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2009/10: Should jumps racing be banned in Victoria?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right: An ABC news report segment aired in May 2009.
If you cannot see this clip, it will be because YouTube is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows YouTube clips.
What they said...
'Horses will continue to fall and die, the community will continue to be appalled'
Victorian Advocates for Animals president Lawrence Pope
'I'm going to have to shoot my horses and I will... I'm threatening to send a head or two around the countryside to the powers to [sic]be, just to remind them what damage they are doing to our horses'
Warrnambool horse trainer, David Londregan
The issue at a glance
On May 5, 2009, Pride of Westbury, who broke his neck during the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool, became the fifth jumps horse to die in a two week period. 'Hanging Rock' fell, broke his leg and was killed on the Yarra Valley track on 26 April, two Victorian jumps horses ('Taken at the Flood' and Wool Zone') died at Morphettville (SA) on 25 April, and 'Shrogginet' died at the Cranbourne Training Centre on 23 April.
Racing Victoria Limited then imposed a ban on jumps racing in the state subject to a review.
Then on may 18, 2009, Racing Victoria Limited announced that jumps racing would continue in Victoria, subject to new conditions and changes to the industry.
The ban was meet with protests within the jumps racing industry. Its lifting has been opposed from a variety of animal welfare groups.
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