THE Casterton Racing Club is confident Victorian jumps racing and the Two Rivers Steeplechase are here to stay after South Australia’s government passed legislation banning the sport.

Victoria is left as the only state where jumps races are still run but activist groups against the sport have already said Racing Victoria is “on notice” for its continuation.

Casterton Racing Club manager, Mark Davis said there were no concerns for the future of Casterton’s premier jumps race.

“Jumps racing seems to be pretty strong in Victoria at the moment,” he said.

“It’d be disappointing to lose it but at this stage I don’t see a problem.”

The Two Rivers Steeplechase, run over the only track in Australia with live hedges, was one of nine races in a bumper Casterton Cup Day in May this year that drew more than 2000 spectators.

The race also had a record $100,000 in prize money up for grabs.

Mr Davis said the Casterton Racing Club was “passionate” about the steeplechase and would “try to do everything” to keep it a part of the racing calendar.

However, Mr Davis said he did not expect losing the steeplechase would make too much difference to the success of Casterton Cup Day, if jumps racing came to an end.

“I think the Casterton Cup will be still supported if jumps racing ceased down the track,” he said.

Racing Victoria previously announced its intention to end jumps racing in the state in 2009 but was eventually approved to continue after delays to separate decisions regarding both steeplechase and hurdle racing.

Although the South Australian legislation ensured the end of jumps racing in the state, Racing SA effectively ended it late last year when it scheduled no jumps races for 2022, citing a decline in participation numbers of trainers and jockeys.

South Australian Deputy Premier, Susan Close said jumps racing no longer had the public’s support in the state.

“The community and the racing industry gave up on jumps racing some time ago and the parliament is reflecting this change in attitudes,” she said.

Mr Davis said participation in jumps races was not an issue in Victoria.

The legislation will still allow jumps training in South Australia and trainers can bring horses into Victoria to participate.