The Melbourne Racing Club’s review of last Saturday’s Underwood Stakes Day meeting has found that the track, as presented, was safe for racing and that the turf plugs used in preparation of the track had been correctly installed.
The review concluded that the jockeys were incorrect in their view that the turf plugs made the track unsafe and that the decision to move the rail out four metres shortly before the first race was unnecessary.
Melbourne Racing Club CEO Tanya Fullarton said the findings of the Club’s review were clear.
“Our review found no safety issue with the Caulfield racing surface. The turf plugs were correctly installed, the track as presented was safe for racing and the rail did not need to be moved. The track subsequently raced safely and fairly throughout the meeting. Dozens of exactly the same turf plugs remained on other sections of the track that continued to be raced on aLer the rail movement, with no issues for jockeys and horses.”
“The jockeys clearly did not understand how turf plugs work. The jockeys’ claim that being able to pull the tops off the plugs somehow showed that the track was unsafe is nonsense. Turf plugs are routinely installed a few days before a race day and are always able to be physically pulled up, as grass plugs take at least two weeks to bind with the rest of the turf profile. This has been standard practice for over 25 years and is not a problem – they remain in place while horses gallop over them, with no risk to jockeys or horses.”
Following Saturday’s events, the MRC has moved to establish an addi?onal independent track inspection process designed to avoid a repeat of the circumstances that led to the late rail movement.
After discussions with Racing Victoria, this initiativewill be implemented for the remaining major MRC meetings, including this week’s Manikato Stakes, the Caulfield Guineas and the Caulfield Cup, as well as forthcoming Flemington Spring Carnival and Sandown feature meetings.
Former champion jockey Damien Oliver will provide an independent assessment of racing surfaces from a jockey safety perspective.
Under the new process, Oliver will inspect the track with the track manager on the day before each relevant race meeting.
Any safety concerns identified by Oliver will be raised directly with Racing Victoria stewards, who will assess the issue anddetermine whether any remedial ac?on is required ahead of racing.
Tanya Fullarton said, “Saturday showed the importance of ensuring any concerns about a racing surface are properly assessed, with the appropriate technical input, before significant decisions are made on race day.
“The stewards were placed in an extremely difficult position, with concerns raised by jockeys less than an hour before the first race,” Fullarton said.
“With the limited time available, they were unable to properly consult with our track team about the purpose, installation and condition of the plugs before making the incorrect decision to move the rail.”
“Our track team complied with that direction so the meeting could proceed, but this is not how these issues should have to be dealt with on race day.”
“The new inspection process will give jockeys and participants confidence in the racing surface and allow any genuine concerns to be identified and addressed by stewards and race clubs well before racing.”
