High winds put end to Stony Creek meeting

Safety concerns caused by high winds have forced the Victorian race meeting at Stony Creek to be abandoned before a race was run.

Horses made their way around to the start for the opening race of Wednesday’s meeting, but returned to the saddling enclosure after jockeys held fears for their safety and that of the horses.

Racing Victoria steward Brett Wright was in contact with the weather bureau before the first race which informed him a front had passed.

“On that basis we decided to proceed as normal,” Wright told racing broadcaster racing.com.

“Once the horses got on the track the winds picked up substantially, even worse than what we had experienced throughout the morning, and the rain came.

“They (jockeys) indicated it was too bad over at the start and they came back.”

Wright and his panel discussed the situation with jockeys while there was a further safety issue of the running rail being blown down.

Wright said horse and jockey safety was the main worry before abandoning the meeting.

High winds caused another Stony Creek meeting to be abandoned after two races in March last year.