‘Have to wait and see’: Industry reacts to McLachlan’s potential new gig as Racing Victoria chairman

Gillon McLachlan is the likely new chairman of Racing Victoria. But what does the racing industry and public think about the former AFL boss’s potential new job?

Gillon McLachlan.

Racing industry participants are mostly thrilled about the prospect of former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan taking over as new chairman of Racing Victoria.

On Monday, Racenet revealed McLachlan was in the box seat to be announced as the new head honcho of Victorian racing.

The appointment of the new chairman will be announced by Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines. A formal announcement is not expected for at least two weeks.

Mike Hirst has been interim chairman since July last year, following the departure of longtime chairman, Brian Kruger.

EXCLUSIVE: Multiple sources have confirmed former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is in the box seat to be announced as the new chairman of Racing Victoria 👇

STORY: https://t.co/4pMVdrpHUzpic.twitter.com/iO2RfcxxEq

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) February 5, 2024

McLachlan is an avid horse racing fan whose great-grandfather owned the winner of the 1931 Melbourne Cup.

Racing Victoria’s executive general manager of racing Matt Welsh said on RSN Tuesday morning that it was a process which sat with Mr Carbines.

“I know no more than (what’s been written) ... we will have to wait and see what happens in the next month or so,” Welsh said.

McLachlan at Derby Day, Flemington in 2017.

The drums were beating about McLachlan potentially taking over the chairmanship as early as August last year.

Leading Victorian trainers Ciaron Maher and Wayne Hawkes have previously expressed their desire for McLachlan to be appointed Racing Victoria chairman.

“From what I have seen with what he has done with the AFL it would be the greatest coup in racing for a long, long time,” Hawkes said in an interview with Nine last October.

Maher has said previously: “I think he would be a good fit. The AFL is about attendance and growing the market. Gill is probably someone who could turn his hand to a lot of things and I think racing would be one of them.”

Trainer Mick Price, however, is less effusive.

In a one-line response on Tuesday, Price said: “What would be wrong with appointing someone with a strong background in racing?”

SEN Track’s Gareth Hall said on Tuesday that McLachlan would be a big coup as chairman.

“He understands the racing game, it’s been in his blood from a young age,” Hall said.

“He’s a punter, he’s an owner, he knows the participants. He’d be able to take in a lot of information and make some tough decisions.”

RSN host Michael Felgate said on Tuesday the appointment of McLachlan as chairman, if it happened, would be a “game changer” for racing in Victoria.

Minister Anthony Carbines with Gillon McLachlan at last year’s Cox Plate.

Felgate also pointed out the wider public interest in McLachlan taking on Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’Landys, who was his old NRL sparring partner.

“What would it do for relations between Victoria and New South Wales (in racing)?,” Felgate asked.

Reaction from readers of McLachlan’s likely new role in racing has been mixed.

Craig McKenzie said: “Don’t these jobs require a racing background. How would you even consider this bloke?”

John Young wrote: “AFL vs rugby league again between V’Landys and McLachlan. Potential to make the divide even bigger.”

In response to readers who questioned McLachlan’s racing credentials, Carolyn Grant said: “He breeds a few racehorses and has a strong family background in racing.”

Originally published as ‘Have to wait and see’: Industry reacts to McLachlan’s potential new gig as Racing Victoria chairman