Country Racing Victoria Chairman Michael Caveny said today’s decision to end jumping racing had diluted industry faith in the peak body. “Racing Victoria Limited’s charter is to promote and foster racing in this state. Kow-towing to the politically-correct and looney left is not in their charter,” Caveny said.

“RVL’s chief responsibility is to the racing industry and its participants.

“The confidence with which CRV had previously afforded RVL is now in jeopardy.”

With the decision not unanimous by the RVL Board, Caveny said CRV would assist the AJRA and the entire jumping fraternity in the bid to overturn this decision.

Caveny was irate that RVL had ended 150 years of racing history, with some of the turf heroes such as Karasi, Crisp and Galleywood, never to be emulated in the future.

“RVL has wasted the investments of thousands of owners and ceased the livelihood of many industry participants, who we may never see in the industry again,” Caveny said.

“These people have lived with uncertainty for too long and now have been effectively sacked by this RVL decision.”

In relation to the $1 million afforded to Warrnambool for the development of a Transition and Marketing program, CRV Chief Executive Officer Scott Whiteman labelled it a minor splash in the ocean of the annual $20 million economic benefit the Carnival brings to the local community.

“We’ll be seeking an immediate meeting with RVL and the Warrnambool Racing Club to obtain a better understanding of what the funding will be used for,” Whiteman said.

“We want to ensure this $1 million is spent on marketing and tourism initiatives, which will enable the three-day carnival to remain as a Victorian Tourism Hallmark event.

“We will also be demanding major prizemoney increases for the Carnival.”