Two horses were put down and an apprentice jockey riding at a race meeting for the first time was taken to hospital as racing was abandoned at Werribee on Wednesday.
Fifteen-year-old Boris Thornton had got off to a great start with a third placing in his first race ride but ended the day in near disaster when his mount Frenchkook found a deep divot and crashed to the turf, throwing the jockey at the 900-metre mark.
The youngster was taken to hospital in a neck brace and moon boot on one leg for a suspected break.
His brother and fellow jockey Damien said Boris was conscious and talking and he was going to hospital for observation.
Senior jockeys inspected the part of the track where the fall happened but before they could take any action stewards abandoned the meeting with two races remaining.
Chief steward Geoff Hausfeld said they wouldn't allow jockeys to ride if the track was unsafe.
"There were a few sections starting to open up a reasonable amount ... and the stewards weren't happy to continue under those circumstances," he said.
"We have to think of the welfare of the jockeys and horses first."
Frenchkook was euthanised and a David Hayes-trained horse was also put down after breaking its near foreleg when going past the finishing post.
The Werribee meeting was called off after the eighth race at the provincial track which will be host to international horses competing during the Victorian spring carnival.