Another Victorian meeting has been abandoned just before it was due to start because of a poor track.
The start to race one was delayed with jockeys and stewards seen inspecting the track in a range of areas, before the meeting was abandoned at 1.34pm.
The track was posted a Soft 5 on Thursday morning before stewards downgraded it to a Soft 6 at 12.20pm after a few showers passed through the area.
Racing Victoria’s (RV) media arm, Racing.com, reported “the state of the track just isn’t up to scratch today.”
“The different surfaces, differing throughout the circuit.”
An RV statement confirmed inconsistencies in the track were to blame.
“Jockeys raised concerns with Stewards prior to the first race due to inconsistencies in the track including firmness and slipping concerns in different sections.
“A subsequent vote resulted in the jockeys on course voting in favour of abandoning the meeting 12:0 (two abstained) before Stewards abandoned the meeting at 1.37pm.
“A routine inspection of the Kyneton track was conducted yesterday and a horse galloped over the surface this morning with the feedback from the rider that the track was suitable for racing.”
Kyneton has been plagued with track issues in recent years. In October, a meeting was abandoned after just one race when three riders reported their mounts slipped around the home bend.
READ: Slippery, shifty, unsafe: amateur hour at Kyneton
A meeting was also abandoned back in March 2025 when stewards deemed a 100m section of the track unsafe, despite there being little rainfall.
RV recently announced an increased investment in regional racecourse management. In conjunction with Country Racing Victoria, they established a new full time role Country Tracks and Facilities Coordinator.
RV said in its release on February 16: “The role will provide general support across all country clubs with the preparation of their racetracks, with scope to spend additional time and resources at some clubs where required.”
The release went on to say, “Together with the new position, RV has also bolstered its existing Regional Track Manager program with the addition of three individuals which sees RV now funding 10 Regional Track Managers across Victoria.”
Track management is ultimately the responsibility of Jamie McGuinness, EGM Infrastructure & Clubs.
Participants will receive a compensation fee given the meeting was abandoned after scratching time but that does little to cover the costs involved of preparing a horse to race, especially in this time of rising fuel costs. Additionally, connections now have to find a suitable alternative for their horse.
