MEDIA RELEASE Monday 18 August 2025:
Activists Demand Government Intervene to Ban Jumps Racing
Another horse killed and several horses injured as another failed season concludes.
Activists from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) were at Ballarat Racecourse yesterday, Sunday 17 August to bear witness and protest at the final jumps racing meeting of the 2025 season.
One horse, six-year-old Tapa Capall was confirmed killed in race 2 suffering a catastrophic injury to his near hind leg when he hit the 10th obstacle. It was only his second jumps race.
The death of Tapa Capall brings the death toll of the season up to a total of five horses killed from jumps racing in 2025.
Many more horses have sustained injuries and are unlikely to reappear next year. Approx. 50 percent of jumps horses disappear from racing from one year to the next.
CPR is demanding the State Government intervene as the state racing authority, Racing Victoria appears to have no intention to end the sport.
“After yet another review conducted after the deadly 2024 season, the only change that has reduced the deaths to 5 in the 2025 season has been reducing the number of races and the number of horses competing” said Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for CPR.
“If Racing Victoria want to do the right thing and reduce the deaths and injuries to zero, it’s simple, ban the sport.”
According to the Stewards report on yesterday’s races, multiple horses were struggling. Some were found lame, one suffered cardiac arrhythmia, one sustained a horrific fall, and others knuckled to their knees barely avoiding falling. Six horses were showing signs of being at risk of injury and were pulled up during their race.
In the meantime, security guards were being used to impose heavy handed tactics on protestors to prevent them from filming the races.
The footage of Tapa Capall dragging his injured leg on the ground has been edited from the racing.com website.
“We will not be intimidated by the racing industry who continually tell us they have nothing to hide and yet do everything they possibly can to prevent the truth being told. This is business as usual for the racing industry,” said Mr Celotto.
“At the end of the day, we are still seeing approx. one in 30 jumps horses killed on the track every season. This is simply unacceptable,” Mr Celotto said.
In 2024, ten horses were killed during jumps races and jumps racing trials. There was a total of 250 horses trialed and raced. Statistically, one in 25 jumps horses was killed in 2024.
In 2025, five horses were killed during jumps races and jumps racing trials. There was a total of 175 horses trialed and raced. Statistically, one in 35 jumps horses was killed in 2025.
“Jumps racing is the only sport that expects some of its competitors to be killed. If these were jockeys, the sport would have been banned a long time ago,” Mr Celotto said.
CPR will be contacting the Minister for Racing in Victoria, Anthony Carbines, to arrange a meeting to discuss an immediate phase out of the sport.
– ENDS –
MORE INFORMATION
See CPR’s submission to the Racing Victoria Jumps Racing Review Panel here.
More information about jumps racing
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