Three horses killed at just one event...

Jumps racing is dangerous for horses. With jumps racing banned in nearly all other parts of the country – some as long ago as 1903 – Victoria is now the only state to still allow this long-outdated ‘sport’.

In a recent, welcomed announcement, South Australia passed legislation to ban jumps racing – a massive win for horses. Thanks to the dedication of individuals and organisations like the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, Animal Liberation SA and RSPCA SA, the state now joins nearly all others in Australia.

Tragically, horses continue to be forced to face a high risk of falling, sustaining horrible injuries and being killed on Victorian racing tracks.

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The cruelty continues in Victoria

The Victorian Government and industry body are fully aware of the inherent risks of jumps racing, yet they deem it acceptable in the name of ‘entertainment’. The horses listed below weren’t asked for their consent and they were made to pay the ultimate price.

In addition to the horses who have lost their lives during races and trials, many other horses have suffered – from injuries on the race tracks, or from simply failing to win races and being withdrawn from competition and sent to an abattoir or knackery. Many of these gentle, social animals are not offered ‘retirement’, and it is often left to charities to support them after they are discarded by the racing industry.

As long as jumps racing is allowed to exist, the number of avoidable horse deaths will continue to climb.

Remembering the horses whose lives were cut short

Below, we name the known horses who have died in jumps racing (races and trials) between 2000 and 2018. With the recent deaths of three horses at a single jumps racing event in Ballarat in August 2024, it is evident that as long as jumps racing exists, the listed deaths will continue to grow, and horses will continue to suffer.

Our friends at the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses include the names of the horses whose lives were lost for the sake of racing ‘entertainment’ in their Deathwatch reports. You can find more information about the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses and donate to support their work for horses on the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses website.

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Name

Injury

Date

Location

2018

Hammerstein

This seven year old fell at the eleventh jump, sustaining a serious injury and was later euthanased.

23/09/18

Coleraine (VIC)

Granddukeoftuscany

This eight-year-old landed badly on the seventh jump, sustaining a serious injury and was later euthanased.

9/09/18

Casterton (VIC)

Sleep’n Pete

This ten-year-old horse suffered a catastrophic fall after being forced to run his first ever steeplechase. He died from a suspected broken neck.

19/08/18

Ballarat (VIC)

Mujadale

Pulled up during the race with a suspected tendon injury, and was later euthanased off track.

22/07/2018

Bendigo (VIC)

Something to Share

Despite warnings from industry participants that the track was unsuitable for jumping, Racing Victoria pushed ahead with the day’s races. Chaos ensued in a series of catatrophic crashes that felled seven horses, killed one, heavily concussed a jockey and left another with a suspected fractured collarbone. Trainer Bryce Stanaway is on the record as holding Racing Victoria wholly responsible for the day’s carnage.

22/7/18

Bendigo (VIC)

About the Journey

Fell, tried to rise, before falling again and dying due to a suspected ruptured aorta.

14/7/18

Murray Bridge (SA)

Springbok Flyer

Died after a horrific fall.

8/7/18

Warrnambool (VIC)

Now and Zen

Fell during a steeplechase, and later died due to his injuries.

3/5/18

Warrnambool (VIC)

Name

Injury

Date

Location

2017

Surface To Air

Broke his leg during his first jumps race and was killed on track.

6/7/17

Murray Bridge (SA)

Just Junior

Fractured his leg during a trial, and was euthanased.

3/7/17

Cranbourne (VIC)

Wee Frankie

Fell and broke his neck.

21/5/17

Casterton (VIC)

Bring Back

Fractured his shoulder in a heavy fall over a jump, and was euthanased.

3/5/17

Warrnambool (VIC)

Wheeler Fortune

Killed after falling and shattering a leg while racing.

15/4/17

Oakbank (SA)

Name	Injury	Date	Location
2016
Arwoc	Killed after sustaining crippling injuries in a heavy fall while racing.	25/9/16	Coleraine (VIC)
Tuscan Fire	Injured during a race and was killed on track.	4/5/16	Warrnambool (VIC)
Cliff’s Dream	Fell and fractured his knee during a race. Killed on track.	3/5/16	Warrnambool (VIC)
Fieldmaster	Injured during a jumps trial, and was killed on track.	27/4/16	Cranbourne (VIC)

Name	Injury	Date	Location
2015
Rabbuka	Euthanised on track after sustaining severe injuries in a heavy fall while racing.	13/9/15	Casterton (VIC)
Trenchtown	Injured his leg during a race, and was killed after finishing in last place.	25/7/15	Morphettville (SA)
Verification	Suffered severe injuries in a fall and was killed on track.	9/4/15	Cranbourne (VIC)
Feel the Fame	Fell on track and sustained serious injuries, killed on track.	9/4/15	Cranbourne (VIC)
Try Pickle	Collided with a hurdle and sustained a fractured leg. He was killed on the track.	5/6/15	Casterton (VIC)

2014

Shot Of Glory

Sustained a shoulder injury during jumps trials, and was killed.

26/6/14

Cranbourne (VIC)

Elms

Was injured during a jumps race and killed on track.

25/5/14

Casterton (VIC)

Show Dancer

Crashed violently into a hurdle and was killed on the track.

21/5/14

Sandown (VIC)

Black Moon

Fell while trialling, and was killed on the track.

14/4/14

Oakbank (SA)

Viva Delspec

Injured his knee in steeplechase, and was killed.

3/4/14

Warrnambool (VIC)

2013

End of Time

Fell in steeplechase, and was killed.

7/7/13

Casterton (VIC)

Mikiyama

Fell while trialling, and was killed several days later.

15-16/6/13

Warrnambool (VIC)

Reckless Rat

Fractured knee, and was killed on track.

11/6/13

Warrnambool (VIC)

Scenic Buzz

Fell, sustained neck injuries and was killed on track.

17/4/13

Sandown (VIC)

2012
Jockey Jack	Fractured fetlock (ankle) and was killed on track.	18/8/12	Morphettville (SA)
Foremost	Clipped the jump, landed on his head, broke his neck (in trial)	18/7/12	Cranbourne (VIC)
The Black Oak	Fractured sesamoid in trial. Killed	15/6/12	Warrnambool (VIC)
Art Success	Killed off track due to a fractured pelvis, after competing in two races over the Oakbank weekend.	9/4/12	Oakbank (SA)
Virvacity	Injured on track, killed.	7/4/12	Oakbank (SA)
Jotilla	Injured on track, killed.	28/3/12	Sandown (VIC)

2011
Guara Grove Beast	Fell on track, killed.	3/9/11	Morphettville (SA)
Fergus McIver	Died after falling on the last jump of the race.	28/8/11	Sandown (VIC)
Nitonic	Injured after falling over a hurdle, killed.	18/8/11	Cranbourne, in trial (VIC)
Zealous	Died from an apparent neck injury after falling over hurdle.	31/7/11	Warrnambool (VIC)
Fasilenko	Injured hind leg on hurdle, killed.	20/5/11	Mt Gambier (SA)
Ledgers Dream	Fell, broke neck, died.	14/5/11	Morphettville (SA)
Shine The Armour	Fell over hurdle, broke his neck, killed.	3/5/11	Warrnambool (VIC)
Java Star	Died on the track, cause of death is disputed.	23/4/11	Oakbank (SA)
Squire Rex	Injured a tendon, fell over hurdle, killed.	19/4/11	Cranbourne (VIC), in trial
Hammerblow	Not known	11/4/11	Morphettville, in trial
Casa Boy	Broke an elbow, killed.	4/4/11	Warrnambool

2010
Tradesman’s Choice	Broke a leg, killed.	24/7/10	Morphettville (SA)
Prince Vitality

Speak up for horses today

Hopefully Victoria will soon follow the rest of Australia in sparing these gentle animals from such an incredibly high risk of injury and death. Please contact Victorian decision-makers here and urge them to end this cruelty once and for all.

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Jumps racing death files.

The cruelty continues in Victoria

Remembering the horses whose lives were cut short

Speak up for horses today