FOLLOWING a meeting of the Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) Board today, Chief Executive Rob Hines has issued the following statement in relation to the future of jumps racing.

“The Board today considered a proposal from Mike Symons, the nominated representative of the stakeholders, requesting that RVL overturn its decision to conclude jumps racing in Victoria at the end of the 2010 season.

“A decision has not yet been made on the proposal and we will continue our discussions with Mike Symons.”

As discussions remain on-going, no interviews or further statements will be made on the matter at this time.

D-DAY FOR JUMPS RACING IN VICTORIA

RACING Victoria is assessing a secret jump prototype it insists should not be interpreted as a sign for a jumping future beyond 2010.

Today is D-Day for jumps racing in Victoria and we run this report courtesy of Matt Stewart, a racing writer for Australia's leading racing newspaper, the Melbourne Herald Sun.

'RVL has been busily creating a prototype based on suggestions from key industry participants but without consultation, which has angered some trainers.

The jump, rumoured to cost about $500,000, would be higher and more rigid than the current model and can be adapted from hurdle to steeplechase obstacles.

Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said the prototype would not influence the RVL board when it met today to discuss for the final time whether to provide jumps racing with a lifeline.

"That's not what it's all about. It hasn't been created for the board's perusal before tomorrow's meeting," Hines said yesterday. "If it's decided that the benefits for safety are there, then it would be considered for the final season."

If the jump was given the green light, Hines said the start of the season would be put back a few weeks, meaning horses competing at Oakbank over Easter would have time to trial but not race over them.

One leading trainer, who did not want to be named, said RVL's secrecy over the jump was typical.

The trainer said trainers were not consulted over the design and construction of the current jumps, which the trainer said contributed to last season's high death and injury toll.

Hines said the new jump was expensive and required significant tinkering from engineers to meet safety and structural requirements.

"There is a chance it could be used this season but it is expensive and would require a postponement of the season if implemented," he said.

"Oakbank would be affected but horses competing at Warrnambool (in May) would have the required time to trial and compete over them."

Trainers contacted by the Herald Sun yesterday had mixed feelings about today's board meeting.

Some feared the restrictions suggested by jumps racing negotiator Mike Symons, including city racing only at Sandown and cuts in prizemoney, would make the sport commercially unviable for most trainers.

While some predicted the vote would be a close call, others said they couldn't imagine the board making an about-face so soon after deciding this season would be the sport's last.

The board announced in November that 2010 would be the last jumps racing season in Victoria.

Leading trainer Brian Johnston said the human cost of ending the sport should weight heavily on the minds of board members.

"What about the mortgages than won't be able to be paid? What about depression?" he said. "They have sanitised the assassination of jumps racing by turning it into KPIs and percentages and eliminated the human face of it."

JUMPS RACING'S D-DAY

WHEN 1.30pm today

Melbourne Racing Club vice-chairman Mike Symons will argue the case for jumps racing to the 10-person Racing Victoria board. The board announced in late November that the 2010 season would be jumps racing's last. It will consider Symons' proposal for a reprieve and announce its decision tomorrow.

THE PROPOSAL

That the board agrees to a reprieve based on evidence that fatalities fell significantly in the final two thirds of last season.

Suggestions include:

New, larger obstacles 75 per cent self-funded by jumps racing participants. (money to come from a slice of jumps prizemoney);

Greater powers be given to the Jumps Review Panel to ban unfit or out-of-form horses from competing; and

Jumps racing to be held on suitable tracks in traditional jumping communities.

LIKELY OUTCOME

It might be close, with the pro-jumps lobby hoping the two new members of the RVL board provide a more sympathetic ear. However, there is nothing new in Symons' proposal.

 

STORY COURTESY OF MATT STEWART AND THE MELBOURNE HERALD SUN