Trainer threatens to kill horses

An Australian trainer has threatened to kill his horses and send their heads to racing industry leaders if jumps racing is banned, national radio reported.

Racing over jumps was suspended Thursday after Grand Annual Steeplechase runner Clearview Bay became the third jumper to die at the three-day Warrnambool racing carnival in Victoria state.

The decision was taken by Racing Victoria Limited (RVL), the governing body, which will make an announcement on the sport's future next week.

The suspension was backed by state Premier John Brumby and Racing Minister Rob Hulls, who have been accused of putting pressure on RVL.

Horse trainer David Londregan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation his livelihood would be destroyed and he would be forced to have several horses put down if the sport was banned.

“I'm going to have to shoot my horses and I will, well I'm threatening to, send a head or two around the countryside to the powers (that) be, just to remind them what damage they are doing to our horses,” he said.

“They just don't realise how well we look after our horses and how much we love our horses,” he said.

Australian Jumps Racing Association president Rodney Rae warned of a court action against RVL if it closed jumps racing this season.

Rae said the sport's safety record had improved significantly, with an average of 7 or 8 horses killed each year since modular jumps were brought in six years ago. Previously, there were up to 23 deaths a season.