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Horse racing

This Month

Rowdy member: Mark Latham at Royal Randwick on April 5.

‘Like he had a harem’: Racing club members in uproar over Latham

If sheer exposure could kill off a political career, Mark Latham’s would have shrivelled up years ago.

June

Winx’s colt with Inglis chief executive Sebastian Hutch. The colt’s sister made history when she was sold in 2024.

Winx’s ‘cheeky’ colt could beat sale record set by sibling

The champion mare’s first live foal broke a world record when the filly sold at auction in 2024 for $10 million.

Craig Williams riding Bella Nipotina won The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick Racecourse last year.

WiseTech investor Michael Gregg buys three-year Everest slot

Michael Gregg, who rejoined WiseTech’s board earlier this year, has bought his new venture Mulberry Racing a slot in the big race for three years.

Japan’s Mixi has romped home like Delta Blues and Pop Rock in the 2006 Melbourne Cup. Or has it?

Pointsbet’s $400m scheme-meeting blow-up looks like a fat-finger farce

A Japanese social media company paying $400 million cash for a bitsy Australian bookmaker is not the most crazy thing about this deal.

Tabcorp wants to spend less on bankrolling its retail locations across pubs and clubs.

V’landys backs Tabcorp’s Gil McLachlan in pub wagering stand-off

The wagering giant plan to scrap commissions for pubs and clubs has irked the powerful hotels’ lobby. The racing industry sees things differently.

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May

The fate of Rosehill racecourse is being decided today.

Turf club turns down $5b for Rosehill, scuttling 25,000 new homes plan

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was disappointed by the result but vowed to double down and take more risks to find sites for urban in-fill in Sydney.

Peter McGauran (right) with Premier Chris Minns at the announcement of the plan in December 2023.

Barrenjoey and the $5b property deal lurches towards defeat

Bankers were deployed to help convince Australian Turf Club members to sell Rosehill racecourse.

The Fin. Mark Di Stefano

Inside the battle for control of racing and rugby league

This week on The Fin podcast, Mark Di Stefano on the rise of Peter V’landys, one of Australian sport’s most powerful administrators, and the campaign to bring him down.

April

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he will dump tax breaks on EVs.

Dutton’s EV backflip purely about ideology

Readers’ letters on the opposition leader’s electric vehicle stance, political advertising, teal priorities, lack of Coalition policies, housing affordability, and the sale of Rosehill Racecourse.

Peter V’landys

How Peter V’landys built a property empire

Over two decades under the leadership of Peter V’landys, Racing NSW and the NRL have splurged millions of dollars on residential and commercial real estate.

Peter V’landys is chief executive of Racing NSW and chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

Inside the plot to ‘get rid’ of Peter V’landys

In his climb to the top of racing and rugby league, Peter V’landys has broken the rules and challenged the system. But now some in the system are fighting back.

Martin Pakula at this year’s Grand Prix.

Martin Pakula’s sporting conflicts branch in a new direction

Daniel Andrews’ former offsider has added Sportsbet to his hefty workload.

February

Matt Tripp, Betr’s chairman, has built and sold a number of successful bookmaking businesses.

Betr mulls revisiting controversial 100-to-1 promotion as it expands

The ASX-listed bookmaker is buying Queensland-based TopSport in its second major deal in a year, putting it “right on the heels” of major rival PointsBet.

January

Laws of Indices has been a successful investment for its syndicate of backers.

Billionaire Tony Fung faces ire at champion racehorse’s bargain sale

Laws of Indices has been a great investment for its backers, including the Hong Kong businessman. But a deal to sell it for just $25,000 is causing unrest.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier and Gerry Harvey with the prized Sunlight filly at the Magic Millions sales.

FX proves the secret ingredient at Magic Millions sales

The hit to discretionary spending has led to caution at the lower end this year but foreign “whales” with currency buying power have pushed sales to new records.

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Peter Webb, founder of Bet Angel.

‘I made millions from sports betting, without ever backing a winner’

By carefully analysing reams of data and taking advantage of changing odds, Peter Webb has made a tidy sum since the easing of online gambling regulations in the UK.

December 2024

Jarrod Villani ran Network Ten until earlier this year.

Gillon McLachlan hires former Ten executive to run Tabcorp’s Sky Racing

Jarrod Villani was a KordaMentha partner who sold the ailing broadcaster to CBS, now Paramount, before running the business for several years.

Zara Tindall initially saddled up for Magic Millions for a year. But a firm friendship with event owner Katie Page and a fondness for the Gold Coast keeps bringing the royal back.

The royal who loves coming to Australia each summer

Zara Tindall first saddled up for the Magic Millions for a year. But a firm friendship with event owner Katie Page and a passion for racing keep bringing her back.

Plans to turn Rosehill Racecourse into a mini-city may never go ahead following a scathing report by a parliamentary committee.

Inquiry refers Rosehill housing plan to ICAC, seeks racing probe

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys has slammed a committee in charge of the report, claiming it had become ‘personal’.

November 2024

‘Horsing heartland’: Merlin Park up for grabs for over $30m

The horse training ground outside Melbourne may could become a residential development.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/horse-racing-1n6g