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Insight
Jumps Racing Debate
Heats Up With Fatal Fall
The controversy surrounding jumps horse racing in Australia was
brought back into focus with a fatal fall in the second of two hurdle
races at Warrnambool, Victoria in early April.
The fall reignited the jumps debate at the start of arguably the
most important season in the sport’s history.
While there are more jumps races programmed, more prize money
on offer at more venues, there is already one fewer competitor
after gelding Casa Boy broke an elbow at the race on 3rd April
and was put down after crashing heavily in the maiden hurdle.
Two others, Chatillion and Olympic Light, fell but were not seriously
injured in the first two races. After last season’s unprecedented
success with only two fatalities in hurdle and steeplechase races
over new obstacles, it was a disastrous start. Two years ago
Racing Victoria dumped the controversial sport, only for it to be
given a reprieve after pressure from industry stakeholders.
Racing Minister Denis Napthine, who is the member for
Warrnambool, said he was distressed by the horse’s death.
‘’Today’s incident will be subject to a review and, as is the case with
every aspect of racing, the safety of jockeys, horses and indeed
all participants is of the highest priority,’’ Dr Napthine said.
‘’As a former veterinarian, I absolutely understand the safety
issues surrounding jumps racing and I am aware of measures
already put in place by the industry to improve safety for both the
horses and jockeys.’’
The RSPCA’s Hugh Wirth was reported as saying the death of
Casa Boy was as upsetting as it was predictable. ‘’You cannot
expect horses that are bred for flat racing can safely jump
obstacles,’’ Dr Wirth said.
Robin Blunt, Bloodstock underwriter with Sportscover’s Lloyd’s
syndicate 3334 commented, “All horse racing carries inherent
danger. Horses break down and are destroyed in flat racing, as
they are in jump racing. Many more horses are lost on the gallops
as a result of accidents as opposed to at the racetrack but this is
out of the public gaze and is rarely publicised, except amongst
the racing fraternity. The single biggest cause of horse mortality
losses is as a result of gastro intestinal problems.”
He added, “In the UK, the trainers’ returns for 2009 showed that
out of a total of 14,859 horses in training, 5,251 were jumps-only
or hunter-chasers, 35% of the total population. Without jumps
racing, many of these horses, specifically bred for jumping, would
simply not exist. In Australia, there are approximately 32,000
horses in training of which there are around 200 horses registered
as jumpers with a total of 95 races in Victoria and South Australia.
There is an argument that expansion of jumps racing would
increase the level of expertise amongst trainers and jockeys,
as well as leading to horses being bred for purpose and better
equipped to race over fences.”
Referring to Dr Worth’s comments, Mr Blunt continued, “Few
horses in Australia are bred specifically for the purpose of jumps
racing – most are ‘failed’ flat horses. Jumps racing provides these
animals with a second career. It is likely that horses with no future
on the flat and no other competitive purpose would be destroyed
for economic reasons. There is now a ‘Racehorse Outplacement
Programme’ which seeks to find homes for ex-racehorses, but
this will handle only a small proportion of the numbers of horses
coming out of racing every year.”
The government’s backing of the sport has resulted in an increase
from 63 to 70 in jumps races this season and prize money has
increased 16 per cent on last season. Jumps racing will be
conducted at nine courses in Victoria.
The controversy is set to continue.