They have the lethal injection in hand, ready to administer it to the sport.

The industry revolts and - just as Galleywood in that 1984 Grand Annual Steeplechase rose from the dead - so has jumps racing.

Fast forward to 2021, we have again seen what jumps racing and particularly the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase can do for the local economy and the sport.

Two great warriors in local champ Gold Medals and New Zealand mainstay Zed Em went toe-to-toe in a gruelling contest which sorted the wheat out from the chaff over 33 fences and 5500 metres.

Women cried and men had tears in their eyes as they watched the thrilling last 600 metres of the race that puts Warrnambool on the world map.

In a moment of great theatre, Gold Medals' jockey Clayton Douglas stood high in the irons as he brought the 11-year-old back to amazing scenes in the mounting yard.

Local trainer Symon Wilde and his staff were ecstatic as their champ came back to the winners' stall.

Martin Pakula, Minister for Racing, Tourism and Major Events, said the carnival was his favourite racing event of the year, having noted it injected $15 million into the local economy.

Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Nick Rule, also vice-chairman of the Australian Jumps Racing Association, paid credit to AJRA chairman Sandy McGregor plus other initiatives for the resurgence of jumps racing.

"Sandy has been a driving force in the revival of jumps racing," Rule said. "Sandy has invested time, effort and money to ensure jumps racing became safer for jockeys and horses.

"The AJRA has used a few initiatives. The first one was to upskill the jumps jockeys. Secondly, we offered better schooling facilities and, lastly, the introduction of the new one-fit hurdles has been a big winner.

"The fall and fatality rate in jumps racing has dropped significantly over the last few years. People on the outside often don't realise how much trainers, owners and strappers love their horses."

Rule said the sport was always looking at ways to improve safety for horses and jockeys.

"I think the Grand Annual Steeplechase last week was one of the greatest advertisements that jumps racing could have for the sport."

The race finished up an epic contest, with Gold Medals and Zed Em fighting out a thrilling finish. The AJRA is confident that the numbers of jumping horses will increase even more next season.

Rule took time out to acknowledge the work put in by Warrnambool club chief executive Tom O'Connor and staff, after one of the most-successful carnivals in the club's history.

"Tom and the staff have done a magnificent job in trying times because of COVID," he said.

"It's a credit to them all for all the hard work they have put in to make this years carnival so good."

The 2022 Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase will be run on May 5.

THE hottest topic doing the rounds at last week's Warrnambool May Racing Carnival centred around prize money.

Racing insiders said Racing Victoria's board will finalise new levels of stakemoney for the 2021-22 season at its next board meeting on May 25.

It's believed there will be a $10 million prize money lift for racing in Victoria, which is expected to be for grass roots racing through to black-type races.

A decision regarding the racing future of dual Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Gold Medals will not be made until late this year.

Gold Medals scored a thrilling victory in last week's Grand Annual, but trainer Symon Wilde will let the dust settle before making a call about the star jumper's career.

"I'm not one for making hasty decisions," Wilde said.

"Gold Medals normally runs in the Australian Steeplechase after he's run in the Grand Annual, but that will not happen this year.

"He's pulled up well after his Grand Annual win.

"It's paramount that we consider Gold Medals before making any decisions, if he's to race on.

"The only race he would run in again is next year's Grand Annual.

"We don't want to go to the well once too often; if he's not right - that's 100 per cent right - he will be retired. We'll get him back in around December and weigh up the options for him then. He's got a paddock at home for the rest of his life if he's retired."

The 11-year-old took his record in the Grand Annual to four starts, which have resulted in two wins and finishing second on two occasions.

CAMPERDOWN trainer Denis Daffy got off his sick bed to attend the Warrnambool races last Thursday.

Daffy, 79, who had an operation at the Geelong Hospital last Monday, helped saddle up Fabian's Spirit on the final day of the carnival.

"The operation was to fix a problem between my brain and right ear," he said.

"I haven't missed many carnivals over the last 65 years, and I didn't want to miss last week's."

Fabian's Spirit ran seventh in the benchmark 70 over 1700 metres on Thursday.

LUNAR FLARE: Honest mare showed she's not far away from another win with a solid performance to run third in a 1600-metre race on Saturday. She will be hard to beat in similar company next time.

BAREFOOTONTHEGRASS: Nice debut run in maiden company at Donald. She'll be improved with that run under her belt.

PATRICK PAYNE: Brilliant trainer who showed his training skills with his tough jumper Zed Em in last week's Grand Annual. Zed Em had to lump 71kg in the marathon jumping race, but Payne had the Kiwi jumper fit and ready for the feature race of the carnival. Payne then showed his training prowess with Cherry Tortoni winning the Guineas at Morphettville on Saturday.