Shifting barriers were the tipping point to the postponement of the majority of Saturday's Caulfield meeting.
Wind gusts of up to 100km/h roared across the Caulfield track, which prompted concern for the meeting throughout the day before matters reached a head in the fourth race.
The wind was strong enough to move the starting stalls at the 1100m point, which spooked Damian Lane's mount Written Era, who broke through the gates before being withdrawn from the race on vet's advice.
Track staff had to anchor the gates to the ground before the race was run but jockeys convened in their room and the stewards' room to vote on proceeding with the rest of the meeting.
The majority of riders with mounts in the next race voted against continuing with the meeting, which prompted stewards to postpone the remaining five races, including the Group III Bletchingly Stakes.
"We agreed to go race-by-race and at the last race, the barriers had to be tied down at the 1100m mark to stabilise them and we had to move the barriers four horses out just to get the stabilisation," Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive Matthew Hyland said.
"At it's worst, it was all agreed by the stewards and the jockeys that it was unsafe.
"I think there's a fair element of what they (the jockeys) are feeling out there. I don't think they can put a measure on it.
"The wind out there is up then it abates and then it takes off again.
"When you get a big gust and they are galloping, it pushes them off track and it becomes dangerous."
The Melbourne Racing Club will hold the Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown on Sunday week while the remaining four races will be incorporated into next Saturday's Flemington programme.
