JUMPS trainers are trying to stay upbeat about their sport but feel Racing Victoria’s decision to allow it to continue will inevitably lead to a slow death.
Warrnambool’s Bill Wilde was blunt in his assessment.
He likened slashing horse deaths by 50 per cent on last year to halving the national road toll in just six months.
“It will be a hard target to meet. Six months is all we have because the start of the season will be deferred,” Wilde said.
“This is typical of the RVL board. Everything they have done they have put these provisos in place.”
Wilde, who has three jumpers in work with son Symon, also couldn’t understand RVL’s target to increase starters, so no more than 20 per cent of jumps races have less than eight starters.
He said the uncertainty which shrouded the industry since retired County Court judge David Jones’ review in 2008 had limited the amount of owners entering jumps racing.
Wilde conceded merging races to boost starter numbers may have an impact.
“But what irks me is that RVL has created this problem and now they are turning to us to fix it.
“While I’m heartened by the announcement jumps racing can continue I’m still a bit sceptical about the sport’s future.”
Fellow Warrnambool trainer David ‘Butch’ Londregan said the decision was “too little, too late”.
He said RVL should have announced its targets for acceptable rates for deaths, falls and starters at the end of last season.
“No,” he answered, when asked if jumps racing would survive.
“For the simple reason that they have made this decision too late. People haven’t been buying new horses.
“It will be impossible to meet their targets with just two months until the season begins. They have put our backs straight against a brick wall and are holding a gun to our head — they just haven’t given us a go.”
Londregan said he would offer potential owners the chance to lease horses to drum up industry confidence.
“Hopefully it will give some old faces and some new ones a chance to get in. There won’t be the financial outlay of buying a horse.”
Winslow trainer Ciaron Maher described RVL’s announcement as hollow, particularly the condition that the organisation could at anytime this season suspend or end jumps racing should circumstances demand.
He said trainers were given an understanding the 2010 would proceed subject to no conditions.
“Now we have this knowledge they can stop us at any time. It adds a little more uncertainty.”
But Maher said the announcement could save the sport.
“It’s good that RVL is putting some dollars forward to improve the jumps (obstacles). It is a lot more positive than the announcement a couple of months ago," he said.
“As long as we keep on moving forward we should be all right.”
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