Caulfield track debate leads to new safety protocols

A new era of track inspection is set to commence, with retired champion jockey Damien Oliver partnering with track managers to preemptively address any potential issues, following the recent Caulfield track controversy.

In collaboration with Racing Victoria, Oliver will, for the duration of the Spring Carnival, be tasked with inspecting tracks the day before race meetings. Any safety concerns identified will be promptly reported to RV stewards for their assessment and the implementation of necessary remedial actions.

Concerns were voiced by jockeys before the Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Saturday regarding 'turf plugs' that had been inserted and were easily removed.

These apprehensions led to RV stewards directing that the rail be moved outwards by four metres in the home straight, away from the section of track causing unease among riders.

On Tuesday, the Melbourne Racing Club explained that these turf plugs are cultivated on their premises and are used to replace sections of ground that have been raced on in previous weeks.

Tanya Fullarton, CEO of the Melbourne Racing Club, stated on Tuesday that the stewards had been precipitate in their decision to shift the rail on Saturday.

"Saturday illustrated the necessity of ensuring that any apprehensions about a racing surface are properly evaluated, with the relevant technical insights, before significant race-day decisions are made," the statement read. "The stewards were placed in an exceptionally challenging position, with concerns raised by jockeys less than an hour before the first race. Given the limited time, they could not properly consult with our track team about the purpose, installation, and condition of the plugs before making the erroneous decision to move the rail."

"Our track team complied with that instruction so the meeting could proceed, but this is not the proper way to handle these matters on race day. The new inspection process will provide jockeys and participants with confidence in the racing surface and allow any legitimate concerns to be identified and addressed by stewards and race clubs well in advance of racing."

Fullarton indicated that the Club's review following Saturday's meeting found no safety issues and confirmed the turf plugs were correctly installed.

"The turf plugs were installed correctly, the track as presented was safe for racing and the rail did not need to be moved," the statement read. "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 after 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."

Matt Hyland, chief executive of the Victorian Jockeys' Association, vigorously defended his members who raised concerns after large clumps of turf were easily lifted from the Caulfield track on Saturday.

"I have perused the MRC's statement and find some of the commentary quite extraordinary," Hyland commented to Racenet. "I will back my members' judgment on track surfaces consistently, and if they voice concerns about the safety and consistency of the tracks, it is their workplace, and they are absolutely entitled to their perspectives. I believe the visual evidence from Saturday is self-explanatory."

Racing is set to return to Caulfield on Sunday for the Manikato Stakes meetings, with the rail to be positioned 13 metres out for the entire circuit. This was an adjustment from the planned 10-metre mark, and following Saturday's shift to 11 metres in the home straight, this wider placement will ensure fresh ground. The MRC noted that the rail is not being moved back to its standard position to protect the track ahead of the Caulfield Cup Carnival, which begins on October 10.

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