They banned Jumps Racing here today.

[mick]

After 200 years or so, Racing Victoria has given in to the hysterics and banned all forms of horse race jumping. There were 8 horses killed last year in falls which was the catalyst.

The real problem was caused by racing Victoria itself. Hurdles went from 6 foot tall where horses had to actually jump, speed really wasnt an issue, to a mad half sprint where hurdles were 3 foot tall with the top foot just brush. So horses lose their footing and break their necks or legs.

Its just another part of Austayan kulcha down the gurgler.

[Little John_NC]

I go to Camden South  Carolina for the Cup races there. They have 4 I think 6 foot jumps . The one that gets me is the 5 foot with the water hazard right behind it .Never fails a horse gets hurt. The last few races they had more Jockey hurt than horses.

The polo fields are about a mile south of the cup races. That much more interesting to me than the cup races. Teams from all over the world compete there. When I lived in Camden I volunteer as a winder (walking the ponys after a chukker) . Each rider has 7 horses . There are few injury on the field.
 Gen. George Patten played with the US army Polo team there in the 20's. Annie Oakley also done shows there with her riding and shooting skills.

[kathyp]

eventing has never been as popular here as in other countries, but the same folks have tried to stop other equestrian sports.  for years they have been after horse racing.  had to deal with the nuts a couple of times when i was cutting.  it's another one of those agenda things.  they can't get the whole pie at once, but they can take big bites out of it.