Racing's Fall From Grace

The Age

Monday July 14, 2008

Lisa Martin

A spate of horse deaths has led to a safety review of the sport, writes Lisa Martin.

1. What happened?

Jumps racing has come under fire after the death of five horses last month. The Grand National Hurdle at Flemington turned ugly when two horses were destroyed and a jockey was taken to hospital after serious falls. Only four of the 13 horses in that event finished the race with a jockey still on board. Another horse survived a fall during the Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington the following weekend.

Racing Minister Rob Hulls has brought forward a safety review of the sport. Racing Victoria Limited will report to Mr Hulls in mid-August. Victoria and South Australia are the only states where jumps racing is allowed. NSW banned jumps in 1995 and Tasmania stopped them in 2007.

2. What are the concerns?

About 20 horses have fallen in Victoria since the jumps racing season began in March. Ten have died at racecourses across the state.

Animal activists say jumps racing is 10 to 20times more dangerous than normal racing.

The RSPCA has called for an immediate ban on jumps racing while a safety review is under way. RSPCA president Dr Hugh Wirth said it was immoral for the sport to continue. He said Australian horses were too fast for jumps racing, unlike "hunter-type" horses used in Europe. He said too much speed caused horses to make mistakes at the fences.

Another problem was firm ground, which increases speed as well as the impact for fallen riders.

3. Why continue jumps racing?

Participants don't want their sport shut down. They say it makes an important economic contribution to Victoria's racing and tourism industries.

Supporters dispute claims that jumps racing is cruel. Jockey Steven Pateman said horses love to jump. "You couldn't make them do it if they didn't want to," he said.

Trainer Robbie Laing said the sport provided a second chance for horses that might otherwise be retired early from regular racing. He said continued drought conditions were taking a toll on horse owners and if jumps racing was banned it could lead to a mass cull of horses.

The industry agrees that safety standards need to be improved to protect horses and riders. The Australian Jumps Racing Association has given Racing Victoria a nine-point list of safety recommendations. These include changing track preparation to ensure the ground is not too firm, training workshops for jockeys and trainers, additional jumps to slow the pace of races, and moving jumps to the inside fence.

4. Recent headlines

"Two horses fall and die, and a sport may yet be crippled"

The Age, June 29

"The day jumps racing fell from grace"

The Age, June 29

"Call to suspend jumps"

The Age, July 4

"Jumps racing faces mounting hurdle to win PR war"

The Age, July 6

"One person to decide the future of jumps racing"

Herald Sun, July 7

5. What people say

"If anyone thinks that this is an acceptable byproduct of jumps racing then they have little regard for the safety of jockeys or horses. I indicated that I would have a review of the policy settings in relation to jumps racing at the end of this season, I've spoken to the chairman of Racing Victoria Ltd."

Victorian Racing Minister, Rob Hulls, The Age, June 29

"Whilst we welcome the decision by Racing Minister Rob Hulls to conduct an urgent review of all aspects of jumps racing in Victoria, we have written to Racing Victoria Ltd asking that they immediately suspend all jumps races."

RSPCA president Dr Hugh Wirth,

The Age, July 4

"I think most of the riders in the weighing room feel that we've been under siege after events at Flemington. People may be looking at what happened last week and think 'This sport should be stopped', but it wasn't a true reflection of jump racing. It was a terrible day but it was a freak occurrence that was a result of a lot of different factors and a large measure of bad luck.

Only a few months ago we were saying how well jumping was going and I believe we can get back to that point."

Jockey Brett Scott, The Age, July 6

"I urge the Minister to think very seriously about making this the last jumping season for Victoria. This is a luck-based approach to health and safety of the horses and jockeys. I don't think it is in any way sustainable. I think it's the unconscionable in pursuit of the unsustainable. I don't think anything more than a miracle can save jumps racing from itself."

Victorian Advocates For Animals president Lawrence Pope, Herald Sun, July7

6. Your view

Are jumps races outdated? Can new safety measures save the sport? Should animal welfare issues outweigh economic and social factors in the debate? Submit your view online at education.theage.com.au by 10am on the Thursday before publication.

7. Links

? Australian Jumps Racing Association

ajra.org.au

? Racing Victoria Ltd

racingvictoria.net.au

? Animals Australia

animalsaustralia.org/media/press-releases.php?release=10

PREVIOUS ISSUE: HEARING LOSS

The volume at which teenagers blast music into their ears is amazing. They may well know it can cause hearing problems, but don't want to look uncool.

Amay, Cheltenham Secondary College, year8

They should invent a new iPod or MP3 player that should display how many decibels you are hearing.

Michael, Weeden Heights Primary School, year 5

I like my music loud - and I can bet you that just about every other teenager does - but not many of them care about their hearing.

Bryce, Wanganui Park Secondary College, year 8

I do like my music loud. I am aware that loud music can damage the ears, so do others. The risks may be there but we overlook them.

Bing Xian, Brentwood Secondary, year 10

I think people do know the risks but don't take it seriously until their ears get damaged.

Ben, Ballarat Secondary College, year 9

I love listening to loud music, but never knew how it was damaging

my ears. After reading this I immediately made a decision: I will try to cut the volume of my iPod down.

Bethany, Belmont High School, year 7

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