Oakbank president gives Greens the 'short shrift' over jumping ban

The Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank. Photo / Supplied

The traditional Oakbank jumps weekend, Australia's biggest picnic race meeting since 1876, will continue despite the Greens set to introduce a bill to the South Australian Parliament this week to ban the sport.

Club president John Glatz told the Herald Sun that he expected the push by Greens MP Tammy Franks will be given "the short shrift".

"People here have had a gut full of them - their arguments are ridiculous," he said.

Tammy Franks has pointed the finger at Victoria to support the push, saying: "We've got all of the research from Victoria that shows that this is not a sustainable industry."

SA state president of the RSPCA Sheree Sellick added: "Research shows people overwhelmingly are opposed to jumps racing and want it banned. The industry itself is being threatened because people are stopping going to races because of the jumps racing component."

Glatz said if Oakbank was such a turnoff for people, he would like an explanation of why 100,000 fans attend each year, and "why the Great Eastern and Von Doussa are our highest turnover betting races".

"I can't see any political support for the proposed ban," Glatz said.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Government has endorsed recommendations from a review into an incident involving spectators during this year's Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in May.

Educational programmes about the risks of runaway horses and annual inspections of perimeter racecourse fencing are among the main recommendations after a review of spectator safety at Victorian racecourses.

Racing Minister Denis Napthine ordered the review after a horse jumped a two-metre fence and injured seven spectators during the running of the famous Grand Annual Steeplechase.

An 80-year-old woman and a boy, 2, were among those injured when the riderless horse Banna Strand veered off the track and leaped into the crowd.

Warrnambool Racing Club has already been ordered to improve spectator safety.

Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said spectator safety was paramount and effectively managing risk was a vital part of the industry's business. "Racing Victoria is confident that the proposed measures will further improve the comprehensive safety systems that are in place at each of the state's racecourses and we look forward to working with the clubs to implement the recommendations."

The review found the racing industry's safety and risk management policies in relation to spectator safety were consistent with published WorkSafe guidelines.

-AAP