Jumps racing in Victoria has been marred by the first death of a horse since the controversial sport resumed in May.Whatsourgo suffered an injury when he fell at the last hurdle during the Ted Best Hurdle at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Saturday and was euthanased after the race.It was the first fatality in jumps racing since the board of Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) gave approval for the sport to continue, with some changes, in May.The sport was reviewed after the deaths of five horses in the
Jumps racing in Victoria has been marred by the first death of a horse since the controversial sport resumed in May.
Whatsourgo suffered an injury when he fell at the last hurdle during the Ted Best Hurdle at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Saturday and was euthanased after the race.
It was the first fatality in jumps racing since the board of Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) gave approval for the sport to continue, with some changes, in May.
The sport was reviewed after the deaths of five horses in the first 10 weeks of the 2009 season, prompting protests from animal rights groups who demanded the sport be banned.
Animal welfare organisation Animals Australia said new measures imposed by RVL had failed to reduce the risks faced by jumps horses.
"The death of Whatsourgo is proof that the measures introduced just one month ago by Racing Victoria to make 'jumps racing less hazardous' have totally failed," Animals Australia executive director Glenys Oogjes said in a statement.
"Jumps racing is still a recipe for disaster - the hazards are inherent when you force horses to gallop and negotiate obstacles," she said.
A spokeswoman from RVL said the incident would be referred to the Jumps Review Panel on Wednesday.
"That review will then go to our board, who will meet on the 2nd of July," she told AAP.