The Victorian jumps racing industry has won a qualified stay of execution.
Racing Victoria Limited has left the door open for jumps racing to continue beyond 2010 providing there's a drop in the number of equine fatalities and race falls next season.
RVL decided in December that it would ban jumps racing as of the end of the 2010 season which caused uproar among the small but passionate jumps community.
But consultation between jumps racing stakeholders, led by Melbourne Racing Club Vice-Chairman Mike Symons and the RVL has led to some concessions and an opportunity for the sport to survive.
Under the new proposal, if jumps racing reduces its fatality rate by 50 per cent, its rate of falls to three per cent and maintains field sizes above eight runners per race for 80 per cent of events, then RVL will continue with the sport.
"While the board was satisfied with some aspects of the submission, elements of the proposal related to horse fall and fatality rates, in particular, were unacceptable," RVL Chairman Michael Duffy said.
"However, the RVL Board determined a set of conditions under which it would be prepared to agree to the potential continuation of Victorian jumps racing beyond 2010."
Duffy said that if the new requirements were met, then jumps racing would win a 12-month reprieve.
"As the jumps racing industry has agreed to RVL's conditions and specifically if they are met in 2010, RVL will agree to the continuation of jumps racing for one season in 2011," he said.
"If the new requirements are not met in 2010, jumps racing will cease at the end of that season and a transition fund will be established to assist jockeys and trainers."
"If the jumps racing community meets the new conditions in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons, then RVL will commit to a further three year program."
There are several changes to jumps racing that will be made after the latest agreement, including:
- Modifications to the hurdle to improve padding and increase the angle and width of the brush
- No jumps races to be conducted at Moonee Valley
- A deferred start to the jumps racing season of 6 April to enable horses to trial over the modified hurdles
- A more stringent approach to jockey supervision and horse qualification by the
Jumps Review Panel
- Improved schooling and trialling facilities
Duffy said this was the last chance for the jumps industry to prove it had a place in Victorian racing.
"There have been many attempts to improve jumps racing in the past but we now have a specific set of agreed conditions with the jumps racing community to determine the sport’s future," he said.
"Moreover, the 2010 season will be continually monitored by the Jumps Review Panel and RVL reserves its right to suspend or cease jumps racing should circumstances demand."
Rodney Rae, the president of the Australian Jumps Racing Association (AJRA) said he was happy with the reprieve.
"We are pleased that the board of RVL has provided an opportunity for our sport to continue," he said.
"The new conditions are stringent and will require the highest level of cooperation between the jumps racing community and RVL."
"We are confident in our ability to work together to meet the challenge."