Jumps racing in Victoria has been allowed to continue for the rest of this season under several new conditions designed to make the sport safer, Racing Victoria has announced.After taking a week to consider submissions following a review of jumps racing, Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) chairman Michael Duffy on Monday said the board's decision was unanimous.The review was conducted when jumps racing was suspended after five horses died in the first 10 weeks of the season, prompting protests from a

Jumps racing in Victoria has been allowed to continue for the rest of this season under several new conditions designed to make the sport safer, Racing Victoria has announced.

After taking a week to consider submissions following a review of jumps racing, Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) chairman Michael Duffy on Monday said the board's decision was unanimous.

The review was conducted when jumps racing was suspended after five horses died in the first 10 weeks of the season, prompting protests from animal rights groups who demanded the sport be banned.

Duffy, however, said the sport would continue to be monitored until the end of the season when a complete review would be conducted.

"We understand that accidents will occur and these changes are aimed at making jumps racing less hazardous," Duffy said.

The board made seven changes which will be imposed immediately.

They include the removal of the current final obstacle in all jumps racing and a trial of strand barrier starts.

Horses will also be given heart rate checks after their final trial to ensure they are fit to race and must satisfy stewards they are proficient over jumps.

Stricter qualifying conditions will apply to horses to enter premium jumps races with prize money of $70,000 or more.

Jockeys will also be educated on race tempo and their obligation to pull a fatigued horse out of a race or face penalties, including suspension.

Races beyond 3600 metres are to be programmed to provide lead up races to feature jumps events, including the Warrnambool Grand Annual.

Duffy said the changes were designed to make racing safer for horses and jockeys.

But he acknowledged deaths will still occur.

"I'm not going to sit here today and pretend that there won't be further falls and as a result of some of those falls, there may be some fatalities," he said.

He also acknowledged the views of animal activists, but said RVL had an obligation to the racing community.

"The board recognised that this issue divides some sections of the community and all these views are valid and respected," he said.

"In making this decision, the board is mindful of its primary obligation to the racing community and to its stakeholders."

Duffy said the decision proved the RVL board was independent after claims Victoria's Racing Minister Rob Hulls was trying to assert some influence.

"We won't be told by the government what decision to make on this or any other issues," Duffy said.

The issue reached a head when three horses in two days were killed in jumping races at the three-day Warrnambool May carnival earlier this month.

Hulls had already placed jumps racing on notice when two horses were killed last month.

Following Pride Of Westbury's death, RVL chief executive Rob Hines warned jumps racing in the state could be doomed if fatalities kept occurring at the current rate.

"We may not be able to keep the sport going," Hines said at the time.

The following day, the RVL board suspended jumps racing when two more horses were killed - Hassle in a hurdle, and Clearview Bay in the Grand Annual - pending the outcome of the review.

Lawrence Pope from Victorian Advocates for Animals said the RVL board was out of touch with community attitudes.

"Racing Victoria board members are just a bunch of museum pieces. They need to get in touch with the world outside their office," Pope said.

"Racing Victoria has just postponed the inevitable - horses will continue to fall and die and the community will continue to be appalled.

"In recent polls, 80 per cent of Victorians said they wanted to see it gone."

Hulls said he fully supported the decision.

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