Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced 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 (JRG) 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.
In conducting its review, the JRG will investigate and consider the following:
- Findings of the Jumps Review Panel from the 2024 season;
- Applicability of any broader equine welfare research, findings or data to inform jumps fatalities and jumps injuries to participants and horses;
- Analysis of trends relating to starters, field sizes, wagering and industry participation rates;
- Review of club and track infrastructure, including analysis on future durability of racecourses and availability of racecourses (including transfer of meetings) for jumps racing;
- Analysis of optimum track rating and achievable track rating;
- Analysis of horse engagement and longevity, and additional career opportunities provided by jumps racing;
- Analysis of the contribution to track riding ranks of jumps jockeys;
- Analysis of the financial performance of the jumps industry for participants, clubs and the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Industry (VTRI);
- Analysis of community participation and attendance at jumps racing events and broader economic benefit of jumps racing;
- 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
- Any analysis, research, resources that the JRG considers necessary to complete its report and recommendations.
The JRG will provide its report and recommendations to the RV Executive by the end of November 2024 who will then provide the report and recommendations to the RV Board for decision by the end of December 2024.
The Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sean Carroll, will also receive a copy of the report and recommendations to review the approach undertaken by the JRG and RV Executive.
RV will publish a summary of the recommendations as soon as practicable following the Board’s decision.
Quotes attributable to RV Chairman, Tim Eddy
“The safety record across the 2024 jumps racing season was unacceptable and the events of the final meeting at Ballarat were heartbreaking for all involved in the Victorian jumps racing community.
“Many people have worked incredibly hard to make the sport as safe as it can be and had achieved marked improvement across the 14 years prior to this season when we took a backwards step.
“To that end, in addition to the work done annually by the Jumps Review Panel, the Board has commissioned a wider review to be led by Jamie Stier that will take a detailed look at all elements of jumps racing in Victoria.
“The Jumps Review Group has been asked to consider, among other things, participation rates, industry support, community attitudes, financial returns, the safety record of the sport and the measures in place to promote safe racing.
“This thorough review has commenced this week, and its outcomes will be informed by the process - with no outcome off the table at this time.”
To view the 2024 Jumps Review Group Terms of Reference, click here.
Any parties wishing to make a submission for the JRG to consider as part of its review, must do so by Thursday, 24 October via jumpsreviewsubmission@racingvictoria.net.au