The Victorian jumps racing community is reeling after a tragic incident at Ballarat that resulted in fatalities and injuries to horses and jockeys. Racing Victoria expressed their deep sadness over the events and reiterated their commitment to improving safety in the sport. Former deputy premier Rob Hulls has joined animal welfare advocates in calling for a ban on jumps racing following the recent incidents. They argue that nothing can be done to protect horses in jumps racing and that it is time for Victoria to join other states in banning the sport.
Animal welfare advocate Anna Purcell believes that the industry needs to accept that jumps racing is inherently dangerous for horses and that the only solution is a ban. She criticizes the industry for being stubborn and calls for Victoria to lead the way in treating horses with kindness. A decision on the future of jumps racing will ultimately be made by Racing Victoria’s board. Racing Minister Anthony Carbines expressed concern over the events at Ballarat and stated that Racing Victoria will conduct a thorough review of the incident as well as the 2024 jumps racing season to improve safety measures.
Statistics show that there have been 3.1 horse fatalities per season in Victorian jumps races since safety improvements were implemented in 2010, compared to 9.3 fatalities per season before the changes were made. In 2009, Racing Victoria announced a decision to stop jumps racing in the 2010 season due to rising concerns about falls and fatalities. However, this decision was reversed 10 months later and bans on jumps racing have not been revisited by subsequent governments. Racing South Australia recently announced that it will no longer run jumps events from 2022, leaving Victoria as the only state where jumps races are held.
The Warrnambool carnival in May features jumps racing as its main event and draws thousands of visitors. Animal rights groups such as the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses and RSPCA Victoria have called for an immediate ban on jumps racing in Victoria due to the high risk of injury and death to horses. They highlight the 12 horse fatalities that have occurred during the 2024 jumps season and condemn the continuation of an activity that puts animals at risk. The calls for a ban on jumps racing are growing louder in Victoria, with advocates urging Racing Victoria to take action to protect the welfare of horses.
