Animal rights activists have once again called for Steeplechase horse racing to be banned, following several falls in the five and a half kilometer Grand Annual race in Warrnambool.
Racing Victoria says it won't be rushed into a decision based on today's events, or those of yesterday when a horse had to be put down on track.
Six-year-old Sirrocean Storm was put down by a vet on the track after breaking a back leg on the third jump of the feature 3200m Galleywood Hurdle on the second day of the three-day carnival on Wednesday.
It is a critical time for jumps racing, after Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) stipulated that too many deaths this season could spell the end of the sport.
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Australian Jumps Racing Association president Rodney Rae said at Warrnambool on Wednesday that fatalities had to be 50 per cent less than last year this season for the sport to survive, while falls also had to be minimised.
New, safer jumps have been installed and plastic rails are also in place in a bid to minimise injuries.
RVL chief Rob Hines said it was disappointing Sirrocean Storm was put down, but he was happy with the start to the season.
"I think it's been a lot better start. We're going a lot better than last year," Hines said.
"It's a very unusual accident ... the horse broke its rear leg.
The horse was humanely euthanased." Sirrocean Storm continued running for about 50 metres after hitting the jump, but was pulled up by its jockey.
