The Victorian government has endorsed recommendations from a review into an incident involving spectators during this year’s Grand Annual Steeplechase.
Educational programs about the risks of runaway horses and annual inspections of perimeter racecourse fencing are among the main recommendations following a review of spectator safety at Victorian racecourses.
Racing Minister Denis Napthine ordered the review after a horse jumped a two-metre fence and injured seven spectators during the running of the famous Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in May.
An 80-year-old woman and a boy, 2, were among those injured when the riderless horse Banna Strand veered off the track and leaped into the crowd.
Warrnambool Racing Club has already been ordered to improve spectator safety.
Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said spectator safety was paramount and effectively managing risk was a vital part of the industry’s business.
“Racing Victoria is confident that the proposed measures will further improve the comprehensive safety systems that are in place at each of the state’s racecourses and we look forward to working with the clubs to implement the recommendations,” he said.
The review found the racing industry’s safety and risk management policies in relation to spectator safety were consistent with published WorkSafe guidelines.
However to ensure that the knowledge gained from the review of the Warrnambool incident was fully shared and applied on an industry-wide basis, the report recommended a four-step action plan.
Napthine said the ongoing maintenance and monitoring of facilities to make sure they were safe for racegoers was critical to Victoria’s racing industry.
“The report provided to me by Racing Victoria emphasises the importance of not taking spectator safety for granted and making sure resources are continually put into maintaining safe racing facilities,” he said.
The recommendations will be implemented immediately.
Racing Victoria has also committed to an $8.85 million prize money budget for jumps racing over the next three years.
That commitment is in addition to a $2 million government funding package over the next four years which will assist in the purchase of a second set of the remodelled obstacles which have been in use for the past 16 months.
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