Trackwork Operations Procedure
v3.0
Purpose. This procedure sets out how morning trackwork is planned, allocated, ridden and recorded at Cranbourne so that horses and riders are safe and the trainer's program is followed.
1.Scope
This procedure applies to all riders, stablehands and supervisors involved in morning trackwork at the Cranbourne training stables. Harness jog work at Melton is covered by the Harness Racing Division work instructions.
2.Planning the work
The Head Trainer will set each horse's work in the Trackwork and Stable Roster by 6:00 pm the day before. The Stable Foreman will allocate riders to horses based on licence, experience and the horse's behaviour and will not allocate a horse noted as difficult to a rider in their first month. Any change on the morning must be approved by the Head Trainer.
3.Before riding
The rider must check the horse's legs and feet, fit the gear listed on the roster and confirm the girth and stirrups. The rider must wear an approved helmet, body protector and boots. A horse that is lame, hot or not itself must be reported to the Stable Foreman and will not be worked.
- Legs, feet and shoes checked
- Gear matches the roster
- Helmet and vest on before mounting
- Mounting in the designated yard only
4.On the track
Riders must follow the track rules on direction, lanes and passing. Fast work must be timed by the supervisor and horses cooled down before returning to the barn. Riders must report to the Head Trainer how the horse travelled, breathed and pulled up.
5.After work
The horse must be hosed, checked for injury and returned to a clean box with water. The rider's comments and the work completed must be recorded against the horse in the Trackwork and Stable Roster before 9:30 am. Any injury or incident must be reported through the Incident and Hazard Register on the same morning.
6.Records
The roster, the rider comments and the incident entries form the training record of the horse. They will be kept for the life of the horse in the business and made available to stewards on request.