Racing: Anti-jumps protesters ejected from carnival

WARRNAMBOOL: A small group of anti-jumps protesters invaded the track before being escorted from Warrnambool racecourse by police as the three-day jumps carnival came to a close on Thursday.

One horse died on Wednesday but two more - star steeplechaser Some Are Bent and Mephistopheles - escaped relatively unscathed after falling in the Grand Annual on the final day.

The protesters went on to the track on the home turn as the horses were going to the barrier to start the Grand Annual and were chanting and waving placards before Victoria police intervened.

Australian Jumps Racing Association president Rodney Rae was furious with the protesters.

"They were breaking the law. If they did that on a football field they would be prosecuted," Rae said.

People going on to the MCG when unauthorised on game day in the AFL are liable to a A$7000 fine.

Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said even though there was the one fatality on Wednesday when Sirrocean Storm broke a cannon bone in a back leg early in the Galleywood Hurdle, the new hurdles and steeplechase fences were a huge improvement.

"We're going well, unfortunately we had one fatality yesterday but we're going to take a look at the way that hurdle was installed and see if there are any changes we can make to put a little more give in the hurdle. I think the new obstacles are terrific, the hurdles and steeple fences are far superior to the old ones used last year."

Five of the nine runners completed the Grand Annual course, with Flying Corkscrew failing to finish and Tainui Teina dislodging his rider Gavin Bedggood at the Tozer Road double on the first round.

Bedggood and Mephistopheles' rider Tommy Logan escaped injury while Some Are Bent's rider Brad McLean was taken to hospital for observation after complaining of pain in his right shoulder.

The race was won by veteran Zabeel gelding Al Garhood, who gave trainer Ciaron Maher his first victory in the marathon 5500m event.

Hissing Sid earned a Brisbane Cup start when he revelled in the heavy conditions to win his second Warrnambool Cup in a row.

- AAP