Update: South Australia has passed legislation to ban jumps racing – a massive win for horses. Thanks to the dedication of individuals and organisations like the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, Animal Liberation SA and RSPCA SA, the state now joins nearly all others in Australia. Hopefully Victoria will soon follow in sparing these gentle animals from such an incredibly high risk of injury and death.
Jumps racing is dangerous for horses. With jumps racing banned in nearly all other parts of the country – some as long ago as 1903 – Victoria is now the only state to still allow this long-outdated ‘sport’. Tragically, as a result, horses will continue to face a high risk of falling, sustaining horrible injuries and being killed on Victorian racing tracks.
The Victorian Government and industry body are fully aware of the inherent risks of jumps racing, yet they deem it acceptable in the name of ‘entertainment’. The horses listed below weren’t asked for their consent and they were made to pay the ultimate price.
In addition to the horses who have lost their lives during races and trials, many other horses have suffered – from injuries on the race tracks, or from simply failing to win races and being withdrawn from competition and sent to an abattoir or knackery. Many of these gentle, social animals are not offered ‘retirement’, and it is often left to charities to support them after they are discarded by the racing industry.
As long as jumps racing is allowed to exist, the number of dead horses will continue to climb.
Below, we name the known horses who have died in jumps racing (races and trials) between 2000 and 2018.
With the deaths of at least six horses reported in 2019, and at least three in 2020, it is evident that as long as jumps racing exists, the listed deaths will continue to grow, and horses will continue to suffer. Our friends at the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses include the names of these horses, whose lives were cut short unnecessarily, in their Deathwatch reports.
You can find more information about the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses and donate to support their work for horses on the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses website.
|
Name |
Injury |
Date |
Location |
|
2018 |
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|
Hammerstein |
This seven year old fell at the eleventh jump, sustaining a serious injury and was later euthanased.
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23/09/18
|
Coleraine (VIC)
|
|
Granddukeoftuscany |
This eight-year-old landed badly on the seventh jump, sustaining a serious injury and was later euthanased.
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9/09/18
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Casterton (VIC)
|
|
Sleep’n Pete |
This ten-year-old horse suffered a catastrophic fall after being forced to run his first ever steeplechase. He died from a suspected broken neck.
|
19/08/18
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Ballarat (VIC)
|
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Mujadale |
Pulled up during the race with a suspected tendon injury, and was later euthanased off track.
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22/07/2018
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Bendigo (VIC)
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|
Something to Share |
Despite warnings from industry participants that the track was unsuitable for jumping, Racing Victoria pushed ahead with the day’s races. Chaos ensued in a series of catatrophic crashes that felled seven horses, killed one, heavily concussed a jockey and left another with a suspected fractured collarbone. Trainer Bryce Stanaway is on the record as holding Racing Victoria wholly responsible for the day’s carnage.
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22/7/18
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Bendigo (VIC)
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About the Journey |
Fell, tried to rise, before falling again and dying due to a suspected ruptured aorta.
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14/7/18
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Murray Bridge (SA)
|
|
Springbok Flyer |
Died after a horrific fall.
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8/7/18
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Warrnambool (VIC)
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Now and Zen |
Fell during a steeplechase, and later died due to his injuries.
|
3/5/18
|
Warrnambool (VIC)
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|
Name |
Injury |
Date |
Location |
|
2017 |
|||
|
Surface To Air |
Broke his leg during his first jumps race and was killed on track.
|
6/7/17
|
Murray Bridge (SA)
|
|
Just Junior |
Fractured his leg during a trial, and was euthanased.
|
3/7/17
|
Cranbourne (VIC)
|
|
Wee Frankie |
Fell and broke his neck.
|
21/5/17
|
Casterton (VIC)
|
|
Bring Back |
Fractured his shoulder in a heavy fall over a jump, and was euthanased.
|
3/5/17
|
Warrnambool (VIC)
|
|
Wheeler Fortune |
Killed after falling and shattering a leg while racing.
|
15/4/17
|
Oakbank (SA)
|
|
Name |
Injury |
Date |
Location |
|
2016 |
|||
|
Arwoc |
Killed after sustaining crippling injuries in a heavy fall while racing.
|
25/9/16
|
Coleraine (VIC)
|
|
Tuscan Fire |
Injured during a race and was killed on track.
|
4/5/16
|
Warrnambool (VIC)
|
|
Cliff’s Dream |
Fell and fractured his knee during a race. Killed on track.
|
3/5/16
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Warrnambool (VIC)
|
|
Fieldmaster |
Injured during a jumps trial, and was killed on track.
|
27/4/16
|
Cranbourne (VIC)
|
|
Name |
Injury |
Date |
Location |
|
2015 |
|||
|
Rabbuka |
Euthanised on track after sustaining severe injuries in a heavy fall while racing.
|
13/9/15
|
Casterton (VIC)
|
|
Trenchtown |
Injured his leg during a race, and was killed after finishing in last place.
|
25/7/15
|
Morphettville (SA)
|
|
Verification |
Suffered severe injuries in a fall and was killed on track.
|
9/4/15
|
Cranbourne (VIC)
|
|
Feel the Fame |
Fell on track and sustained serious injuries, killed on track.
|
9/4/15
|
Cranbourne (VIC)
|
|
Try Pickle |
Collided with a hurdle and sustained a fractured leg. He was killed on the track.
|
5/6/15 |
Casterton (VIC)
|
|
2014 |
|||
|
Shot Of Glory |
Sustained a shoulder injury during jumps trials, and was killed.
|
26/6/14
|
Cranbourne (VIC)
|
|
Elms |
Was injured during a jumps race and killed on track.
|
25/5/14
|
Casterton (VIC)
|
|
Show Dancer |
Crashed violently into a hurdle and was killed on the track.
|
21/5/14
|
Sandown (VIC)
|
|
Black Moon |
Fell while trialling, and was killed on the track.
|
14/4/14
|
Oakbank (SA)
|
|
Viva Delspec |
Injured his knee in steeplechase, and was killed.
|
3/4/14
|
Warrnambool (VIC)
|
|
2013 |
|||
|
End of Time |
Fell in steeplechase, and was killed.
|
7/7/13
|
Casterton (VIC)
|
|
Mikiyama |
Fell while trialling, and was killed several days later.
|
15-16/6/13
|
Warrnambool (VIC)
|
|
Reckless Rat |
Fractured knee, and was killed on track.
|
11/6/13
|
Warrnambool (VIC)
|
|
Scenic Buzz |
Fell, sustained neck injuries and was killed on track.
|
17/4/13
|
Sandown (VIC)
|
|
2012 |
|||
|
Jockey Jack |
Fractured fetlock (ankle) and was killed on track.
|
18/8/12
|
Morphettville (SA)
|
|
Foremost |
Clipped the jump, landed on his head, broke his neck (in trial) |
18/7/12 |
Cranbourne (VIC) |
|
The Black Oak |
Fractured sesamoid in trial. Killed |
15/6/12 |
Warrnambool (VIC) |
|
Art Success |
Killed off track due to a fractured pelvis, after competing in two races over the Oakbank weekend. |
9/4/12 |
Oakbank (SA) |
|
Virvacity |
Injured on track, killed. |
7/4/12 |
Oakbank (SA) |
|
Jotilla |
Injured on track, killed. |
28/3/12 |
Sandown (VIC) |
|
2011 |
|||
|
Guara Grove Beast |
Fell on track, killed. |
3/9/11 |
Morphettville (SA) |
|
Fergus McIver |
Died after falling on the last jump of the race. |
28/8/11 |
Sandown (VIC) |
|
Nitonic |
Injured after falling over a hurdle, killed. |
18/8/11 |
Cranbourne, in trial (VIC) |
|
Zealous |
Died from an apparent neck injury after falling over hurdle. |
31/7/11 |
Warrnambool (VIC) |
|
Fasilenko |
Injured hind leg on hurdle, killed. |
20/5/11 |
Mt Gambier (SA) |
|
Ledgers Dream |
Fell, broke neck, died. |
14/5/11 |
Morphettville (SA) |
|
Shine The Armour |
Fell over hurdle, broke his neck, killed. |
3/5/11 |
Warrnambool (VIC) |
|
Java Star |
Died on the track, cause of death is disputed. |
23/4/11 |
Oakbank (SA) |
|
Squire Rex |
Injured a tendon, fell over hurdle, killed. |
19/4/11 |
Cranbourne (VIC), in trial |
|
Hammerblow |
Not known |
11/4/11 |
Morphettville, in trial |
|
Casa Boy |
Broke an elbow, killed. |
4/4/11 |
Warrnambool |
|
2010 |
|||
|
Tradesman’s Choice |
Broke a leg, killed. |
24/7/10 |
Morphettville (SA) |
|
Prince Vitality |
