Animals Australia welcomes end to jumps racing

27 November 2009

Racing Victoria's decision today to end jumps racing is welcomed by Animals Australia -but fears remain that horses will fall and die before the curtain finally closes after the 2010 jumps season.

Glenys Oogjes, Executive Director of Animals Australia said today -

"Animals Australia welcomes this decision by the RVL Board. RVL have judged that the high death toll and injury rate in jumps racing is unacceptable to the community. Australians care about horses, and the tragedy of seeing the 'green screen' come up ten times on the racetrack this year understandably caused outrage. No animal should suffer and die for the sake of 'sport'".

"We are disappointed that jumps races will be conducted in 2010 in Victoria. The 2008 season saw 12 horses die and 10 died or were put down on the track due to their injuries this year. Another season in Victoria will put several hundred jumps horses at further unnecessary risk", said Ms Oogjes.

Racing Victoria's long-awaited decision may mean that jumps racing will cease to exist in Australia.

Victoria and South Australia are the only two remaining States to allow this high risk form of racing, and the South Australian jumps races rely largely on Victorian horses and jockeys.

"Animals Australia now calls on the South Australian racing authorities to move quickly to impose a similar ban on jumps racing in that State" concluded Ms Oogjes.

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