Calls for bans after three horses were killed and two jockeys hospitalised after day of carnage in last state where jump racing is still legal
- Jump racing is banned in all Australian states except Victoria
- Regional meeting was a day full of brutal crashes with one rider in critical condition
- Has revived calls to ban jump racing in Victoria
Three dead horses and a seriously injured jockey in a single race have sparked fresh calls to ban hurdle racing in the last Australian state to hold such races.
Two jockeys were injured, one seriously, and three horses were euthanised during six races at Grand National Jumps Day in Ballarat on Sunday.
Lee Horner, 34, was taken to a local hospital with head injuries and then transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after sustaining a head injury during the Grand National Steeplechase.
Horner suffered a bruise to his brain after falling from his mount, Sky Hero, on the final lap of the race. The incident also involved Mighty Oasis and Horner’s stablemate Bell Ex One, ridden by Will Gordon.
Horner and Gordon were injured after Sky Hero and Bell Ex One collided with Mighty Oasis, who fell when he failed to clear the tenth obstacle.
The Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) provided an update on Horner’s condition on Sunday evening, with further details expected on Monday.
Meanwhile, Gordon was taken to Ballarat Base Hospital with a suspected shoulder injury. There were no further updates on Gordon’s condition on Monday morning.
Mighty Oasis suffered a serious injury and was euthanized, stewards said. Chris McCarthy, Mighty Oasis’ jockey, was not injured, but Horner and Gordon were hospitalized.
According to the stewards, Sky Hero and Bell Ex One both appeared to be lame in the foreleg.
The fateful final race ended a tragic day in Ballarat after two horses had already died. Maserati Bay and Buffalo Bill both retired after less than half of their race.
Jumping jockey Lee Horner is in a critical condition with a bruise on his brain after a fall in Ballarat on Sunday
Jockey Will Gordon was also hospitalized while his horse Mighty Oasis was euthanized
They were seriously injured and euthanised. The incidents were referred to Racing Victoria veterans and the Jumps Review Panel.
The events led to calls from anti-show jumping activist groups to ban the sport.
“Maserartie Bay, Buffalo Bill and Mighty Oasis all died today during the final #jumpsracing event of the season in Ballarat,” posted an X account called Ban Jumps Racing.
‘THREE DEAD HORSES IN ONE MEETING!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely disgusting and by far the most dangerous season we’ve had in years. #banjumpsracing.’
Another account posted: ‘Three horses died today at #jumpsracing in #Ballarat. Horses are not meant to go over jumps at high speed. #banjumpsracing.’
According to data from the activist group Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, 1 in 38 show jumpers was killed on the track in 2023. In addition, 1 in 10 of all show jumpers fell, many of them seriously injured.
Victoria remains the only state in Australia where show jumping competitions are allowed.
In late 2009, Racing Victoria announced that the 2010 show jumping season would be its last, due to the high number of deaths and injuries to show jumping horses in Victoria.
However, seven weeks later this decision was reversed due to pressure from the racing industry, allowing the obstacle races to go ahead.
In South Australia, obstacle racing was banned in 2022, after years of campaigning by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses and Animal Liberation South Australia.
Sandy McGregor, chairman and owner of the Australian Jumps Racing Association, recently defended the sport, saying new technology has significantly reduced the number of falls, injuries and deaths.