Trackwork at Flemington will begin 30 minutes later from this week after the Victoria Racing Club and trainers agreed to trial revised starting times.
Under the new arrangement, horses will commence work from 4.30am, with the VRC planning to push the start time back to 5am following the spring carnival as part of an extended trial.
The changes come after discussions between the VRC and trainers, with concerns surrounding staffing requirements preventing an even later proposal to move trackwork to a 6am start.
Australian Trainers Association president and Flemington-based trainer Troy Corstens welcomed the decision, describing it as an important step forward for the industry.
“For 30 years I’ve been pushing for later starts in horse racing trackwork. Part of it is personal. Getting up to work horses in the middle of the night is bloody hard,” Corstens wrote.
“But the bigger reason is that those early starts quietly close the door on a whole range of people who might otherwise fall in love with this sport. Not everyone can, or wants to, be at the track before dawn.
“This morning we made some real progress.”
Despite the revised opening time, Corstens said his Malua Racing stable, which he operates alongside his father Leon and training partner Will Larkin, will continue with its own 6am start regardless of when the track officially opens.
He acknowledged there are differing views across the training ranks but believes the trial is worthwhile.
“I know there are huge differences of opinion on this, and getting every trainer to agree on a start time is close to impossible. But I’d rather we try and learn something than leave it where it has always been,” he said.
“If a slightly later start helps bring a new generation into our great industry, it will have been worth it.”