The Victorian government has accepted the controversial decision by Racing Victoria Ltd to leave the door open for jumps racing just seven weeks after sounding the sport's death knell.The RVL board said on Thursday that if the jumps racing industry can meet certain safety requirements it might be allowed to continue beyond this year.In a statement, RVL Chairman Michael Duffy said falls and fatality rates were unacceptable but if the jumps racing industry can meet a raft of conditions set by the

The Victorian government has accepted the controversial decision by Racing Victoria Ltd to leave the door open for jumps racing just seven weeks after sounding the sport's death knell.

The RVL board said on Thursday that if the jumps racing industry can meet certain safety requirements it might be allowed to continue beyond this year.

In a statement, RVL Chairman Michael Duffy said falls and fatality rates were unacceptable but if the jumps racing industry can meet a raft of conditions set by the RVL then the sport could continue.

The conditions include reducing fatalities by 50 per cent from last season, cutting the rate of falls over five per cent to three per cent of starters by the end of the 2010 season and a commitment to increase the number of starters per race.

"The Victorian Government accepts the decision by RVL," said government spokesman Michael Sinclair.

"Obviously the high rate of horse fatalities and falls was clearly unacceptable and bad for the image of the Victorian racing industry.

"The RVL board is best placed to take into account the views from all sides of the debate and has made a decision that could allow jumps racing to continue but in a way that will best protect the welfare of both horses and jockeys."

The RSPCA is fuming over the backflip and demanded that Mr Duffy and chief executive Rob Hines resign immediately.

RSPCA Victorian president Hugh Wirth says the RVL had caved into a minority group.

"The RVL board has lost all credibility," Dr Wirth told AAP on Thursday.

"They have said it is acceptable if the death rate is reduced to five, half of what it was last year.

"That is absolutely disgusting and they will rue the day.

"Michael Duffy and Rob Hines should resign on the spot - this time they have really got the RSPCA offside."

Mr Duffy said that if the jumps racing industry can meet the RVL's requirement in 2010, RVL will agree to the continuation of jumps racing into 2011 and possibly three more years after that.

The Coalition for the Protection of Race Horses said it was appalled.

Campaign director Elio Celotto said it was incomprehensible for the RVL to decide last month to end jumps racing and seven weeks later renege on their decision.

"The RVL will now have to deal with the continuing PR disaster which jumps racing has become - a disaster that the racing industry can ill afford," Mr Celotto said in a statement.