Dwarf race fury as minister turns on racing stunt

The spectacle of dwarfs in a mock horse race has caused a big uproar Down Under.

Outraged Racing Minister Rob Hulls has slammed Victoria Racing in Australia as a bunch of losers for staging the comedy stunt at a local racing cup on Sunday meeting but conceded that you can't legislate against bad taste.

Mr Hulls said Racing Victoria had backed the wrong horse by staging the event which involved dwarf actors being carried on the backs of punters and racing 50 metres down the straight to the winning post.

It was called the Midget's Cup at the regular Cranbourne Cup meeting and involved three dwarf actors "saddling up" on the backs of three punters.

They were cheered on by thousands of spectators, who watched as the winners toppled over the finish line, crashing to the ground.

The colourfully-clad winning jockey is then seen running around kissing the cup and falling to his knees.

"At a time when the racing industry is striving for that discretionary dollar to get people back to the track, I would not have thought this event does anything to promote it as being sophisticated, as being innovative and as being modern," said an angry Mr Hulls.

"The industry ought to rethink these types of events because it doesn't send a message to people in Victoria, around Australia or around the world that the racing industry is an innovative industry."

He said Racing Victoria Ltd had brushed it off as "just a bit of fun" but with hindsight they would not have run the event.

The stunt follows the furore that erupted around the world over another humiliating comedy stung which misfired - the black faces Jackson Jive skit on Hey Hey It's Saturday.

Mr Hulls said his office has spoken with Racing Victoria but said it is an independent body and makes its own decisions.