Racing Victoria (RV) has today released the racing, trialling and schooling program for the 2025 jumps racing season following consultation with the Australian Jumps Racing Association (AJRA), key stakeholders and participating clubs.
The release of the program follows last month’s confirmation that jumps racing would continue in Victoria subject to a range of safety and operational enhancements recommended following a major review of the sport.
As recommended, the season will start later and finish earlier commencing at Warrnambool on Friday, 28 March and concluding with the Grand National Steeplechase meeting at Sportsbet Ballarat on 17 August 2025.
A total of 57 races have been programmed (36 hurdle and 21 steeplechase) at 14 race meetings across eight tracks. Excluding the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival and season opener, all meetings will be conducted on Sundays.
As per the adopted recommendations, no races have been scheduled at Sale and jumps racing will conclude at Sportsbet Pakenham following the feature M.J. Bourke Hurdle and J.E.H. Spencer Steeplechase meeting on Sunday, 13 April. Hamilton will stage the Mosstrooper Day on 20 July, a date previously occupied by Pakenham.
Accordingly, the feature Mosstrooper Steeplechase and Brendan Drechsler Hurdle will now headline a jumps meeting at Hamilton on 20 July.
Following a recommended review of the financial performance of jumps racing, RV has also announced that it will provide $3.81 million in prizemoney for the 2025 jumps racing season – a reduction of $1 million from 2024.
The funding decrease comes via less programmed races and a targeted reduction of feature race prizemoney, however minimum prizemoney levels of $35,000 per race have been maintained to support jumps racing’s grassroots.
The iconic Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool on 1 May and the season-ending Grand National Steeplechase will remain the richest jumps races with RV providing $350,000 in prizemoney for each.
In addition to the RV prizemoney, Ecycle Solutions has also committed to contributing $50,000 in prizemoney per year towards the Grand National Steeplechase for the next three years which will see the race run for $400,000.
The Grand National Hurdle at Sportsbet Sandown on 3 August has been allocated $250,000 in prizemoney, while Warrnambool May Racing Carnival features the Brierly Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle have been assigned $150,000 each.
As recommended, six schooling days have been introduced throughout the year at venues across the state to assist in the education of jumps horses and riders.
Further safety and operational enhancements being adopted for the 2025 jumps racing season include strengthened jumps track compliance processes, increased competitiveness of trials to better educate horses and participants and the introduction of a former jumps jockey coach to provide coaching and support to jumps jockeys.
Click here to view the 2025 jumps racing program.
Quotes attributable to RV Head of Racing, Paul Bloodworth
“Following consultation with key stakeholders, we have today released the program and prizemoney for the 2025 jumps racing season, with the long-term sustainability of the sport at the forefront of our decision making.
“While there has been a decrease in the overall prizemoney allocated, we have prioritised maintaining minimum prizemoney levels to support participants at the grassroots level.
“We are committed to ensuring jumps racing continues to evolve with safety, integrity and sustainability our key focus areas and I would like to extend my thanks to the AJRA and the participating race clubs, for their assistance throughout this process.
"I would also like to extend my gratitude to Ecycle Solutions for their significant prizemoney contribution to the Grand National Steeplechase, which enhances their already substantial sponsorship of jumps racing."