Kyneton track under scrutiny again

Racing Victoria stewards abandoned Thursday’s meeting at Kyneton after jockeys expressed concerns about inconsistencies in the racing surface.

The track had initially been rated in the soft range following 2.5mm of overnight rainfall, but conditions deteriorated after an additional 5mm fell, with riders reporting uneven firmness and sections where horses were slipping.

A vote conducted among jockeys resulted in a unanimous 12-0 outcome in favour of abandoning the meeting, with two riders abstaining, before stewards officially called off the eight-race card at 1.37pm.

The decision came despite the track passing a routine inspection on Wednesday and a gallop earlier in the day suggesting it was suitable for racing.

Racing Victoria confirmed its Tracks and Facilities team will conduct a further inspection of the course on Friday, while scheduled jumps-outs at Kyneton have also been cancelled as officials assess alternative options.

Trainers impacted by the abandonment have the opportunity to redirect their runners to upcoming meetings at Seymour, Donald and Sandown, with Racing Victoria to review programming. Compensation and business support payments will also be provided to affected connections and jockeys.