D-day for Racing Victoria board
The Racing Victoria board showdown, a vote that could see as many as five directors turfed out, will occur this morning at a Special General Meeting of the state’s peak thoroughbred racing industry body.
Vocal Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA) chair Jonathan Munz has led the call for change, his public and private lobbying leading to this morning’s meeting.
The current board directors of Racing Victoria are Mike Hirst, Tim Eddy, Kate Joel, Ross Lanyon, Paul Guerra, the retiring Greg Nichols, Sharon McCrohan and polarising chief executive Andrew Jones.
The state’s three metropolitan race clubs of the Victoria Racing Club, Moonee Valley Racing Club and Melbourne Racing Club, Country Racing Victoria, TROA, Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria, the Victorian Jockeys’ Association, the Unions, the Victorian Bookmakers Association and the Australian Jumping Racing Association will all vote on five directors’. Each stakeholder group carries various weighted votes.
Earlier this month, RV released a statement suggesting the motion for change would be defeated, although it remains unclear if that remains the case.
“The metropolitan clubs and Country Racing Victoria, as well as other key stakeholders, have advised RV they have rejected this unwarranted action,” an RV spokesman said at the time.
“We are also aware it is not supported by the government, which appointed the board, and is a needless distraction for the industry.
“RV remains focused on delivering great racing, maximising returns for participants, and attracting new generations to our sport in a challenging wagering and economic environment.”
There is already one vacancy on the RV board, created last year by the departure of then chairman Brian Kruger. Interim chair Hirst signalled his intent to retire on May 31.
Any vacancies on the board need to be appointed by Victoria’s Racing Minister Anthony Carbines.