Trainer Robbie Laing yesterday pleaded with racing officials to take direction from jumps racing's leading participants to ensure the sport survives beyond 2010, reports The Age.It says: Laing, the premier jumps trainer in the state for the past few seasons, said his relief at yesterday's announcement of a reprieve for the sport was tempered by the fact that jumps racing was still only one bad decision away from the axe.''They've (the Racing Victoria Ltd board) put in some pretty tough condition

Trainer Robbie Laing yesterday pleaded with racing officials to take direction from jumps racing's leading participants to ensure the sport survives beyond 2010, reports The Age.

It says: Laing, the premier jumps trainer in the state for the past few seasons, said his relief at yesterday's announcement of a reprieve for the sport was tempered by the fact that jumps racing was still only one bad decision away from the axe.

''They've (the Racing Victoria Ltd board) put in some pretty tough conditions and that's fair enough but it comes down to listening to those who know what it takes to meet these conditions,'' Laing said.

''For too long, these crucial decisions have been made by people who know little or nothing about jumps racing. They (the RVL) have to consult with people who know what is required.''

The RVL board yesterday announced it would permit jumps racing the chance to prove itself sustainable after imposing a set of stringent conditions.

Part of those conditions is that jumps races must have eight or more runners in 80 per cent of races this season. Jumps racing had those numbers in only 56 per cent of races last season.

Also, the fatality rate of 1.27 per cent of starters last season must be at least halved while falls must come down from 5 per cent to no more than 3 per cent.

As well, there be newly modified obstacles that will be funded out of jumps racing prizemoney.

A new jumps program is yet to be drawn up as the jumps season has been moved back to begin on April 6 so as to allow horses to become familiar with the new hurdles.

But while RVL has handed the jumps industry a lifeline, there are no guarantees. RVL chairman Michael Duffy said: "If the new requirements are not met in 2010, jumps racing will cease at the end of that season.

"If the jumps racing community meets the new conditions in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons, then RVL will commit to a further three-year program."