Harness Racing SA chairman George Fiacchi resigns to pursue private business interests
The state’s troubled harness racing industry has been plunged into further turmoil by the resignation of its controlling body’s chairman, a former champion footballer.
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A former champion footballer has quit as boss of the state’s troubled harness racing industry, plunging it into further turmoil.
Harness Racing SA chairman George Fiacchi announced his resignation on Thursday, saying he had decided to devote more time pursing his private business interests.
Mr Fiacchi, who played for Port Adelaide in seven SANFL premierships, was appointed by Racing Minister Corey Wingard in 2019 as part of a restructure of racing’s controlling bodies.
He is the third Harness Racing SA board member to quit this year, leaving it without a quorum to hold meetings.
Mr Fiacchi and the other directors have spent the past two years trying to reform harness racing, leading to clashes with the president of the state’s peak club, Ann Mowday, and other individuals within the sport.
In a bulletin to industry participants, the private management consultant said HRSA had recently conducted an independent review of the harness racing industry.
“Following this review, it has become obvious that major reform is required, and we continue to face a reluctance to change within the industry,” he said.
Mr Fiacchi said one of the biggest issues for harness racing was its reliance on wagering, which was subject to “dramatic fluctuation”.
“As 82 per cent of our revenue comes from wagering, the industry operates month by month, which is obviously a concerning and dangerous trend for any business,” he said.
“The entire model needs significant reform for the industry to not only be sustainable, but to survive for the long term.
“While we continue to overlook the trends of the past 20 years, the future looks uncertain without major reform.”
Contacted for comment, Mr Fiacchi said it had been frustrating trying to change the harness racing industry to ensure its continued survival.
“There is only so much you can do when your hands are tied because of constitutions,” he said.
Mr Fiacchi acknowledged there had been several scandals during his tenure, including a decision by Harness Racing SA to grant a driving licence to a former trainer banned for life in Victoria for doping horses.
The most recent issue had been the arrest of two individuals involved in harness racing over a 50kg haul of methamphetamine worth $25 million.
The pair were apprehended as part of Operation Ironside, an international law enforcement operation targeting organised crime.
Mr Fiacchi said there was a risk of criminality within any industry which involved gambling.
“There will always be cowboys who do the wrong thing,” he said.
“That sort of stuff is really disappointing from an industry point of view.”
Shadow Racing Minister Katrine Hildyard said Mr Wingard could not continue “to ignore ongoing issues affecting harness racing in South Australia”.
Ms Hildyard said Mr Fiacchi was among the directors appointed by Mr Wingard when he overhauled the governance of the racing industry in 2019.
“I have raised issues around probity and integrity within harness racing with the Government a number of times over the past two years and it seems that they have failed to act,” she said.
“In order for the sport to survive and grow in South Australia, Minister Wingard needs to urgently address these issues.”
Meanwhile, Ms Hildyard has called for Mr Wingard to take over action over the deputy chairman of racing’s controlling body, Thoroughbred Racing SA, who has been named in an ICAC investigation in the Northern Territory.
Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon may be referred to the NT’s Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of criminal charges over a $12 million government grant used to build a new grandstand at the Fannie Bay racecourse.
Mr Dixon and three other men, including a government adviser, have been the subject of a 12 month investigation.
Ms Hildyard said the findings from the NT ICAC “raise serious questions about Corey Wingard’s judgment”.
“Brett Dixon is Corey Wingard’s hand-picked appointment to the TRSA board and he rejected concerns about the appointment at the time,” she said.
“Corey Wingard needs to immediately outline what steps he will take now there has been a finding of improper conduct against his handpicked member of the TRSA board.”
Comment has been sought from Mr Wingard.
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