Racing Victoria stewards have ordered an independent report on the under-fire Caulfield track after the start of the meeting on Saturday was delayed following jockey safety concerns.
Both the Melbourne Racing Club and RV confirmed that a report will be completed within days, as the full story of how racing was embarrassed before a big Group 1 day of racing emerges. Who will be asked to conduct the report is still to be confirmed.
Racing at Caulfield on Saturday was delayed after jockeys raised safety concerns with elements of the track in the hours before the meeting was due to begin. The running rail was eventually moved by 4m.
Betsy has been able to ascertain a detailed timeline of what occurred and what may have caused the saga.
The most likely outcome, from those who spoke on background, is the work to fill in ‘plug holes’ on the track was not adequate.
The plugs are used where large divots or worn parts of the track need to be replaced.
‘’The Melbourne Racing Club is preparing a report as requested by Racing Victoria stewards,’’ a spokesperson said.
‘’Once that report is complete, the Club will be in a position to provide a further update.’’
Friday update
RV stewards, as is common practice, called the MRC’s track manager Sam Bennetts on Friday for an update on the track, with no concerns raised. RV stewards typically communicate with metropolitan race club staff prior to Saturday, only conducting their own earlier reviews of the surface if there has been extreme weather or other concerns raised.
Several track walkers also inspected the track on Thursday and Friday – including Betsy’s own Matt Welsh – with wear and tear on the inside parts of the track noted, with the rail in the 7m position.
A number of jockeys, Betsy is told, were told on Friday by their paid track walkers to avoid inside sections of the track due to some remedial works and ‘’wear and tear’’, which caused some riders to inspect these areas closely come race morning.
Plug it
A number of people Betsy has spoken to say the wear on the track itself were not the issue on Saturday, rather work surrounding the ‘plugs’.
It is common industry practice that these plugs are often covered before race day with firm soil. Once this is completed, typically it is safe for racing and horses to cover
These photos, taken by Matt Welsh during a track walk in April, illustrate how the plugs are inserted into the track. This was two days out from the April 5 meeting at Caulfield earlier this year.
Betsy has been told that usually these soil coverings are hard to remove and is also widely believed that horses, when they travel across, cannot remove these coverings in properly installed, deeming them safe.
While no one with knowledge of the incident would speak publicly, several pointed Betsy to the social media post of former MRC and VRC CEO, Dale Monteith, who was responding to prominent owner Nick Williams.
‘’Nick if plugs are properly installed they do not move. If they do they are unsafe. Plugs must be deep at least 6 inches and be forced into holes so they cannot move. Vision yesterday had them easily being pulled up that should not be possible.’’
Nick if plugs are properly installed they do not move. If they do they are unsafe. Plugs must be deep at least 6 inches and be forced into holes so they cannot move. Vision yesterday had them easily being pulled up that should not be possible.
— Dale G Monteith (@dgmonty16) September 20, 2026
In what is expected to form part of the independent review, footage shows a number of clumps being easily removed where the plugs were, which former riding great Darren Beadman illustrated before race time.
Some major news is breaking regarding the track at Caulfield 🚨 pic.twitter.com/xgQREmDuJY
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 19, 2026
The most likely findings, according to those not associated with either MRC or RV, is that the work to re-soil the plugs were potentially inadequate. Covering plug holes on tracks is said to be a widely used practice and not expected to change despite Saturday’s events.
Jockey’s raise their concerns
Once several senior jockey came aware of the potential issues with the works surrounding the plugs, riders inspected several sections of the track in the hours before race 1 and then complained to stewards.
It is understood these riders included stars Mark Zahra and Ben Melham, who eventually won two Group 1s on the day.
While there were some riders comfortable with the plug coverings, stewards took note of the jockey’s concerns and deemed it unsafe.
Club staff were then forced to work quickly to move sections of the rail to ensure it was safe and to address rider concerns.
But the work done to cover them will clearly form part of the MRC report.
Tensions rise
The situation on Saturday morning then elevated quickly.
After Montgomery ordered the rail movement and as staff worked feverishly to undertake the work, frustrations emerged.
Betsy is told there was tension between senior club staff and RV on Saturday, who were concerned about the reputational damage to the sport by the delay.
News of the fiasco then quickly spread across both traditional and social media.
Several independent experts have since told Betsy they believe the vast majority of the surface was in good condition – but clearly the clumps removed where the plugs were positioned were of significant concern.
Regardless, it is widely accepted the optics of not only removing clumps of dirt on national television, in addition to delaying a premier racing meeting, were poor.
The reaction across the industry was savage.
Prominent owners, figures and punters were highly critical of the situation and the reputational damage it caused Victorian racing.
Track set for new surface and technology
The Caulfield track itself has been the centre of criticism in 2026, since some sub-par performances, which began in March during the William Reid Stakes and culminated in May.
The club, however, has worked hard in the winter to resuscitate the surface before its significant overhaul later this year.
As a result, the track has since raced well.
The Caulfield track will close post their Carnival for a complete resurface.
