Trainer Bryce Stanaway says it wasn't just the lack of a sandwich that led to him scratching three horses from Pakenham, claiming the attitude of the club's chief executive was behind the stunning move.

Stanaway insisted stewards withdraw his horses from the final two races on Sunday after a heated exchange with Pakenham boss Michael Hodge sparked by a shortage of food in the owners and trainers' lounge.

The incident prompted #sandwichgate on Twitter with some participants siding with the trainer and others outraged he was allowed to scratch the horses.

"It wasn't just over a sandwich," Stanaway told Radio RSN on Monday.

"We raced two in the fourth race and then we had three in the last couple of races. I went up to the trainers' room expecting to have a coffee and a sandwich before I had to go and saddle the next three.

"There's a poor woman there bringing out a plate of sandwiches to about 50 people and I'm not joking you, it was like vultures.

"All the sandwiches were gone."

Stanaway claims he approached Hodge about the matter and was told to take his horses and go home.

"I went and saw the CEO and I said to him, `look, for a trainer there's nothing left up there'," Stanaway said.

"And he just ... went off his head at me and said `scratch your horses and go home'."

Hodge countered by saying the trainer's behaviour towards some staff was unacceptable and intimidating.

"The staff felt really intimidated by it and I suggested to him, if you don't like it here at Pakenham and you want to exude that sort of behavior then don't come to Pakenham, don't nominate your horses and don't race here," Hodge said.

Chief steward Terry Bailey said raceday stewards were left with no other option but to allow Stanaway to scratch the horses given that he was taking them home anyway.

Stewards will consider evidence from both Stanaway and Hodge before deciding whether any action will be taken.