Racing Victoria (RV) announced on Thursday, 26 September 2024 the details of its 2024 Jumps Racing Review, including the Terms of Reference under which it will be conducted.

Since the introduction of major safety enhancements in 2010, the Jumps Review Panel has led an annual review of Victoria’s jumps racing season with a primary focus on safety and participation.

Due to the increase in fatal incidents across the 2024 jumps racing season, RV advises that this year’s review will go beyond the standard process. A broader, whole-of-business approach will be adopted to analyse a broad range of metrics.

The review will be conducted by a newly constituted Jumps Review Group chaired by RV’s Executive General Manager – Integrity, Jamie Stier, and supported by, former Victorian Racing Integrity Board Chair and former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Jack Forrest as an independent member.

The report and recommendations will consider the future viability of jumps racing in Victoria, and / or what further changes can be made to improve the safety record of the sport.

READ RV'S FULL MEDIA RELEASE HERE >

The Jumps Review Group will consider public submissions as part of the review, which are to be provided by email at jumpsreviewsubmission@racingvictoria.net.au by Thursday, 24 October 2024.

Duration

• Commencing immediately, the Jumps Review Group (JRG) will provide a report and recommendations to the Racing Victoria (RV) Executive by no later than the 20 November 2024.
  
  
• The RV Executive will provide the report and recommendations to the RV Board no later than 15 December 2024 for decision(s) of the Board before the end of 2024.
  
  
• This may include additional or alternative recommendations, drafted in consultation with the JRG, that RV Executive consider is in the best interests of the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Industry (VTRI) in alignment with the objectives of S3 (Objects of RV) of the RV Constitution.

Composition of Jumps Review Group

• The JRG will be made up of;
  
  
  • Executive General Manager of Integrity (Chair);
  • The Chair of the Jumps Review Panel and Jumps Racing Manager of the Jumps Review Panel;
  • Executive General Manager of People, Infrastructure and Clubs;
  • Executive General Manager of Racing (TBC);
  • An independent person with knowledge of integrity, equine welfare and racing; and
  • Any external resource or consultant deemed necessary by the JRG on any specific matter.

Terms of Reference

• The JRG will investigate and review the following matters;
  
  
  • i. Findings of the Jumps Review Panel from the 2024 season;
  • ii. Applicability of any broader equine welfare research, findings or data to inform jumps fatalities and jumps injuries to participants and horses;
  • iii. Analysis of trends relating to starters, field sizes, wagering and industry participation rates;
  • iv. Review of club and track infrastructure, including analysis on future durability of racecourses and availability of racecourses (including transfer of meetings) for jumps racing;
  • v. Analysis of optimum track rating and achievable track rating;
  • vi. Analysis of horse engagement and longevity, and additional career opportunities provided by jumps racing;
  • vii. Analysis of the contribution to track riding ranks of jumps jockeys;
  • viii. Analysis of the financial performance of the jumps industry for participants, clubs and the VTRI;
  • ix. Analysis of community participation and attendance at jumps racing events and broader economic benefit of jumps racing;
  • x. Analysis of available research or reporting on the level of community acceptance of jumps racing and its impact on the broader appeal of thoroughbred racing; and
  • xi. Any analysis, research, resources that the JRG considers necessary to complete its report and recommendations.

• The JRG may undertake direct or indirect engagement with key stakeholders and individuals to receive confidential submissions. This includes, but is not limited to;
  
  
  • Clubs including club track managers and staff;
  • Country Racing Victoria;
  • Thoroughbred Racing Industry Associations, including the Australian Jumping Racing Association;
  • Engagement with select industry participants;
  • Key individuals or community groups; and the
  • RV Equine Welfare Advisory Council (EWAC).

• The JRG will consider public submissions as part of the review, which are to be provided by email at jumpsreviewsubmission@racingvictoria.net.au by 24 October 2024.

Consultation on Terms of Reference and Independent Member

• The Terms of Reference will be provided to the Minister for Racing and the Racing Integrity Commission for feedback on their content.
  
  
• The JRG Chair will consult with the Minister for Racing and the Racing Integrity Commissioner on the appointment of the independent person prior to the commencement of the JRG.

Report and Recommendations

• The report and recommendations will consider the future viability of jumps racing in Victoria, and/or what further changes can be made to improve the safety record of the sport.
  
  
• The Racing Integrity Commissioner will be provided with the report and recommendations of the JRG and RV Executive. The Racing Integrity Commissioner will, following consultation and examination of the report and recommendations, review the fact and evidence-based approach undertaken by the JRG and the RV Executive. The Racing Integrity Commissioner may also provide further recommendations related to the report, to the RV Board.
  
  
• A briefing will be provided, along with a summary of the report and recommendations, for the Minister for Racing.
  
  
• A briefing will be provided to key stakeholder groups as soon as practicable following the Board’s consideration of the report and recommendations and decision(s).
  
  
• A version of the report, as it relates to equine welfare only, will be tabled at the first meeting of the RV EWAC following the decision(s) of the Board of the report and recommendations.

Confidentiality

•  The review will necessarily encompass a range of commercial-in-confidence material along with confidential submissions made by individuals and groups. Noting this, RV will take any and all action necessary to ensure that both the submissions and the report remain confidential.
  
  
• Acknowledging that the report and recommendations will be of significant public interest to participants and the broader community, RV will publish a summary of the recommendations as soon as practicable following the Board’s decision(s).
  
  
• RV Executive will release this Terms of Reference following its endorsement by the RV Board in the September 2024.