Rebels call for spill of Melbourne Racing Club board, saying Caulfield revamp in ‘disarray’

A rebel board member has called for a spill of the Melbourne Racing Club committee following scathing criticism of Caulfield Racecourse’s new $160 million facilities and plans to demolish the glass-fronted Rupert Clarke Grandstand.

Sitting committee member John Kanga announced on Thursday night he had created the Save Our MRC group and has called a special general meeting.

Caufield’s new-look mounting yard was unveiled in February.Credit: Getty Images

In a statement to announce the challenge, Kanga’s group called for the removal of MRC executive committee members Matt Cain, Nick Hassett, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson and Scott Davidson. They have also asked for a representative of the Mornington advisory group to replace Jill Monk on the eight-person MRC board.

The statement was released late on Thursday, hours after a MRC committee meeting.

Rupert Legh with the 2016 Victorian Racehorse of the Year Award, awarded to Chautauqua.Credit: Getty Images

Club chief executive officer Josh Blanksby announced his resignation in July and chairman Cain is stepping down next month.

Kanga, who joined the MRC board more than 12 months ago, said he had taken action over concerns the club was in “disarray” following stage one of its masterplan – which included a new mounting yard, new subterranean tie-up stalls and new jockey-trainer-broadcast facilities.

This masthead reported in June that the male jockeys room at Caulfield Racecourse was going to be renovated only three months after it was unveiled because it was too small to accommodate riders on busy race days.

Kanga’s group also labelled a $250 million grandstand concept, which involved knocking down the glass-fronted Rupert Clarke Stand and building a new one in its place, a “white elephant”.

He said change was needed at board level to ensure members’ views were considered on key issues such as selling Sandown Racecourse and fixing Caulfield.

Nine MRC board members released a signed statement on Friday night to say they were shocked by Kanga’s “unprecedented move and remain united in our commitment to the MRC’s established and fair election process”.

The MRC has its annual general meeting scheduled for next month.

“The MRC looks forward to announcing further details of its response to the motion and the upcoming executive committee elections, and we encourage all members to engage in these elections,” the MRC statement said.

The nine board members who signed the statement are Cain, Hassett, Pratt, Dawson, Davidson, Monk, Alison Saville, Caitrin Kelly and Tim Guille.

Kanga’s push for change has been backed by powerful owner Rupert Legh, who raced superstar sprinter Chautauqua, and Warrnambool businessman Colin McKenna, who has been a long-time supporter of the Ciaron Maher stable.

Kanga, who has a background in finance and business, said the five replacement committee members proposed by the Save Our MRC group were Lofts Quarries founder Paul Lofitis, communications executive Belinda Meyers, town planner and construction manager Robyn Gray, transport executive David Gambell and 5Ways Foodservice director Frank Pollio.

In supporting the push for change, Legh said the new mounting yard at Caulfield lacked “atmosphere and has no soul and that defeats the purpose of being at the races”.

“We need to return the mounting yard to its original rightful location [in front of the members’ stand] as soon as possible,” Legh said.

“It would also, in my opinion, be irresponsible for the committee to pursue its current proposal to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on replacing a grandstand that works perfectly well at it is.”

McKenna added: “What they have done to Caulfield Racecourse is a joke and the people
responsible need to be sacked.”

Kanga said if his push to spill the board was successful, the new committee would return the mounting yard to its original position, rule out building the new grandstand, keep racing at Sandown and optimise development value on surplus land.

“I have been overwhelmed with feedback from members about their frustrations with what has happened at Caulfield recently, and it is my belief these members need to be listened to,” he said.

“The board has been wracked by division and is in disarray. Voting in a new group of committee members with a clear mandate will allow the club to move forward with a united purpose.”

Kanga has owned and raced group 1 winners Russian Camelot and Miami Bound with trainer Danny O’Brien.

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