RSPCA Victoria is once again calling for an end to jumps racing after 5 horses were killed in races and trials in the 2025 season despite a focus on improving safety racing calendar and less competing horses than previous years.

As the only state left in Australia where jumps racing takes place, RSPCA Victoria Policy and Advocacy Manager, Mhairi Roberts, said ending jumps racing was long overdue.

“Despite a review last year and concerted efforts to improve safety, the long-term averages for the number of horses killed in jumps racing remains unacceptably high,” Ms Roberts said.

The average jumps racing fatality rate since the beginning of the 1990s is 7.5 horse deaths per 1000 starts.

The average fatality rate in the last ten years is 6.3 horse deaths per 1000 starts, and in 2025, this rate sits at 6.6 horse deaths per 1000 starts (Figure 1).

“It’s clear, despite these efforts to improve safety, nothing can be done to remove the high risk of severe injury and death for the horses in jumps racing.”

Transparency in the industry remains an ongoing concern, with publicly available data on jumps racing welfare and safety metrics continuing to erode.

“Last year we conducted an audit of publicly available jumps racing data, revealing only 35% of complete Jumps Review Panel racing reports were publicly available from Racing Victoria since safety interventions began 14 years ago,” Ms Roberts continued.

“This year, all historical Jumps Review Panel reports have been removed, and no new reports have been shared with the public, further demonstrating the lack of transparency with this activity.

“Despite concerted safety efforts there were still 5 deaths, and when combined with further deterioration in transparency, prize money reduced by $1 million this season, and 20% less races, it’s clear jumps racing has reached a dead end.

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

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

View RSPCA Victoria’s independent audit here and for more information about RSPCA Victoria’s advocacy work click here.