Why jumps racing should be banned

The state government has been accused of "once again having blood on its hands" after the death of a horse at the May Racing Carnival.

Coalition for the Protection of Race Horses campaign director Elio Celotto expressed his sadness after Sir Isaac Newton was euthanised after a fall in race three.

Even if they don't die on the track there is a high likelihood they will be injured and put down afterwards. Mr Celotto said he and other coalition members were disappointed they were unable to have their voices heard at the track this year. Mr Celotto said it was unfortunate coalition members could not be at the track, but what was more unfortunate was that jumps racing had not been banned. Bushfire victims' fury over Australia's climate change moves.

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Follow SBS News to join in the conversation and never miss the latest live updates. Stay informed with the SBS News app. Skip to content Primary Navigation Show menu Hide menu. Explore SBS. News Programs. The statistics show that jumps horses are pushed far beyond their normal limits and are subjected to much greater physical, psychological and physiological stress than flat track racehorses.

One jumps horse dies for every horses that start in a race, compared to one death for every horses that start in a flat race. Catastrophic limb injuries are 18 times more likely and head or back and neck injuries are times more likely in jump races than flat races. Jumps horses are generally older than flat racing horses. Many have raced in flat events and are therefore more likely to have bone, tendon and muscle weaknesses.

These horses are then required to race over distances of up to five kilometres and clear more than a dozen jumps. Those concerns are based on the significant probability of a horse suffering serious injury or even death as a result of participating in these events, and in particular, steeplechasing … Accordingly, the Committee is of the view that the relevant state governments should phase out jump racing over the next three years.

In , Racing Victoria announced it would abolish jumps racing at the conclusion of the season. Early in , the decision was reversed and jumps events have continued to be sanctioned, despite then-Victorian Racing Minister, Rob Hulls, publically stating concern over the welfare of horses in jumps racing. The Tasmanian racing industry voluntarily stopped holding jumps events in