WARRNAMBOOL will host an all jumps meeting on Good Friday next year under a plan proposed by Australian Jumping Racing Association after Racing South Australia rejected an offer to hold an Easter jumps meetings at Oakbank in 2022.
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Racing South Australia decided not to program jumps races in 2022 due to dwindling participation rates in the state after paying $120,000 for one-fit hurdles from Ireland three weeks ago.
This came despite the AJRA offering a five year generous financial incentive for the historic Easter meeting to continue.
AJRA chairman Sandy McGregor said it gave RSA until October 18 to make a formal response to the offer and they decided to reject it on Thursday afternoon.
"RSA has made its decision and now we're putting plan B in place", McGregor told The Standard.
"Plan B relates to an all jumps meeting to be run at Warrnambool on Good Friday.
We can envisage an all jumps meeting at Warrnambool on Good Friday as a big winner not only for jumps racing and racing in general but for the economy.
- Sandy McGregor
"The two feature races would be a steeplechase and a hurdle. Both races will have prizemoney of $100,000.
"The AJRA has had discussions with Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria about our idea.
"We all understand the importance to racing in Victoria and Australia of the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival, which includes the time-honoured Grand Annual Steeplechase, and we all agree we have to have an ideal program in place for jumpers going to the 'Bool in May.
"CRV are holding a meeting on Monday and undoubtedly this important issue to protect jumps racing and in particular the Warrnambool May Carnival is on the agenda."
RV has indicated they would stage its first race meeting on Good Friday next year.
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"Sale has been earmarked for Good Friday but Warrnambool is in the other part of the state," McGregor said.
"We can envisage an all jumps meeting at Warrnambool on Good Friday as a big winner not only for jumps racing and racing in general but for the economy of south-west Victoria.
"With Good Friday changing each year we would see Warrnambool hosting the meetings in 2022 and 2023 but when the date is too close to the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival would could look at Hamilton."
The 2022 Warrnambool May Carnival is scheduled for May 3, 4 and 5 and draws thousands to the region, injecting an expected $15 million into the district's economy.
The 2021 Grand Annual Steeplechase was won by the Symon Wilde-trained Gold Medals, who beat veteran Zed Em.
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