Jumps Racing SA says scrapping of the sport was ill-informed and based on incorrect data

Key numbers used to justify writing off the controversial horse races were three times higher than claimed, according to racing industry figures shocked by the events’ sudden end.

There are at least three times as many jumps racing horses in South Australia as the sport’s regulating body has claimed for its decision to scrap hurdles and steeplechases in the state.

A survey undertaken by Jumps Racing SA this week found there were 32 horses in SA – under the care of 13 different trainers – that were being prepared to compete in jumps races next year.

Racing SA – the regulating body for thoroughbred racing in the state – last week said there were just 10 jumps horses when it announced that it would not program any races next year, including the Great Eastern Steeplechase which attracts about 20,000 people to Oakbank at Easter.

The body also claimed that field sizes in jumps races had dropped below five – but analysis by Jumps Racing SA found the average field size in 2021 was 5.4 horses.

The Great Eastern Steeplechase has been an Oakbank tradition for more than a century. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A submission sent by Jumps Racing SA to Racing SA on Wednesday also criticised the regulating body for having “not provided adequate support for jumps racing” and it “must acknowledge responsibility for jumps racing becoming, in its words, ‘unsustainable and unworkable’ ”.

Murray Bridge, Naracoorte and Strathalbyn racing clubs reported that they received no consultation before jumps racing was scrapped.

It said prizemoney this year dropped to $754,940 – compared to more than $1m in 2019 – and that Racing SA had failed to deliver promised upgrades to jumps training equipment at three tracks.

The Australian Jumps Racing Association is understood to have made a financial offer of about $100,000 a year to save the Great Eastern Steeplechase and Harry D Young Hurdle at Oakbank.

Warrnambool Racing Club chief executive Tom O’Connor has also flagged that Victorian racing authorities would look to stage their own Easter jumps carnival if Oakbank did not go ahead in its usual format.

Racing SA did not answer questions as to how it determined the number of jumps horses and field sizes in SA.

“While we understand that there are those who are upset … that we will no longer be scheduling jumps races from 2022 in South Australia, we stand by the decision announced on Friday and the metrics used to inform it,” Racing SA said in a written statement.