Disgruntled Oakbank Racing Club members to lodge Supreme Court challenge against decision to ban jumps racing

Disgruntled members of the Oakbank Racing Club are threatening to go to the Supreme Court over its committee’s decision to stop jumps racing.

Oakbank Racing Club has been threatened with a legal challenge over its decision to ban jumps racing.

Disgruntled members have engaged Adelaide lawyer Greg Griffin after the club’s committee refused to hold a special general meeting over the issue.

More than 50 members want the committee to be sacked and replaced for agreeing to a request by thoroughbred racing’s controlling body, RacingSA, to stop holding jumps races. Oakbank is internationally renowned for steeple chase and hurdle races at its annual Easter event, traditionally the world’s largest picnic race meeting.

Crowd numbers have declined in recent years while public sentiment towards jumps racing increasingly has turned against the sport.

Mr Griffin confirmed he had been instructed to refute claims that dozens of signatures on a formal request for the meeting were not valid.

Oakbank chair Arabella Branson is the first female to lead the historic club. Picture: Brad Fleet

“I will be writing to the club asking that they convene the special general meeting and abandon any argument that 43 out of 50 members that signed the requisition form are not valid,” he said.

Mr Griffin said he had been told to lodge Supreme Court action if his requests were not met.

Committee chairwoman Arabella Branson, pictured, said the club had sought legal advice before deciding to reject the request for the meeting.

“A date has not been set for a special general meeting because the documentation we received was invalid based on legal advice we sought on the matter,” she said.

“We have communicated that fact to the proponents, who are, of course, free to resubmit their request in the future should they be able to obtain the support that they need to do so.”

RacingSA chief executive Nick Redin (left) with Oakbank Racing Club chairwoman Arabella Branson and club chief executive Shane Collins. Picture: Supplied

Ms Branson, a solicitor, said the committee stood by its decision to support Racing SA’s announcement that jumps racing events would no longer be held in South Australia.

“We have continued to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback since the end of jumps racing was declared and are very excited about the many opportunities this has given rise to,” she said.

“We are extremely confident that our actions have at all times been in the best interests of our club and undertaken in line with good governance practices.’

RacingSA chief executive Nick Redin said it had made it clear that jumps racing would stop from next year.

“It is Racing SA’s decision as to what racing is conducted and not individual racing clubs,’ he said. “As such, a club cannot make a decision as to whether or not to host jumps racing, that is a decision for Racing SA.”

Mr Redin refuted suggestions that RacingSA had offered to cover Oakbank Racing Club’s costs against any legal challenge.