Rule, who is in his first year as chairman of the club, said new ground would be broken for the sport with eight jumping races to run over the three-day Warrnambool carnival this week.

“This is a massive week for jumps racing and for the club,” he said.

“We’re really showcasing the sport this week.

“We’ve got three maiden hurdle races and the Brierly (Steeplechase) on Tuesday, followed up with a novice steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle on the middle day and we finish up with a champion novice hurdle and the Grand Annual on Thursday.

“We’ve got eight jumps races out of 30 races for the carnival.

“The carnival is now a real jumping event with the introduction of the novice steeplechase on Wednesday.”

Jumps racing was on its knees in 2009 after years in the wilderness but a joint Warrnambool Standard and Warrnambool Racing Club campaign under the banner of  “Save Our Carnival” helped revive the sport.

New safety measures were put in place for jockeys and horses.

Rule believes that has been the cornerstone to its new success.

“Jumps racing in 2018 is a long way different to 2009,” he said.

“Safety measures have improved immensely for horses and jockeys.

“But in saying that we’re mindful accidents will still happen.

“We’ll confront them when they happen.

“There’s a lot more interest from owners and trainers in jumps racing.

“Blokes like Australian Jumps Racing Association president Sandy McGregor have done incredible work behind the scenes with the assistance of Racing Victoria to improve the jumps program and we will see the sport flourish.

“We believe a solid foundation is in place for a prosperous future for jumps racing.”

Rule, who is also a committee member of the Australian Jumps Racing Association, said the group had some exciting initiatives planned for the future growth of the sport.