment applies to those who are not able to perform to the ability that is expected.

The ultimate problem with horse racing is the way the horses are treated that are currently racing and who are fit. When they fall and break a leg the horse is likely to be put down as it will be unable to race again. Animal organisations argue that they should not be put down just because they may no longer be able to race.

In the Grand National, 29 horses have been killed since 1997. Some are killed if they are unknown to the public as it will go un-noticed by the majority. Just14 of the 40 starters finished in the 2003 carnage.