South Australian jumps racing is no more

Jumps racing is officially over in South Australia.

The jump known as ‘The Fallen Log’ at Oakbank is one of the most famous landmarks on any racetrack in Australia. Photo: Brenton Edwards.

After almost 150 years, jumps racing has been killed off in South Australia.

Racing SA announced on Friday that no jumps races have been scheduled in the state’s racing calendar in 2022.

Racing SA CEO Nick Redin said data from the state’s 12 jumps races held during the 2020/21 season endorsed the regulator’s decision.

During last season field sizes fell to less than five horses per race, while field sizes grew in flat events to 9.7 runners per race held in the state. Also there are less than 10 jumps horses currently in training in South Australia, compared with more than 2400 flat racing thoroughbreds.

“Participation levels in jumps racing in South Australia, particularly from within our state, have been declining for some time and it has become clear that we no longer have a sustainable jumps industry,” Redin said.

“While this will undoubtedly be sad news for some, we believe it creates some very exciting opportunities for the future.

“Thoroughbred racing in South Australia is on a growth trajectory, and this decision is in the best interests for the future of our industry.”

Spying on You in full flight as he heads to victory in the last ever Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank in April. Photo: Brenton Edwards.

Despite the demise of jumps racing, it has also been announced that in 2022, the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival will “return to its roots” and be held on the traditional Easter Saturday and Easter Monday dates.

Oakbank Racing Club Chair Arabella Branson said the three iconic names of Oakbank’s famous three jumps races – Great Eastern, Von Doussa and Harry D. Young – will remain as part of the carnival.

“While we know not everyone will be happy with the decision, it’s a very exciting chance for us to build on the traditions of the past while creating new history,” Branson said.

“It means we can return to having the iconic Easter Carnival with racing on both Easter Saturday and Easter Monday and attract a new audience to Oakbank by broadening opportunities for some new and exciting initiatives for the 2022 carnival and beyond.

“There are a great many people who love Oakbank for what it is; we believe there are even more who will love it for what it will be.”

Racing SA also plans to support owners and trainers of the state-based jumpers to “assist them in either transferring the horses to new owners interstate, into eventing or into retirement”.

Britannicus (pink cap) on his way to victory in the Harry D. Young Hurdle at Oakbank this year. Photo: Brenton Edwards.

RSPCA SA hailed the decision as a long-overdue win for animal welfare.

“For far too long, not only the horses but the jockeys too have been playing Russian roulette every time they left the startersgate, with the odds incredibly high that at least one horse would fall at a jump,” the organisation’s animal welfare advocateDr Rebekah Eyers said.

“The death and injury toll has been horrific, and traumatising for anyone who has witnessed these catastrophic falls.

“Aside from the welfare issues, the reputational damage done to the SA racing industry has been considerable and attendanceshave declined, including at Oakbank.

“Regardless of the reasons given for this decision, RSPCA joins many other groups and individuals who have tirelessly campaignedto stop these races in celebrating this monumental win for horse welfare in South Australia.

But South Australian Jumps Racing posted online that the organisation was feeling “a sense of confusion, anger and betrayal” overthe move.

“Confusion, as we have had no indication as to why the board of Racing SA has reached this decision, nor do we know the positionof the racing minister, Country Racing SA or other industry stakeholders,” it said.

“Anger, in that at the beginning of 2020 in a meeting with Racing SA, the local jumps racing industry was set three years’ worth of KPIs – therefore, how can this decision have been made only two years in, during a period in which every aspect oflife has been affected by Covid-19?

“Betrayal. This is because there has been no consultation whatsoever with local jumps racing participants. The people whoselivelihoods are significantly impacted by this decision have not only not been consulted, Racing SA only deigned to speakwith them mere hours before the new was made public.

“We are currently considering what course(s) of action can be taken.”

Oakbank-based Barry Brook Racing Stables posted: “We are shattered at the decision of Racing SA this afternoon. In a world of uncertainty, nothing like having 80 per cent of your stable unable to race in this state. Not sure what we can do but willgo down fighting. Might need a little support people.”

Oakbank Racing Club committee member Mark Angus has quit over the change.

In his resignation letter to Ms Branson, he wrote he was “unflinchingly opposed” to Racing SA’s decision.

He said he could not continue “in a constructive way” when the majority of the Oakbank club’s commitee supported Racing SA’s “monumental” decision which would have “a lasting and detrimental impact on the future of the club”.

“As far as I can ascertain, (it was made) without consultation with industry participants, in particular the local SA trainers... I feel I cannot stay silent about this betrayal.”

Former chairwoman of Racing Australia, Frances Nelson QC, who also spent 20 years on the Oakbank Racing Club committee, saidthe loss of jumps racing was a “disappointment”.

“I think it’s a very shortsighted decision, because Oakbank currently puts between 11 and 13 million dollars every year inthe local economy, because of interstate and overseas visitors,” she said.

“Regrettably they won’t come for some ordinary race meeting, so that’s another event we’re going to lose, and I think it willbe the kiss of death for Oakbank, I’m sorry to say.”

Ms Nelson said Oakbank’s main attraction was jumps racing.

“Oakbank, even in current days, has been the best attended race meeting in South Australia ... and we know quite well the attraction is the excitement of the jumps racing,” Ms Nelson added.

“I think when they lose that they will lose their identity, unfortunately.”

Tourism to the Adelaide Hills for the event will be slashed amid the news, Ms Nelson predicted.

“It’s the fact that it generates such worldwide and interstate interest, there are people who have been coming from Queensland for years, people who come from the UK every year just to go to Oakbank.”

“I know Covid’s been a problem, but the Tour Down Under’s not happening, the Adelaide 500 - that’s gone - I just think we’restarting to lose so many of our iconic events that make such a difference to the state.”

However, SA trainer Richard Jolly said: “I did have jumpers, but because we have no riders here it just became cost prohibitive to have to fly jockeys in to do the training and race riding. That’s why I moved my business to flat racing,”

“The industry has worked hard to see if there’s a future for jumps racing in South Australia, but it’s clear that it is no longer sustainable.”

In 2021, the Von Doussa Steeple and Harry D. Young Hurdle were won by Victorian-trained gallopers Yensir and Britannicus while veteran Spying On You recorded a memorable win in the Great Eastern Steeplechase for Murray Bridge trainer Grant Young.

Spying On You ran in five Great Easterns – winning the race in 2017 and 2021.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Young told broadcaster Racing.com after Spying On You’s 2021 win.

“Geez, he’s been a marvel. I couldn’t be prouder of him. What a great performance.

“He’d be classed as a champion, wouldn’t he?”

Victoria is now the only state in Australia that conducts hurdle and steeplechase racing.

Originally published as South Australian jumps racing is no more