Aussie Jumps Racing Suspended After Three Horses Die

The deaths of three horses in two days of jumps racing at the Warrnambool Carnival in Victoria, Australia, has shocked so many Australians that jumps racing has been suspended indefinitely and may be banned in Victoria (it’s already banned in all states and territories in Oz except Victoria and South Australia).

Supporters of Australian jumps racing, including racing minister Rob Hulls and Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines, are of course claiming to be concerned about safety. Warrnambool Racing Club’s Andrew Pomeroy chimed in that the club had done “all it could” to make the course safe.

Apparently, “all it could” wasn’t quite enough for Pride of Westbury, who crashed in front of the grandstand and suffered a broken neck; 8-year-old Hassle, who shattered a leg bone; or 9-year-old Clearview Bay, who also broke his neck when he fell after a jump.

We say go ahead and ban jumps racing, and then make its mouthpieces run several miles and hurl themselves over a few dozen hedges and fences in the horses’ place. Now I’d pay money to see that!

Written by Alisa Mullins