Reilly appointed as new MRC CEO
Tom Reilly has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) and is set to commence his role at the end of January.
Reilly will take up the position at the MRC, responsible for running racing at Caulfield, Sandown and Mornington, following his roles at Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse, where he has been a key figure in the breeding and racing industries for ten years.
“The committee is very excited to have Tom lead the team at the MRC,” said MRC chairman John Kanga.
“We wanted someone with deep racing knowledge and experience and Tom will bring that to the Club. He is well-respected throughout the racing industry and with his extensive contacts and knowledge, both in Australia and internationally, he will be hitting the ground running.
“Tom will also bring real strength and energy to the role and, as a true racing person, has a genuine love and passion for the industry.
“He shares the vision of the committee to make the MRC more efficient and properly accountable to members, customers and participants, with an overarching aim of putting on better racing programmes and events and benefitting racing in general.”
Reilly described the opportunity to join the MRC in the CEO role as an honour.
“The MRC is one of the great race clubs, not just in Australia, but globally,” he said. “For anyone passionate about the future of racing, running the MRC is a wonderful opportunity. The Club ran more race meetings than any other in Victoria last season and has three great racecourses, as well as some of the major Group 1 races in the Australian racing calendar.
“Having met with the committee, I’m excited by their shared vision to make sure racing is at the heart of the MRC’s endeavours and to ensure that we are maximising the potential of our three racecourses and other assets.”
Reilly replaces Josh Blanksby, who resigned as chief executive in June. He had been in the running to be appointed Racing Victoria’s chief executive earlier in the year before interim leader Aaron Morrison was given the role in August.