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JJ Flash

Jumps Racing in South Australia Finished

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After almost 150 years, jumps racing has been killed off in South Australia.

Racing SA announced on Friday that no jumps races have been scheduled in the state’s racing calendar in 2022.

Racing SA CEO Nick Redin said data from the state’s 12 jumps races held during the 2020/21 season endorsed the regulator’s decision.

During last season field sizes fell to less than five horses per race, while field sizes grew in flat events to 9.7 runners per race held in the state. Also there are less than 10 jumps horses currently in training in South Australia, compared with more than 2400 flat racing thoroughbreds.

“Participation levels in jumps racing in South Australia, particularly from within our state, have been declining for some time and it has become clear that we no longer have a sustainable jumps industry,” Redin said.

“While this will undoubtedly be sad news for some, we believe it creates some very exciting opportunities for the future.

“Thoroughbred racing in South Australia is on a growth trajectory, and this decision is in the best interests for the future of our industry.”

Oakbank

Spying on You in full flight as he heads to victory in the last ever Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank in April. Photo: Brenton Edwards.

 

Despite the demise of jumps racing, it has also been announced that in 2022, the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival will “return to its roots” and be held on the traditional Easter Saturday and Easter Monday dates.

Oakbank Racing Club Chair Arabella Branson said the three iconic names of Oakbank’s famous three jumps races – Great Eastern, Von Doussa and Harry D. Young – will remain as part of the carnival.

“While we know not everyone will be happy with the decision, it’s a very exciting chance for us to build on the traditions of the past while creating new history,” Branson said.

“It means we can return to having the iconic Easter Carnival with racing on both Easter Saturday and Easter Monday and attract a new audience to Oakbank by broadening opportunities for some new and exciting initiatives for the 2022 carnival and beyond.

“There are a great many people who love Oakbank for what it is; we believe there are even more who will love it for what it will be.”

Racing SA also plans to support owners and trainers of the state-based jumpers to “assist them in either transferring the horses to new owners interstate, into eventing or into retirement”.

Oakbank

Britannicus (pink cap) on his way to victory in the Harry D. Young Hurdle at Oakbank this year. Photo: Brenton Edwards.

 

“I did have jumpers, but because we have no riders here it just became cost prohibitive to have to fly jockeys in to do the training and race riding. That’s why I moved my business to flat racing,” SA trainer Richard Jolly said.

“The industry has worked hard to see if there’s a future for jumps racing in South Australia, but it’s clear that it is no longer sustainable.”

In 2021, the Von Doussa Steeple and Harry D. Young Hurdle were won by Victorian-trained gallopers Yensir and Britannicus while veteran Spying On You recorded a memorable win in the Great Eastern Steeplechase for Murray Bridge trainer Grant Young.

Spying On You ran in five Great Easterns – winning the race in 2017 and 2021.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Young told broadcaster Racing.com after Spying On You’s 2021 win.

“Geez, he’s been a marvel. I couldn’t be prouder of him. What a great performance.

“He’d be classed as a champion, wouldn’t he?”

Victoria is now the only state in Australia that conducts hurdle and steeplechase racing.

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A decision made on 2020-2021 participants?

We've been in lock-downs for goodness sake.

Such a decision is very short sighted, young ones and those who may not previously been involved in the industry have taken up Horse Riding as a form of exercise and for Mental Wellness during these unprecedented times.

We need to all be mindful of this that some are and have been forced to career changes who may not previously had opportunities to so much as ride a horse and now have time on their hands to do so.

Those who are contemplating such short-sighted decisions that may be deemed to be detrimental to the Racing industry, which includes btw, the Public Health needs of Society, need to think outside the square, attract and capture an idle from work audience so the tables will turn in our favour.

Racing has Golden Opportunities to make positive strides with this untapped potential audience and new Patrons and participants at grass roots levels of our communities.

For goodness sake, there's still Mounted Police and Military whereby they may need to jump over fences so why are we not tapping into this area to help continue Jumps Races?

It's natural for horses to jump, it's there natural environment, just like animals need to be able to travel though streams and rivers..

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Meomy.....by any chance are you adverse to any change at all ??

I think they found in SA ,that there were few horses and NO riders, and little interest [eg betting]

All the promotion in the world probably won't improve things.

Someone with your enthusiasm could invest in some jumpers , set up a decent jumps course on your property and run some point to point meetings like the good old days.

Health and Safety may become an issue  , but you'll find an answer....plus you will be in control !

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8 hours ago, mr_gee said:

wont be to long  before  we have   few venues for jumping too

 

 

 

Correct , and many will say good job. Always been a polarizing subject. The thing is if the anti's get their way will show jumping and eventing get banned as well. I think we all know the answer

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3 hours ago, JJ Flash said:

Correct , and many will say good job. Always been a polarizing subject. The thing is if the anti's get their way will show jumping and eventing get banned as well. I think we all know the answer

Because racing management  haven't got balls to  stand up to them 

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