The first jumps racing trials for the 2012 season have been scrapped due to insufficient numbers, as reported yesterday in our favourite Warrnambool newspaper, The Standard, with a very fitting headline: Jumping trials fail to launch.

After the recent cash injections by both the Victorian Government and Racing Victoria, jumps racing was promising to attract many more horses to reinvigorate the sport. Hell, it was so hyped up that you’d almost believe they could resurrect horses from the grave. Sirrocean Storm, Spanish Symbol, Whatsourgo. I don’t think we’ll be seeing those fallen horses again.

So the question must be asked, with all of this new money and support that has been thrown behind the sport of jumps racing, where are all the horses? Perhaps they killed them all last year.

With more money on offer for rookie horses, and higher prizemoney in major races, 2012 is likely to be the worst season of jumps racing yet. Watch this space.