Ballarat meeting abandoned after jockeys vote against racing on slippery track
Riders voted 14–3 to abandon after stewards had sections of the track aerovated. A morning gallop had found the surface suitable for racing. Connections of horses in seven unrun races will be compensated.
Friday’s Sportsbet Ballarat meeting was abandoned after two races when jockeys raised concerns about horses slipping, leaving seven races unrun.
Riders told Racing Victoria (RV) stewards after Race 2 that a horse was believed to have slipped near the 1000 metres. During an indefinite delay, stewards and jockeys inspected several areas between the 1000 metres and 400 metres. Stewards ordered the track aerovated between the 1000 metres and 380 metres, then inspected it again with the riders.
Jockeys engaged in Races 3 and 4 then voted 14–3 to abandon, and stewards called the meeting off at 2.50pm. Under RV’s track safety procedure, eight votes deeming the track unsafe from 17 jockeys meets the threshold for abandonment.
RV said the senior jockey who rode a routine gallop over the surface that morning had reported that the track was suitable for racing.
RV’s Tracks and Facilities team will inspect the track ahead of Ballarat’s next meeting on November 2.
