Dwarf racing stunt slammed

A race in Australia involving men piggybacking dwarfs dressed in jockey silks is denounced by the local government and advocacy groups.

An angry Racing Minister Rob Hulls has slammed Victoria Racing for staging a dwarf racing stunt at last Sunday's Cranbourne Cup meeting but concedes you can't legislate against bad taste.

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

"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," he said.

"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 which was called the Midget's Cup.

The stunt follows the furore that erupted around the world over the black faces skit on Hey Hey It's Saturday.

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

"I am surprised that in the 21st century people still think this is the best way to promote a world class event," Mr Hulls told reporters.

RVL general manager for marketing Stuart Laing said the dwarf race was a one-off event intended as "harmless fun".

"The people involved in this event were consenting adults and took part of their own free will," Mr Laing said.

"It was intended as harmless fun and it was accepted by the crowd as that.

"We accept that you can't please everyone and if anyone was offended, we apologise."

He said there were no plans to run dwarf races at other meetings, saying it was a "one-off" event.