The final three races at Sandown on Wednesday were abandoned due to strong winds.
Horses had made their way onto the track for the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1300m) before they were called back to the mounting yard.
All jockeys riding in races six and seven on Sandown’s eight-race card were called into the stewards’ room where a vote was taken.
The jockeys voted nine to four to abandon the remaining races.
“All the riders that were engaged in races six and seven were called into the stewards’ room and we had the opportunity to speak to the riders collectively,” steward in charge of the Sandown meeting James Hitchcock said.
“We also spoke to the Bureau of Meteorology and their advice was that the strong winds were going to continue as they are for the next 30 minutes to an hour and there were no assurances after that, that the winds were going to ease.
“Given that advice, the riders took a vote in accordance with the protocols that are in place between Racing Victoria and the Jockeys’ Association, and the riders have voted nine-four in favour of abandoning the balance of the meeting.”
Stewards had been monitoring the radar at Moorabbin Airport where wind gusts in excess of 80km per hour had been recorded.
