The future of jumps racing hangs in the balance this weekend as the board of Racing Victoria prepares to make a decision on the sport in that state on Monday.

Hurdles and steeples have a long history in Australia and continue to be popular in the United Kingdom.

The rally of supporters at Flemington on Wednesday should have convinced Racing Victoria that too much is at stake, economically and emotionally, to kill the sport and many horses that participate in it.

The Jones Review, tabled in November last year, included a report which estimated jumps racing in Victoria generated direct spending of $40.7m per year.

That's a lot of money to take out of the industry and the economy, if the sport is abandoned.

The Warrnambool carnival is estimated to inject $30m into the local economy, and in South Australia the Oakbank carnival injects about $47m.

Economics aside, it's a valid argument to say that horses are bred to run and jump. It's unnatural to deny them those pleasures.

Authorities have to ensure the safest possible racing environment, and possibly they have erred by reducing the size of jumps, therefore speeding up races and increasing the risk of falls.

It would be a shame to see jumps racing end.

South East racing fans should turn out in force next Thursday on the first day of the Gold Cup Carnival to see the hurdle and steeple events.

Hopefully it won't be the last time we get to see them.