The abandonment follows a similar situation which unfolded at Wingatui on January 31, when Tedesco slipped at the top of the home straight in the first race and the meeting was subsequently abandoned and transferred to Waitangi Day.
The 2yr old 1100m race on Saturday was marred by the fall of Cent High, although there were mitigating circumstances.
The Murray Hamilton trained filly was squeezed up between two runners at the 800m and clipped heels. However, the problem came when Cent High tried to regain her feet and slipped, dropping jockey Lee Callaway.
''After viewing the replays, it was clear the horse that did eventually fall had been interfered with initially,'' stipendiary steward Mark Davidson said.
''It's quite clear on the films that it's been crowded, clipped a heel and blundered.''
After talking to the five riders involved in the race, stewards and members of the Judicial Control Authority, along with senior riders, inspected the track at the area of the fall.
''Although the other four riders said they made it round OK, they were aware of the incident.''
After viewing the area, there were more slip marks than what we believed the fallen horse had made.''
Davidson said the track inspection and the discovery of more slip marks than those left by Cent High, was the tipping point for Davidson to seek a request for a ruling of an abandonment from the JCA.
''It's probably the one that's cemented it in everyone's mind that the track's not playing fair today,'' he said.
''The buck falls with me. Obviously we didn't get agreement from everybody and that's why I've had to go to the JCA. The trainers believed the track was safe and no doubt the club probably thought it was too.
''I walked the track last night and was present this morning when we galloped two horses and I would have thought it was in perfect racing condition. You can just never guarantee on the day.''
Otago Racing Club chief executive Andre Klein was disappointed but philosophical about the decision.
''I'm not 100% sure the right decision was made, but I'm always respectful of the difficult job the RIU have to do,'' Klein said.
''It's frustrating for the club and all the industry participants - and costly again. There'll be a full investigation into the incident on the track and the nature of the track. We can just hope we have to get the bottom of it.
''The weather has made track management extremely difficult this year. Maybe we have to look at new equipment perhaps.''
Klein said there had been plenty of track experts looking at the track over the past month.
The listed 3yr old fillies 1400m may be held at Ashburton on Friday while efforts are also being made to transfer the feature licence to Wyndham on Sunday, to ensure owners and trainers in the lower South Island do not miss out on the healthy stakes.
