IN response to Sarah Shaw's letter on the Grand National (Letters, April 9), I would first like to correct her casual claim that "most racehorses end up in tins of pet food", strongly implying that those involved with the sport do not care for their horses.

Racehorses are the best cared for domestic animals in the country, pets included. On average there are about 13,000 horses in training in Britain, however, there are very few instances of ex-racehorses ever being found in a poor or neglected state.

Owners and trainers make great efforts to ensure that horses move on after racing to other occupations like point-to-pointing, show-jumping or recreation.

Even so, we have introduced systems to make sure that horses are well cared for after their racing careers are over. Every registered foal now has a microchip implanted under its skin to make it readily identifiable, so it is much easier to find out the history of a horse should it ever be found neglected or abandoned.

In 2000 the industry set up a fund worth more than £200,000 annually to support the re-schooling and re-homing of race horses. We agree with animal welfare organisations that horses have the right to a decent and fulfilling life, both during their racing careers and afterwards.

The racing authorities enjoy positive working relationships with recognised welfare organisations such as the RSPCA.

I can assure Sarah Shaw that people are not attracted to a career in racing for financial gain, the chief attraction is the chance to work with horses and it is a deep love for horses that binds the sport together.

John Maxse,

Public Relations Director,

The Jockey Club,

Portman Square, London.

...IN response to Mr Lawrence's vitriolic comments about anglers (Letters, April 9), angling cannot be compared to those who use animals to chase a quarry until it is completely exhausted, before letting the said animals tear the poor victim to pieces, but we do 'angle', as he says, because we enjoy it. What person does something out of choice because they hate doing it?

Anglers prepare for their sport by using such balanced tackle as to give the fish an equal chance of eluding capture, and when caught they are handled carefully, in 99.9 per cent of cases being returned to the water unharmed.

Regarding the loss of tackle affecting birds, most of this is purely accidental. In the Eighties when the public was indoctrinated with information that swans were being harmed by anglers' lead shot, anglers responded by agreeing to a ban on the use of this item.

Apart from the obvious benefits to wildlife and the wildlife habitat, anglers are also in the forefront of the fight against water pollution, as they are there on the banks for all year, reporting immediately any cases of pollution that enter the rivers, ponds and streams. Perhaps Mr Lawrence would prefer to see our total absence from the environment and our watercourses running as open sewers?

R Hutchinson,

General secretary,

York & District Amalgamation of Anglers,

St Clements Club,

Count de Burgh Terrace, York.

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, April 16, 2002