IF LAST year's Warrnambool carnival opener was an omen as to the disastrous run of injury and death that was to follow over the next three days, the signs are certainly encouraging for the 2010 carnival which begins on Tuesday, reports The Age.It says: Last year, Tasmanian galloper Mainbrace fell in the Maiden Hurdle, which kicked off the Warrnambool carnival, and although he was uninjured the incident proved a dire portent as by the final jumps race on the Thursday the tally stood at three hors

IF LAST year's Warrnambool carnival opener was an omen as to the disastrous run of injury and death that was to follow over the next three days, the signs are certainly encouraging for the 2010 carnival which begins on Tuesday, reports The Age.

It says: Last year, Tasmanian galloper Mainbrace fell in the Maiden Hurdle, which kicked off the Warrnambool carnival, and although he was uninjured the incident proved a dire portent as by the final jumps race on the Thursday the tally stood at three horse deaths and a total of 10 horse falls.

But such has been the resurgence in interest in jumps racing since it was buried last year and then resurrected a few months later, Tuesday's traditional opener has been split into two divisions for the first time since 2007.

Racing Victoria Ltd's jumps racing manager Paul Bloodworth said yesterday that 28 horses had been nominated for the $20,000 maiden hurdle and when 21 accepted for the race, RVL decided to split the race to ensure all horses would gain a start.

''It's part of our commitment to jumps racing that if there are enough horses to accommodate two fields of nine or more horses, we will create two divisions,'' he said.

''The response is very pleasing as it is for all the jumps races over the carnival.

''The Brierly Steeplechase on Tuesday has only nine acceptors but it is a quality race and the Galleywood Hurdle on the Wednesday has 14 nominations and promises to be a strong race.

''On the Thursday, the Grand Annual [Steeplechase] has 15 nominations and we have 23 entries for the 1-120 rating hurdle,'' Bloodworth said. RVL has worked to a tight schedule to ensure the Warrnambool carnival's success as just 24 days ago, when the jumps racing season was launched, no horse was qualified to race over the newly constructed obstacles.