Jumps racing 'on the up', says 'Bool chief executive Tom O'Connor

South Australia's peak racing body on Friday announced jumps racing would not be part of its calendar as of 2022.

It cited declining participation and horse numbers - fewer than 10 jumpers remain registered in the state - as making the industry unsustainable.

But O'Connor, who oversaw a bumper 2021 carnival headlined by Gold Medals' second Grand Annual Steeplechase crown, said jumps racing was on the rise in Victoria.

He said Warrnambool was at the heart of the industry's success.

"(Jumps racing) is a huge part of Victorian racing. There's a lot of upside in jumps racing in Victoria at the moment," O'Connor told The Standard.

"There's a strong commitment from the key industry bodies, being Racing Victoria, Country Racing Victoria and the Australia Jumps Racing Association.

"I think we've got a strong commitments from clubs, being the trainers and riders.

"There's always work to be done, particularly in the riders area but I think jumps racing in Victoria is on an upward ladder as opposed to downward."

O'Connor said the state had more jumps racing, enjoyed strong field sizes and better prizemoney in 2021.

He said the Australia Jumps Racing Association's investment in safety, including one-fit hurdles, was contributing to greater interest from participants.

O'Connor said the club would work with Racing Victoria and the AJRA to navigate the impact of lead-up races to Warrnambool's showcase steeplechase races.

The Great Eastern Steeplechase, the Von Doussa and the Harry D Young Hurdle are typically key build-up race for both the Grand Annual and Brierly steeplechases. The trio will continue as flat races from 2022.

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Warrnambool mayor Vicki Jellie said jumps racing had strong arguments both for and against.

"It would be a decision for Racing Victoria (what happens in the future). It would be up to them seeing as we are the last state in the nation that will look to continue to have jumps racing," she said on Monday.

"I know there'll be for and against, there will be the racing fraternity that will want to keep going and then there will be the likes of RSPCA and animal cruelty groups, there are always two sides to the story."

She acknowledged the sport's significance to the city and its annual events calendar.

Victorian racing minister Martin Pakula said in May the Warrnambool Carnival as a whole was expected to have poured more than $15 million into the city's coffers.

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He said figures from 2019 showed about two-thirds of attendees were from outside the south-west which underlined its economic impact.

"Would it affect our economy? That's hard to say because if jumps racing is taken out of the equation for race meets here in Warrnambool, that indicates other races (would) still continue so it won't stop other racing meetings," Cr Jellie said.

"But it needs further consideration by the government and Racing Victoria as to what they'll do.

"Do people only come for the jumps races? Do they come for the carnival?

"People come to that carnival for many reasons so whether or not it would deter some people from coming - that's really hard to say."

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