Horse euthanized at Casterton races

Jumps racing has drawn much controversy. Source: News Limited

JUMPS racing was embroiled in another controversy at Casterton yesterday when a race was and a horse, Elms, put down.

There were farcical scenes at Sportingbet Park Sandown on Wednesday when three horses fell in the steeplechase, including Show Dancer, who was also euthanized down, and the event also being called off.

After jumping the first hurdle yesterday, the Luke Oliver-trained Elms broke down on the flat and was grabbed by barrier attendants.

James Hitchcock, who was chief steward at the meeting, said Racing Victoria head veterinary surgeon Brian Stewart was following the field in a car and got out to attend the injured horse.

The other three runners in the field continued but were stopped as they approached the area where Elms was on their second lap. attendants waved at the jockeys to stop the race

"Dr Brian Stewart was on the spot and declared it was an unacceptable risk for the race to continue," chief steward James Hitchcock said.

Dr Stewart believed that Elms wasn't secure and posed a risk to himself and other participants.

Champion Jockey Steve Pateman, who rode Elms, said jumps riders with the view being that the wrong decision was made.

"Elms jumped the first beautifully but then 150m later he broke down on the flat which horses do in track-work every day," Pateman said.

"I was upset for Elms but I was stunned when the race was called off. If anything, on pulling up the horses got closer to Elms than if they had continued racing. It made the situation more dangerous."

Pateman had a bird's eye view of the situation down the back straight at Casterton as he was standing next to Dr Stewart when he made the decision.

"I know Dr Stewart is a professional but we're also professionals and it was the wrong call. If it was the Melbourne Cup they wouldn't be calling the race off in a horse had broken down after 400m," Pateman said.

"I've been riding for 12 years and never been in a no race and now I've been in two. It was the right call on Wednesday but yesterday's was just a bad look for the sport."

Pateman pointed out that the three jockeys left riding had a cumulative 10,000 races worth of experience and knew how to handle the situation.

Veterinary surgeons later reported that Elms had severely fractured his right fore cannon while racing on the flat.

Ward Young from the Coalition for Protection Of Racehorses said his group will stage a demonstration in the Bourke Street Mall at midday today.

"Basically it's another day of jumps racing in this state with yet another horse losing its life," Young said.

Elms is the third horse to be put down after a jumps race this season. After a successful start to the season two horses have lost their life in the past week.

The Jumps Review Panel will look into the incident. A post mortem will be performed at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic as is standard practice.

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