OVERUSE of Werribee’s racing track was a major cause of deterioration that contributed to the injuries of two horses and an apprentice jockey who was thrown into the railing.
A Racing Victoria report released on Monday found the track hosted 10 race meets in 2012-13, despite being scheduled for only eight.
The July 17 fixture, which was called off following injuries to jockey Boris Thornton and two racehorses that were later destroyed, had been an extra meeting that was transferred from Ballarat.
The report found Werribee Racing Club’s surface had been subjected to heavy use because of the number of trials staged there.
Twenty-two trials were transferred from Cranbourne to Werribee during February and April, while 12 jumps trials were run there in June.
Racing Victoria has started remedial work, which it is confident will fix surface problems.
“There was additional wear on the section of the track … where the traffic was more concentrated towards the running rail,” the report stated.
“The stewards who inspected the surface before the July 17 meeting and passed it as safe for racing could not have foreseen the deterioration that occurred.”
Racing Victoria infrastructure manager Jamie McGuiness said management was disappointed at the “range of factors” that caused the track to take a “backward step”.
“The investigation determined that the surface stability was not at an acceptable standard on the day of the meeting and as a result the track deteriorated too quickly,” McGuiness said.
“But we are equally optimistic about both its short and longer-term future.”
The track will be ready to host the arrival of the international riders who are housed at Werribee ahead of their tilts at the Melbourne Cup and other spring features.
“Werribee should be available for use all year-round and it is our desire for the club’s cup meeting to proceed as programmed in November,’’ Mr McGuiness said.
The first internationals will arrive on September 28.
