Those trackside were baffled both during and after the $12,000 Host Maiden Plate.

While several runners unusually slowed down almost immediately after the start of the race, others ran out the 1700-metre event as though nothing was wrong.

There was half-an-hour of confusion at the track, with the 12 jockeys needing to give evidence.

They were then called into the stewards' room, where they were addressed by Racing Victoria steward Steve Coombes.

He explained that some riders believed there was a false start.

"The evidence from the starter is that there was a technical malfunction," Coombes said.

"When he went to start manually, the manual start was affected and the stalls opened prematurely.

"He pressed the red flashing light but a lot of riders didn't hear the siren and continued on in the race.

"Some of the riders did pull up.

"They were aware that it was a false start or that it was going to be a false start."

Coombes said that because the majority of the field continued the race, it was untactful to run it again.

"With all the evidence, the stewards are of the opinion that race four should be declared void," he told the jockeys.

While the hoops were still paid, all wagers were refunded.

The confusion meant the meeting was a race behind schedule.

Yesterday's feature race was the Tour of Victoria 0-72 Handicap (1400m), which was race five.

It was taken out by raging favourite Light Tan ($1.40).

Mount Gambier trainer Michael O'Leary was naturally pleased with his four-year-old's run in the $12,000 race.

"He drew barrier seven out of seven, then jumped out into second about a length away from the leader," he said.

"He went to the front and ended up winning by three lengths."

Second was Alpine Club ($11.00), while Tuscan Wings ($8.00), trained by Warrnambool father-son team Bill and Symon Wilde, was third.