RSPCA Victoria Calls for Jumps Racing to be Suspended

RSPCA Victoria welcomes the decision by Racing Minister Rob Hulls to conduct an urgent review of all aspects of jumps racing in Victoria

Whilst we are pleased that he has requested this urgent review, we will be asking Racing Victoria [RVL] to suspend all jump races until the review is completed.

To allow jump races to continue in the face of the horrific and unnecessary fatalities of ten horses in jump races since March is totally unacceptable.

 

RSPCA Victoria has been trying for over 30 years to abolish hurdle and steeple events. Horses who fall suffer serious injuries as well as the physical impact of jumping. These falls cause considerable pain and stress to the horses. The likelihood of injury and fatality in jumping races makes them unacceptable.

Sadly, the shocking tragedies at Flemington on Saturday June 28 in the Grand National Hurdle highlighted the request by Minister Hulls to bring the review forward.

Victoria is one of only two states that still conduct jumps racing.

A Senate Select Committee address on Animal Welfare in a 1991 report: Aspects of Animal Welfare in the Racing Industry, concluded:

“The Committee has serious concerns about the welfare of horses participating in jump races. These concerns are based on the significant probability of a horse suffering serious injury or even death as a result of participating in these events.”

The Committee recommended that State Governments should phase out jump racing over a three-year period. NSW State Government banned jump racing in 1997. Tasmania ceased jumps racing last year for economic reasons.

Although Racing Victoria implemented a new softer type of fence during the 2004 season, unfortunately the new design has not been successful in reducing fatalities.

The RSPCA says factors that will cause injury or fatality in jump races are:

• the complex interaction between horses;
• the interaction between the jockey and horse & jockey and jockey;
• the willingness of the horse to participate over the jumps and its determination to win plus the speed of the field;
• the use of horses bred and raced on the flat as a last chance to return some of the cost;
• the degree of fitness and training of the horses;
• the design of the course, the track conditions, topography and climatic conditions.

You cannot continue to justify the use of an animal where the accident and injury rate is so high.