The first jumping race was conducted in Sydney in 1832, Tasmania introduced jumping racing shortly thereafter and Victoria's initial jumping event was staged in 1839 at the second racing fixture in the Port Phillip Colony.
As racing expanded, jumping events were added to almost all racemeetings around Australia, with the Coleraine Great Western Steeplechase (4 miles-42 fences) the first feature race instituted in 1858. The races were particularly popular in the south-east quarter of the country and steeplechasing, over “tough” courses became closely allied to hunting with the deeds of horse and rider chronicled into history by the likes of Adam Lindsay Gordon and Banjo Paterson.
The Victoria Racing Club conducted their first Grand National Steeplechase in 1866, and the winter meeting featuring five jumping races took place for the first time in 1881. The Warrnambool Racing Club conducted their first Grand Annual Steeplechase in 1872 and the Oakbank Racing Club conducted their first Great Eastern Steeplechase in 1876.
Historically, jumping racing has always been an important component of Australian racing. However, During the 1970's, animal welfare activists and pockets of the existing thoroughbred racing industry questioned the existence and relevance of jumping racing and actively campaigned for its discontinuation.
Following a public meeting held by jumping racing supporters at Flemington in 1978, an industry body was formed under the name of the Society for the Promotion of Jumping Events. The name of this body was changed in 1984 to the Australian Jumping Racing Association.
The Australian Jumping Racing Association is a legislated stakeholder in the Victorian Racing Industry and it's current role is to:-
- Preserve jumping racing and its rich history for future generations of Australian racegoers.
- Cooperatively work with industry bodies and racing clubs on a national basis to assist with the efficient and effective conduct of jumping racing in Australia, thus ensuring that jumping racing makes a positive contribution to communities in which it operates.
- Recognise the outstanding performances by jumping racing participants through the Mosstrooper Fellowship Awards.
- Financially contribute towards the conduct of jumping racing in Australia.
- Formulate new initiatives for the promotion of jumping racing throughout Australia.
- Contribute to the safety management and strategy to minimise the risk to horse and rider.
- Act as a representative body for jumping racing participants.
The Australian Jumping Racing Association Committee comprises elected and appointed representatives from the ranks of owners, trainers, riders and industry bodies such as Racing Victoria Limited, Australian Trainers' Association, Victorian Jockey's Association, Warrnambool Racing Club and Jumps Racing South Australia.