RSPCA Victoria is extremely disappointed in Racing Victoria’s decision to allow jumps racing to continue despite evidence of decades of failed attempts at improving safety.

Speaking about the outcome of the jumps review, RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said the decision flies in the face of the evidence.

“Disappointed doesn’t begin to describe our reaction to the news today, it is difficult to understand this decision considering the weight of compelling evidence,” Dr Walker said.

“In the 2024 season alone, one in 24 horses died in a jumps race, and the industry has been attempting and failing to improve horse safety for decades.

“Despite best efforts, Racing Victoria has failed to improve jumps safety, it has also failed to acknowledge broader community expectations, has failed to stick with its decision 14 years ago to end the practice, and has repeated this failure again today.

“The evidence is clear that jumps racing has insurmountable animal welfare issues that simply cannot be fixed.”

In 2005, the jumps racing death rate was 7.3 horse deaths per 1,000 starts.[1] In 2024, this figure was 12 horse deaths per 1,000 starts, demonstrating that attempts at improving safety are making no consistent difference. In comparison, flats racing had 0.55 deaths per 1000 starts in 2023/24.[2]

“This is now the eighth major review into jumps racing in Victoria, but despite this, Victoria remains the only place in Australia still allowing this dangerous sport to continue,” Dr Walker continued.

“In Racing Victoria’s own 2009 review – more than a decade ago, it stated “Customer research data shows 65% of people believe that the incidents that occur in jumps racing are not an acceptable price to pay for the retention of the sport.”

Victoria is now falling even further behind other states when it comes to animal welfare. Queensland was the first state to end jumps racing in 1903, with New South Wales and Western Australia followed in 1941-2. South Australia was the most recent state to ban the practice in 2022.

RSPCA Victoria is now urging the Victorian Government to legislate a phase out of the activity.

Click here for more information about RSPCA Victoria’s advocacy work.