Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing track access reasons for track accesses resulting in the release of prefetched cache resources for the track. A first request for a track is received from a process for which prefetched cache resources to a cache are held for a second request for the track that is expected. A track access reason is provided for the first request specifying a reason for the first request. The prefetched cache resources are released before the second request to the track is received. Indication is made in an unexpected released track list of the track and the track access reason for the first request.