[Greens-Media] Jumps Racing Farce Reaches New Economic Low

[Franks, Office]

Embargoed till 11 August 2012

Greens' Animal Welfare Spokesperson Tammy Franks has highlighted the new low to which the jumps racing 'industry' in South Australia has succumbed. Today's Grand National Hurdle, one of the richest events on the jumps racing calendar held in South Australia doesn't feature a single South Australian horse!
"The news that the Grand National Hurdle to be held at Morphettville doesn't have a single South Australian horse competing and that whatever the result ALL of the $50,000 in prize money will be heading over the border, is the latest blow to a 'sport' ridden by controversy and dogged by protests over animal welfare concerns, after season after season of deaths and injuries.
"Whilst this jumps season has been relatively kind to horses with 'only' five deaths to spoil the so-called fun, the recent announcement from the South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) that the club itself is believes it can't make money from jumps racing and is looking to end jumps racing at the Morphettville Racecourse was a bombshell. It clearly indicates that even the industry itself has lost confidence in jumps racing and is looking for a face-saving exit strategy.
"The SAJC's statement acknowledged what the statistics have long showed; jumps racing is not viable commercially, nor does it contribute significantly economically to South Australia.
"Indeed with only 12% of prize money from SA races staying in SA this season, it's no wonder the SAJC have been forced to reconsider its support for jumps racing.
"With animal welfare concerns over jumps racing showing no sign of abating and with the punters themselves not backing the jumps, it's no surprise that jumps racings days in South Australia are likely to be numbered.  Legal opinion from the Law Society's Animal Law Committee has already highlighted jumps racing may well contravene the existing Animal Welfare Act.
"Now is the time to put an end to this archaic practice that sees horses routinely suffer or die from injuries sustained in the course of the jumps*. Whilst horses are injured in flats racing, the statistics clearly show that its jumps racing that is by a country mile the more dangerous.


* Jumps racing deaths to date 2012 Jotilla Sandown, Victoria (28/3). Virvacity & Art Success Oakbank (7/4), The Black Oak Warrnambool (trial) 16/6, and Foremost Cranbourne 18/7 (trial).

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