The Australian Jumping Racing Association (AJRA) has ramped up its defence of jumps racing, claiming that the Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) board has an obligation to put the interests of racing first when it meets next Wednesday to determine the future of the sport in the state."There is irrefutable evidence to say that racing in Victoria will suffer if jumps racing is terminated," AJRA president Rodney Rae said."Such a move will have an adverse effect on a percentage of the horse population, n
The Australian Jumping Racing Association (AJRA) has ramped up its defence of jumps racing, claiming that the Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) board has an obligation to put the interests of racing first when it meets next Wednesday to determine the future of the sport in the state.
"There is irrefutable evidence to say that racing in Victoria will suffer if jumps racing is terminated," AJRA president Rodney Rae said.
"Such a move will have an adverse effect on a percentage of the horse population, not just in the short term but in fact on an annual basis.
"Each year good staying horses that can't quite make the upper echelon on the flat embark on jumping careers and the vast majority of them race across a number of seasons.
"If that alternative is not there then many, many of them will not find homes, and therefore will not survive."
Rae also stated a termination of jumps racing would severely impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of people, many of whom will have to look for alternative employment at a time when thousands of jobs are being lost around the country.
"The RVL board has as its first obligation to look after those horses and those people. To do otherwise would be a betrayal."
RVL suspended jumps racing in Victoria on Thursday after three jumpers died at this week's three-day Warrnambool carnival.
Victorian jumps racing has claimed on average seven horses a year for the last six years but five jumpers have died in the first two months of this season.
The RVL board is expected to receive a report on the latest incidents from the Jumps Review Panel early next week before making a decision about the future of jumps racing.