Media Release Friday 13th December 2024:
Racing Victoria announced today that jumps racing would continue despite the widespread public condemnation of the sport after a disastrous season that saw 12 jumps horses killed and an unknown number of injured horses disappearing without a trace.
“We are shocked and appalled at Racing Victoria’s failure to end this sport, a sport that can never be made safe,” Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses said today.
One in every 21 horses, who raced in the 2024 jumps racing season in Victoria, was killed. Another two horses were killed in jumps racing trials, and two additional jumps horses were killed in track work.
“There have been 6 reviews in the last 15 years, each and every one claiming to have found the safety measures needed to make the sport safe. Every single attempt failed and the initiatives in the 2024 review report will be no different.”
“This so called ‘independent’ review was conducted by those who play an active role in the industry who will always favour the interests of racing ahead of animal welfare.”
The report cites economic benefits and cultural reasons for its decision, while discounting the lives of the innocent horses who are forced to compete – the welfare of jumps horses are not mentioned one single time in the review report as presented by Racing Victoria.
“If the horses who risk their lives every time they race actually had a say in the matter, jumps racing would simply not exist.”
“Racing Victoria needs to stop pretending to care about the welfare of horses and show some leadership and end this sport that is at odds with the majority of Victorians.
“It beggars belief that a sport is banned or phased out in all other states of Australia on grounds of animal cruelty, yet allowed to continue in Victoria.”
CPR has been campaigning for a ban since 2008 and has vowed to continue fighting until it inevitably happens.
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MORE INFORMATION
Statistics from the 2024 jumps racing season in Victoria:
10 Horses were killed as a result of injuries sustained during jumps racing and jumps trials. An additional two in track work.
24 Horses fell, which often result in catastrophic injuries leading to death. An additional four horses fell during jumps trials.
51 Horses failed to finish their race. An additional three horses failed to finish during jumps trials.
275 Awkward jumps were recorded. This refers to horses struggling to safely clear the obstacles.
48 Horses blundered or knuckled on their knees after an obstacle, barely avoiding a fall.
32 Horses were found to be lame. Some horses were lame in more than one limb.
34 Horses suffered EIPH, lacerations, respiratory, soreness, haematoma, or otherwise struggled to recover after their race.
Source: CPR Jumps Racing Report 2024
See CPR’s submission to the Racing Victoria Jumps Racing Review Panel here.
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