Oakbank Racing Club chief executive Shane Collins resigns as Supreme Court action starts to get committee sacked

Oakbank Racing Club has lost its chief executive as a respected former judge joins legal action to sack its committee over its decision to stop jumps racing.

Oakbank Racing Club life members Frances Nelson and John Glatz have taken Supreme Court action against the club’s committee. Picture Matt Turner.

Oakbank Racing Club’s chief executive has quit just days after new legal action was launched against its committee over its decision to stop jumps racing.

Shane Collins tendered his resignation on Wednesday as four members sought an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court to have the committee declared “oppressive”.

Former Supreme Court and Federal Court judge John von Doussa, barrister Frances Nelson QC, farmer John Glatz and former Melbourne Racing Club chairman Michael Symons want the court to order a special general meeting so the committee can be sacked.

Mr von Doussa’s great grandfather, Louis, was among a group which formed Oakbank in 1847, with the von Doussa Steeplechase later named after his great grand uncle, Alfred.

The four have based their statement of claim on internal club documents obtained by Ms Nelson, a former senior racing administrator, under a District Court order.

They include emails sent between the club’s chairwoman, Arabella Branson, and horse racing’s controlling body, Racing SA.

Oakbank Racing Club chairwoman Arabella Branson. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

Former Supreme Court judge John von Doussa’s great grand uncle, Alfred von Doussa, which the von Doussa Steeplechase is named after.

The documents detail how the committee blocked calls by members for a special general meeting by rejecting new membership applications and cancelling existing memberships.

They also detail how Racing SA purportedly offered $3m to the committee for infrastructure upgrades around the time it agreed to stop holding jumps events at its annual Easter carnival.

The main grandstand at the historic racecourse requires repairs worth hundreds of dollars after it was declared a fire hazard by Adelaide Hills Council.

Other documents show Racing SA chief executive Nick Redin told Ms Branson he would seek the intervention of the Office of Recreation and Sport to help resolve the membership issue.

Ms Nelson and Mr Glatz took the committee to court late last year to obtain minutes of the committee meetings where the membership applications were discussed.

Frances Nelson (right) and former Oakbank Racing Club chairman John Glatz with the rest of the club’s committee in 1993, including legendary horse trainer Colin Hayes (front left).

They confirm the committee decided to reject any person who had signed a formal notice requesting a special general meeting or contributed to a fundraising campaign to restore jumps racing at Oakbank.

Among those who had their membership rejected was Australian Jumping Racing Association president, Sandy McGregor, who offered to give $300,000 to help restore the grandstand if the club continued jumps racing for five years.

A wealthy businessman, Mr McGregor also offered to guarantee prize money for the von Doussa Steeplechase and the club’s other main jumps event, the Great Eastern Steeplechase.

According to the statement of claim, Mr Redin allegedly sent an email to Mr Collins describing the offer as “bribery of the lowest form”.

In his reply to Mr McGregor, Mr Collins said the club was working with Racing SA and local government “to put together funding models for the redevelopment of the club’s facilities”.

“(he also) stated in confidence, that the club had also held preliminary talks with Racing SA in relation to ‘upward’ of $3 million in funding for a complete redevelopment of the members’ stand/bar and to create a fully enclosed function centre overlooking the course,” says the statement of claim.

Ms Branson said the club was “very sad”Mr Collins, who also runs Gawler Racing Club, had decided to resign.

“The Gawler management team led by Shane that are engaged at Oakbank has achieved great results for our club in many areas,” she said.

“We are now in the fortunate position of having various options available to us moving forward.”

Ms Branson declined to comment on the legal action against the club while the matter was before the Supreme Court.