Horse racing / Ben Asgari / 02 December 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Racing Victoria's decision to ban jumps racing from 2011 could have dire consequences for flat racing, says Ben Asgari.

The anti-jumps campaigners have already said that next on the agenda would be a ban on two year old racing across the country.

There is no doubt that Racing Victoria's decision to kill off Jumps Racing at the end of 2010 will put the livelihood of thousands of industry participants in turmoil.

The decision was based on the principle that 'jumps racing is bad for the image of racing as a whole in Victoria'.

As someone who is predominantly interested in the welfare of flat racing, I thought it seemed like a reasonable argument at first. That was, until I looked at the broader picture.

On average around ten horses a year die from jumps racing. Because slow racehorses will no longer be able to continue their careers over the jumps, from 2011 onwards the number of ex-racehorses killed at knackeries around the country will rise by hundreds.

Potentially the greatest loss to the industry could be the Warrnambool Carnival. Run in the first week of May for well over a hundred years it is without doubt the most successful country racing carnival in Australia.

It is estimated that the Warrnambool Carnival generates between 10 and 20 million dollars for the local economy.

If this carnival does not survive the flow-on effects of the death of jumps racing, it may not only kill off one of Victoria's most unique and special sporting events but have a disastrous effect on the city of Warrnambool itself.

Despite these points, many will argue that it has little to do with the greater good of flat racing and that Racing Victoria is still justified in its decision. This is where they are wrong.

The anti-jumps campaigners have already said that next on the agenda would be a ban on two-year-old racing across the country. After that, the logical step would be to pursue a ban on all forms of thoroughbred racing.

I struggle to think of something that better captures the Australian culture than Melbourne Cup day. The Melbourne Spring Carnival is the single biggest annual event in the country - if measured by the revenue generated for the economy.

I realise it is drawing a pretty long bow to suggest that the Melbourne Cup, or even the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival could one day be at risk.

But the pathetic way in which Racing Victoria has crumbled to such a small minority over the jumps racing issue should have alarm bells ringing for racing fans across the country.

If it was this easy with jumps racing, what happens when the idea snowballs and the attention turns to all forms of horse racing?