Jumps Racing in South Australia Clears the Final Hurdle

Hurdle and steeplechase racing will continue in South Australia in 2017 and beyond after a Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry found that there was no case for banning jumps racing in the state.

The extensive and wide-ranging enquiry, conducted over a period of eight months and which received more than 1800 written submissions from the industry and the general public and heard oral testimony from 22 witnesses, produced a report that includes 28 recommendations.

Most significant of these are the recommendations that jumps racing in South Australia should not be banned and that parliament should not revisit the question for at least three years.

Chairman of South Australian Jumps Racing, Joe Cannizarro, said, "We are extremely pleased not only with the outcome, but also the fair and balanced way in which the Select Committee conducted their enquiry.

"This is the most positive news that the jumps racing fraternity in South Australia has had for some time, and gives the industry real optimism for the future."

The fact that jumps racing is free to continue in South Australia means that the Easter Racing Carnival, at Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills, will again host the classic jumping races the Von Doussa Steeplechase and the Great Eastern Steeplechase at the 2017 meeting on 15 and 17 April.

"As well as Oakbank, other hugely popular jumping races such as the Grand National Hurdle and the Irish Day Steeplechase will continue to be held at Morphettville in Adelaide," added Mr Cannizarro.

Jumps racing has been held in South Australia since the 1840s, with Oakbank Racing Club holding hurdle and steeplechase races continuously since 1876.