October
MayNo quick fix
With the Warrnambool carnival just completed it may be the last opportunity to respond to the very vocal small minority of anti-jumps campaigners who will no doubt look forward to gaining publicity over the next few months through print media and television news coverage that is not in the best interests of the sport of horse racing.
One of my fondest memories is looking from on top of the Warrnambool hill at the steeplechase that was run last Thursday. For those who have not yet had the thrill and excitement, it’s must viewing.
I have had shares in a few horses over the years, some being jumpers, who now live out the balance of their lives in the Mornington (Vic) area. They are very well cared for and as an animal lover I believe there is no quick-fix solution to the jumps saga, including the banning of the sport.
As with all athletes at any level there will unfortunately be injuries and, rarely, fatalities. These must be investigated to reduce the risk involved for the industry as a whole.
The hurdles have been modified again this season and, while there is no quick-fix solution, the horse must respect the jump. Therefore the steeplechase with a higher obstacle and slower tempo may be the best solution for the continuation of jumps racing in the future.
Finally, this is a racing paper so for all those punters who enjoy a little form study, you may find that in jumps racing the favourite, or those horses well in the market, have a very high winning strike rate.
Brisbane