The horse above was "Whatsourgo" who was killed 20th June 2009 at Moonee Valley.

There is a pro-jumps versus anti-jumps divide that will probably never see eye to eye.

In Victoria, jumps racing still has government support and many in the racing industry still feel this traditional sport has an important place in racing culture.

Animal rights groups oppose the sport. The RSPCA oppose the sport as they feel that it is currently conducted in an inhumane way.

Safety is the paramount issue in the jumps racing scene. When one considers jumps horses can suffer and die at approximately 20 times the rate of flat race horses there is cause for concern.

Since early this year the Victorian Animal Welfare Association has led a campaign to see jumps racing banned in Victoria. Protesting members have attended many city race meets with jumps races on the fixture to bring their concerns to the attention of the race-going public.

Lawrence Pope, president of the Victorian Animal Welfare Association asked what place can watching racehorses fall and die over hurdles have in the 21st century? He and his group feel the public has a right to know that horse deaths in jumps races are not an aberration but an annual and entirely predictable outcome of racing and jumping horses at the same time.

Mr Pope said ownership and proper care of a horse should be a lifelong commitment. Horses that have finished racing on the flat should be retired and looked after instead of having their careers prolonged by having to race over jumps.

Jumps racing supporters point out horses raced over jumps are pampered and nurtured in a professional environment. They are fed, exercised, groomed and sheltered, unlike many ex-racehorses who will often end up in quarters where they suffer neglect, with ignorant or deliberately cruel owners who do not attend to the special needs of the thoroughbred.

Supporters maintain the lives of jumps racers are extended for years, and consequently their quality of life is extended when able to compete in jumps races.

There have been a number of major Victorian reviews organised by Racing Victoria Limited over the last 15 years but the most recent is the Jumps Racing Review Report, a controversial independent review.

The results of the review were released in September 2002. It acknowledged that the faltering sport could not continue in its present form, but surprisingly recommended a revival program rather than the abolition favoured by animal rights groups.

The report found safety levels could be increased if recommendations including new steeple designs, better horse and jockey training and improved scrutiny of events.

Other safety recommendation included restricting jumps racing to the wetter months when tracks are softer and increasing the minimum distance from 2800m to 3200m. Spurs would be banned and boots protecting the horse’s forelegs would be compulsory.

Some key changes would be effective immediately such as shortening the jumps season.

In other areas, such as changing the design of jumps it will take time, as Racing Victoria will have to work with individual clubs to make sure that everything is done.

Unfortunately, even this report does acknowledge that despite a number of major reviews over 15 years the rate of death and injury to Victorian horses has not changed.

Jumps racing is intrinsically dangerous and the latest review found that there was little public support for it. Even so, jumps racing will continue in Victoria and will be boosted through increased promotion.

Jane is the author of ‘They Shoot Horses Don’t They?’, a book which focuses on the welfare of Australian horses.  For more information phone (03) 9457 6273

April 20, Holy Grail, JJ Houlahan Hurdle, Flemington.

May 2, High Celebrity, Grand Annual Steeplechase, Warrnambool.

June 22, Big Bonus, Ian Macdonald Steeple, Moonee Valley.

July 6, Chibuli, Grand National Steeplechase, Flemington.

July 28, Hibernian Prince, Hiskens Steeplechase, Moonee Valley.

August 28, Loose Truth, Maiden Hurdle, Moonee Valley.

September 10, Tell Me Lies, Seymour Hurdle.

October 3, Howydyano, Yarra Glen Hurdle.

By ©Jane Duckworth 2005