 Jumps Racing is the deadliest form of horse racing in Australia. Now only occurring in Victoria and South Australia, this form of racing involves horses jumping metre high fences at speed. The fatigue from hurdle jumping and the length of the races results in a staggering number of deaths and horrific injuries to horses every year. Jumps racing was responsible for the death of 13 horses on the track in 2008, another 13 in 2009, and 5 more in 2010, 11 in 2011 and 6 last year. More than 60 jumps horses have died in South Australia and Victoria in the past six years.
Click here to read a shocking exposé on this cruel and unnecessary form of entertainment.
Latest News on Jumps Racing
the great jumps racing debate: slaughterhouse or a thing of beauty?
never another black caviar, and racing faces a bigger hurdle (The australian)
scenic buzz is first casualty of jumps season
UK: animal welfare groups attack 'stomach-churning' spectacle as grand national race meeting suffers first horse fatality on day one at aintree
controversial jumps racing at oakbank - is it a fair sport or cruelty?
UK: Grand national 2013: animal aid renew call for race ban
NZ: too many racehorse deaths, says safe
NZ: renewed calls to shut down jumps after injuries
changes to grand national course after deaths
poor jumps record
activists seek end to jumps racing
another horse put down after easter jumps racing
second horse destroyed just two weeks into jumps racing season
lawyer slams sports minister over jumps racing
STOP HORSING AROUND AND BAN THE WHIP
JUMPS RACING The 2013 jumps racing season has begun. Racing Victoria previously decided to end jumps racing after the 2010 season, however, with a jumps-friendly government, Racing Victoria has assured jumps racing will continue. And despite Racing Victoria working over the past few years to implement new measures to reduce risks and injuries, horses continue to die. More than 60 jumps horses have died in South Australia and Victoria in the past six years. Media and the public are rapidly coming to
terms with the seriousness of the situation. We are welcoming the media’s current public polls asking whether or not jumps
racing should continue. Please show your
support and complete some of these on-line polls. Help end the cruelty that jumps racing
produces once and for all. Click here to go through to vote!
THE DEATH TOLL CLIMBS It is inevitable that while jumps racing is permitted to continue, horses will fall, sustain horrendous injuries, and die.
Fatalities in 2013 - 1 race horse killed so far: - Scenic Buzz was the first fatality of 2013 - the 7-year-old gelding fell and was euthanised after suffering a neck injury at Sandown (VIC) on 17 April 2013.
Fatalities in 2012 - 6 race horses killed: - Jockey Jack fractured his fetlock (ankle) and was put down on track at Morphettville, Adelaide (SA) on 18 August 2012.
- Foremost broke his neck after landing on his head in a Cranbourne trial (VIC) on 18 July 2012.
- Black Oak suffered a fractured sesamoid and was killed in Warrnambool (VIC) after a hurdle trial on 16 June 2012.
- Art Success fell and suffered a fractured pelvis - the horse was killed off the track after competing in two races over the Oakbank weekend in April in South Australia.
- Virvacity was killed after being injured on track at the Oakbank festival (SA) in April 2012.
- Jotilla was killed in March 2012 after an injury on the track at Sandown (VIC).
Fatalities in 2011 - 11 race horses killed:
- Guara Grove Beast fell on the track at Morphettville in September, and was killed.
- Fergus McIver died after a faulty jump at the last hurdle at the Grand National Steeplechase in Sandown (VIC).
- Nitronic was injured after falling over a hurdle, and was put down in August in Cranbourne.
- Zealous died from an apparent neck injury in July in Warnambool (VIC).
- Fasilenko was killed after injuring a hind leg on a hurdle at Mt Gambier (SA).
- Ledgers Dreambroke his neck stumbling over a jump during the Dominant Hurdle at Morphettville (SA).
- Java Star died after suffering a ruptured aorta before the final fence of the Woodford Reserve hurdle (SA).
- Shine the Armour fell and died instantly on the first race of the opening day of the Grand Annual Steeplechase carnival, Warrnambool
- Seven year old Hammerblow was euthanised following a fall at Morphettville, South Australia.
- Squire Rex was euthanised after falling on a jump at a trial race in Cranbourne, April 19.
- Casa Boy, euthanised following injuries suffered in a second race of the Victorian Jumps season on April 4th in Warrnambool.
Fatalities in 2010 - 5 race horses killed: - July marked the death of a third horse in jumps racing in South Australia. Despite continued proof that the sport kills, and the fact that Victorian jumps racing is under critical review this season, Thoroughbred Racing SA maintains that they will continue to support the sport. The death of Tradesman's Choice brings the national death toll to five. Click here to read the news story.
- By the end of May, we hear of Racing Victoria's second death of the season - Prince Vitality. Click here to read the story.
- The 2010 Warrnambool Carnival has already seen the casualty of Sirrocean Storm, whose harsh injury and resulting death has provided further evidence that jumps racing cannot continue.
- Marc of Thunder and Satu San both died following the Oakbank race meeting.
For a deserved and critical review of the 2010 season, see The Australian's dedicated coverage by Patrick Smith here.
Fatalities in 2009 - 13 race horses killed: - April: Hanging Rock died at Yarra Valley, Taken At The Flood and Wool Zone died at Morphettville, and Shrogginet died at Cranbourne Training Centre
- May: Pride of Westbury, Hassle and Clearview Bay were killed during the Warrnambool racing carnival
- June: Whatsourgo died at Moonee Valley
- July: All Square died at Sale, Geeorb died at Mooney Valley, and Dark Disguise died at Warrnambool
- August: Rough Night died at Warrnambool, and Keepara Lass was killed at Morphettville
Campaign History
Unequivocally, jumps racing is both cruel and dangerous. Three major internal reviews trying to make it safer for horses have failed to stem the rate at which horses are being killed.
Following a spate of incidents where 3 horses died during the Warrnambool Carnival in May 2009, Racing Victoria suspended jumps racing for two weeks while the industry pondered its fate. Assailed by pressure from within the jumps racing fraternity, Racing Victoria decided to allow it to continue, and announced a number of regulations that they claimed would make the sport “less hazardous”. These included removing the last hurdle, increasing jockey education and implementing a qualification scheme for horses prior to racing. All of these measures had been trialled in the past, with no success.
Sadly, it wasn't long before another horse was fatally injured following the resumption of jumps racing. Only one month after the new measures were implemented, a horse fell badly while racing, sustained serious injuries, and lost its life in the name of entertainment. In July 2009, a further three horses were killed, and another was euthanased following a serious fall during the first jumps meeting in August.
In early 2010, Victorian Racing Minister, Rob Hulls, stated his concern in the media over the welfare of horses in jumps racing, and commented that the death count was making it increasingly unsustainable. Ultimately though, decisions on the future of jumps racing have been left to Racing Victoria, and thus this deadly pursuit, under the guise of sport, continues. The conclusion of the 2010 jumps racing season has coincided with a review by the Racing Victoria Board. Unfortunately, despite continued deaths in the 2010 season and a decision in January 2010 to end jumps races in Victoria after the current season, the Board determined to continue with a three year program of hurdle racing and a one year program for next year’s steeplechase racing season, both subject to Key Performance Indicators (KPI). The 2010 season's racing fatality rate was 0.41 per cent for hurdle racing and 0.58 percent for steeplechasing. Racing Victoria has reversed their January 2010 decision to end jumps racing after the season and will now allow jumps races to continue in Victoria beyond 2010 if the fatality rate is kept to a rolling average of less than 0.65 per cent of starters. The decision has been made despite Racing Victoria previously admitting that past performances have been unsatisfactory. The Board has assured new obstacles and improved training will help improve safety. However, new measures merely stand for new risks and continued injuries and deaths for the horses involved.
What you can do
Write to Racing Victoria, and the Victorian Minister for Racing, and ask them to implement an immediate and permanent ban on jumps racing.
Send your letters to:
Mr Rob Hines
Chief Executive Officer
Racing Victoria Limited
400 Epsom Road
FLEMINGTON VIC 3031
The Hon. Michael Duffy
Chairman
Racing Victoria Limited
400 Epsom Road
FLEMINGTON VIC 3031
The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine
Minister for Racing
Level 16, 121 Exhibition St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: denis.napthine@parliament.vic.gov.au
Please send copies of any replies you receive to HSI. Image (c) iStock
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