Warrnambool MP Dan Tehan to keep fighting against any changes to May jumps carnival

Warrnambool MP Dan Tehan could end up as the Federal Opposition Leader in the wake of Liberal’s heavy election defeat but says he will always campaign against any move to end jumps racing in Victoria.

Wannon MP Dan Tehan has pledged to keep fighting for the retention on jumps racing in Victoria. Picture: NewsWire.

His party might have taken a belting in Saturday’s Federal election, but Wannon MP Dan Tehan was keen to lead the charge against any changes to the Warrnambool May Carnival.

Tehan could be among the possible candidates to become the Federal Opposition Leader after previous leader Peter Dutton lost his Queensland seat during Liberal’s heavy election defeat.

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But Tehan, who attended multiple days of last week’s carnival during campaigning in his western Victorian seat, said retaining jumps racing would always be one of his priorities.

Another massive crowd watched the Grand Annual Steeplechase in perfect weather last Thursday.

It was the first running of the gruelling event since Racing Victoria’s latest review late last year permitted the continuance of jumps racing for another three years.

Tehan said his office made a submission to the review on behalf of his electorate, which is the state’s jumps racing epicentre.

The Cunning Fox won an outstanding edition of the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool. Picture: Getty Images.

“I always look on the positive (side) and we had a wonderful three days again,” Tehan said.

“You look at the crowds, about 6000 on Tuesday, seven or 8000 on Wednesday and you’ve probably got 15,000 for the Grand Annual.

“It’s just magnificent and you look at the crowds that you’ll get on a Saturday at Flemington at this time of the year, this carnival dwarfs it.

“People vote with their feet, and we’ve got to make sure it continues.

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“We’ve had great jumping displays in all the three major jumps races and that’s the way I think of it.”

Racing Victoria established a Jumps Taskforce to oversee improvements to the sector after an unacceptable number of fatalities last year.

The Jumps Taskforce will meet to review the season later this year and will report to the RV board on issues such as “safety metrics, participation rates and economic impacts” before another review at the end of the 2027 jumps season.

Tehan said shutting down jumps racing would make no sense in the current climate.

Duke Of Bedford produced terrific jumping displays in both the Brierly and Grand Annual Steeplechases at Warrnambool. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

“I hope we don’t have to keep fighting for it,” Tehan said.

“It’s a fantastic spectacle, people love it and why would you want to shut industries down?

“I just hope jumps racing continues to thrive.

“It’s what people want down here, it’s why they come to Warrnambool and this state, if it starts closing industries down, there’s going to be nothing left.

“We’ve got to be doing everything to encourage things like this. This brings people from around the world down here.

“Why wouldn’t we help to support it?”

Tehan held his seat after a serious challenge from independent candidate Alex Dyson.