Racing: Dump last jump to save sport, says jockeys

Victoria's jumps jockeys will recommend steeplechase only racing, flag or strand starts and abolishing the last jump in a bid to save the sport.

A meeting of 24 jumps jockeys at Moe on Sunday agreed to make a seven-point submission for the rest of the season to the Racing Victoria Board before it meets tomorrow.

In other news as lobbying intensifies before the special meeting to decide the fate of jumps racing:

A rally of jumps racing participants and fans has been called for tomorrow before the RVL meeting.

Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes said the decision on jumps racing's future should be left to the experts, not politicians and animal welfare groups.

Australian Jumps Racing Association president Rodney Rae said tomorrow's rally was designed to be a "show of strength and support".

The call for abolition of barrier stall starts would put Australia in line with every other jumps country in the world, except New Zealand and Japan.

Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive Des O'Keeffe said jumps jockeys believed the changes should convince the RV Board to continue with jumps racing at least until the end of the season.

Other recommendations are:

Steeplechase or highweight races to replace programmed hurdle races.

Review panel to revisit standards of trainers' presentation of horses to trial and race, and the standard of schooling and trialling facilities.

Jockeys to be educated in retiring tired horses from races.

"If jumps racing is scrapped jockeys will be knocking on the door of RV asking to be treated to the maximum level of assistance," said O'Keeffe.

"The majority are young men with families."

- AAP