Tragic start to Victoria’s jumps racing season reinforces calls for end to jumps racing in SA
March 24, 2020RSPCA SA highlights sector’s failure to implement key recommendations from Select Committee Report during three-year reprieve period
A tragic start to Victoria’s jumps racing season has reinforced the position of RSPCA South Australia that jumps races should be removed from the State’s racing calendar.
Victoria’s jumps racing season opened at Warrnambool 12 days ago, on Thursday 12 March. An 8-yearold gelding named Unabashed fell heavily at the first obstacle in Race 4, a steeplechase.
The subsequent steward’s report did not disclose the nature of his injuries but stated that the horse was “unable to be saved by veterinary staff after falling”. (Unabashed is still listed as “active” on Racing Australia’s website.)
South Australia’s first jumps race this year – a 3km hurdle race at Strathalbyn – is scheduled to run tomorrow. A total of 23 jumps races are planned in SA before the season ends on September 13.
In 2016, South Australia’s jumps racing industry was the subject of a Select Committee Inquiry due to community concerns about the numbers of horses being injured and killed in jumps races. The cumulative impact of injuries from non-fatal falls, such as tendon or ligament damage, lacerations and associated anxiety, is among welfare concerns.
The Committee gave TRSA (Thoroughbred Racing SA) and the sector three years to implement Recommendations designed to improve welfare for jumps horses and industry transparency.
According to RSPCA South Australia’s Animal Welfare Advocate Dr Rebekah Eyers, there is little evidence of implementation of several key Recommendations, including birth-to-death traceability.
“There’s still a great deal of secrecy around the fate of horses used in jumps races,” Dr Eyers said.
Information that is still not publicly accessible includes:
- Details behind horses listed online as “retired” or “deceased”
- Details of outcomes for horses that suffer non-fatal injuries in jumps races
Based on the industry’s failure to effectively implement key Recommendations, and the lack of community support for this high-risk activity, RSPCA South Australia urges the State government to follow the lead of other Australian states and end jumps racing in SA.