Petition to oust ATC chair fails to get the numbers in time

An attempted coup against Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran by opponents of his plan to sell Rosehill Racecourse has collapsed in disarray.

An attempted coup against Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran by opponents of his plan to sell Rosehill Racecourse has collapsed in disarray.

The plan to sell the racecourse and create a new suburb with 25,000 homes prompted angry ATC members to start a petition calling for an extraordinary general meeting to hold a vote of no confidence in Mr McGauran.

Save Rosehill spokeswoman and former ATC board member Julia Ritchie said the petition had been submitted to the ATC in January with the 600 signatures required to force a vote.

“They rejected it because we had six duplicate names and said some of the members who signed were not financial,” she said. “We reject that and have challenged the finding.”

Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran in September 2023. Picture: Bradley Photos

But Ms Ritchie said the delay meant the vote was no longer relevant because it could not now be called before the members vote on whether or not to sell the racecourse on April 3.

“Even at the races on Saturday I had 18 members come forward to sign the petition in just half an hour,” Ms Ritchie said. “They are so angry at the sale of the jewel in racing’s crown.”

It’s understood the ATC has identified two new Sydney sites and a third less-viable option as potential homes for a new bespoke racecourse to replace Rosehill Gardens. Members are expecting to be briefed on those in coming weeks.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Kerrin McEvoy riding Midnight Opal win Race 8 Captivant @ Kia Ora during Sydney Racing at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on January 18, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

The ATC has already briefed members on an upgrade to Royal Randwick including a new lifestyle club with gym, bars and a pool, 300 new stables and an upgrade to viewing areas that would be funded by part of the $5bn sale of Rosehill.

A spokesman for the ATC declined to comment.

Originally published as Petition to oust ATC chair fails to get the numbers in time