There is nothing worse...:(

The risk of severe injury is always there. In the last eight days we have had 2 fatalaties in SA, at Durbanville and the Vaal. But plonking great big fences in the way can only multiply the risk needlessly. The introduction of AW flat racing has done away with jumping having to fill the long English winters as the only game in town.

Most sports have their drawbacks and dangers, from rugby to F1 and superbike racing. (Ok, I concede that badminton may be relatively harmless!)

Nantional Hunt racing has dangers as well, more so than flat racing; but I agree with Easy that it is not necesarily cruel; as pointed out earlier in the thread some horses are specifically bred to go over the jumps as opposed to racing on the flat.

I would like to see it being introduced locally (starting off with hurdles) but that's probably wishful thinking. I'd much rather have jumo racing than the 'spectacle' of trotters.It will also provide an opportunity for some of those horses that eventually get too slow to race on the flat, to extend their racing careers.

Yes, jump racing is dangerous, but so are a lot of things in life.

Marriage, boxing, NH are cruel on occasion but they all have there place. 2 of my hoeses broke legs on the training tracks at Vaal and 3 more walked away half crippled. Good and bad in everything. The spectacle of the jumps, the courage and bravery can only matched on the flat by a very few - Yeats is one.

Bull figthing is worse.

Would like to see the introduction of a ground requirements for " summer jump" meetings...

National Hunt racing should not go ahead on ground quicker than GOOD!!

French jump jockey Javoy killed in fall


France: The French racing community was in shock yesterday following the news that highly promising jump jockey Guillaume Javoy had died after a horrific fall at Le Pin-au-Haras on Sunday.

The 24-year-old had replaced another jockey on chance ride Kahyasia in the opening race of the meeting at the Normandy track, near the town of Argentan.

Another horse tried to run out Just before a hurdle about five furlongs into the race, forcing Kahyasia to put on the brakes in a violent manner.

After being thrown on to the running rail, Javoy was taken by helicopter to a hospital at Alencon after the racecourse medical team realised the serious nature of his injuries. He was then transferred to a hospital in Caen.

Javoy, who is attached to the powerful Francois Cottin stable, had 16 winners to his name this season.

"Guillaume was a very pleasant young man and a true professional," said Cottin. "He had been with me since the beginning of his career, which was far too short.I am devastated."

>> USA: Jockey Mark Pace, who reportedly resumed riding only recently after a ten-year hiatus, died on Sunday after being thrown from his mount in a race at Blue Ribbon Downs in Ohio. He was 58.

Pace's mount Reep What You Sow hit the rail on the backstretch in a 5½f maiden claimer.

Steeplechase and hurdle racing in the Australian state of Victoria will be abolished in 2010, prompted by the deaths of 20 horses in two years.

The decision follows a comprehensive review of the sport and has been welcomed by animal welfare groups.

However, members of the racing industry have reacted with anger, calling it "unbelievable" and "appalling".

Racing's governing body in Victoria had conceded that the sport was in decline because of mounting safety concerns.



Animal rights campaigners have described racing over hurdles and fences as not only shameful and barbaric but "morally wrong".

An official review of the industry last year recommended a raft of new safety measures, all of which were adopted by authorities in Victoria.

Despite the changes, the fatalities have continued, with eight horses dying in races this season.

The deaths prompted an urgent investigation, which has resulted in the banning of the sport.

It has drawn a furious response from some owners, trainers and jockeys.

Steeplechase events in Victoria will go on for another year in an attempt to soften the impact of their abolition on those involved.

Neighbouring South Australia, the only other state in the country that allows jump racing, has said its programme will continue and hopes to attract trainers and horses from Victoria.

However, officials in South Australia are not celebrating and have expressed deep concerns about the long-term viability of their steeplechasing industry.