Media Release
6 May 2009
Horror jumps death at Warrnambool must end jumps racing
Jumps horse Pride of Westbury died today in a horrific fall at the last hurdle of the Galleywood
Hurdle Race at Warrnambool. Struggling at the last hurdle he fell head first into the ground dying
instantly. Tragically Pride of Westbury now becomes the 5th jumps horse to die in the past fortnight.
Last week Animals Australia joined by other animal protection groups called on Victorian Minister
for Racing Rob Hulls to intervene and stop jumps races at Warnambool – a racing meet with a has
a history of horses falling and dying. Instead the Minister chose to put the industry ‘on notice’.
An angry Glenys Oogjes, Executive Director of Animals Australia stated:
“Pride of Westbury suffered a terrible and preventable death. In light of four horses dying in jumps
races in the past fortnight, allowing further races at Warrnambool was unconscionable.”
“This was an absolutely horrendous fall. There can be no excuses, no possible justification for
allowing any further jumps races in Victoria. Minister Hulls must suspend the rest of the jumps
races at Warrnambool.”
“The very least that Minister Hulls or Racing Victoria can do now is act right now to ensure that
Pride of Westbury is remembered as the last horse ever to die in a jumps race in Victoria.”
Background:
‘Pride of Westbury’ is the fifth Victorian jumps horse to die within two weeks.
‘Hanging Rock’ fell, broke his leg and was killed on the Yarra Valley track on 26 April, two Victorian
jumps horses (‘Taken at the Flood’ and Wool Zone’) died at Morphettville (SA) on 25 April, and
‘Shrogginet’ died at the Cranbourne Training Centre on 23 April.
12 horses died at official jumps races in Victoria during the 2008 season, and another died at a trial.
Horses die in jumps racing at a rate 10 – 20 times the fatality rate to starters in flat racing.
Minister Hulls called for an inquiry into jumps racing as the death toll mounted last June.
The final report (released in December) by former Country Court Judge David Jones recommended
significant changes to jumps racing tracks, jumps and training of horses and jockeys to reduce the
death rate. Similar changes had been introduced in 2002 and 20
Media comment:
Glenys Oogjes 0414312552
Animals Australia Inc. 37 O’Connell Street, North Melbourne 3051
NEWS 
