[Greens-Media] Jockey Jack Killed in Morphettville Mayhem

[Franks, Office]

Greens' Animal Welfare Spokesperson Tammy Franks has called for the Premier to intervene and for SA to follow NSW's lead and ban jumps racing, with yet another disastrous day on the track at Morphettville seeing horse Jockey Jack killed after breaking down during the running of the Grand National Steeplechase.
"The South Australian jumps racing program has lurched from crisis to crisis over the last year or so," Ms Franks said. "The tragic incident at Morphettville today where Jockey Jack was pulled up by his rider, only to be later euthanased behind the green screen is sadly just the latest in a string of injuries and deaths that have permanently blighted jumps racing and have seen community opposition soar.
"This year's jumps season in SA & Victoria has been deadly for horses with six now succumbing to on-track injuries*. The industry as it is in SA - always a bit player with no full time trainers, jockeys or stables dependent on jumps has been lacklustre at best this season, with two trials cancelled due to a lack of runners, and the inaugural race of the season only able to field five horses.
"Controversy has further dogged jumps racing with sponsors cancelling their sponsorship, the South Australian Jockey Club itself admitting it doesn't add up financially and embarrassingly last week's steeplechase featuring no South Australian horses at all.
"When viewed in light of legal advice from the Law Society that jumps racing may already contravene the Animal Welfare Act, it's clearly time for Premier Weatherill and Minister Kenyon to acknowledge the animal welfare concerns and overwhelming community sentiment in favour of banning jumps racing.
Whilst the Greens' Animal Welfare (Jumps Racing) Amendment Bill wasn't successful last year, the carnage witnessed on the track in both SA & Victoria in 2011 and 2012 to date is abundant proof, if it were still needed, that it's time for jumps racing to face the final hurdle.
"Jumps racing is a disaster for horses, a financial disaster for the SAJC and is not well supported by punters or racegoers alike in South Australia," Ms Franks concluded.


* Jumps racing deaths to date 2012 Jotilla Sandown, Victoria (28/3). Virvacity & Art Success Oakbank (7/4), The Black Oak Warrnambool (trial) 16/6, Foremost Cranbourne 18/7 (trial), Jockey Jack Morphettville 18/8.


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