Page 13: New book triggers epic dummy spit in Melbourne Racing Club’s committee room

What caused a “larger than life” Melbourne Racing Club figure to storm out of the committee room, declaring he’d had enough of the joint? Well, nothing apparently.

An ill-informed committeeman labelled the book a ‘disgrace’. Picture: Getty

It’s been described as one of the biggest dummy spits in racing.

And we’re not talking about a trainer ranting over a jockey’s ride or punters losing their minds when the odds-on favourite goes under.

The dummy-spit comes straight out of the Melbourne Racing Club’s committee room.

The MRC has a book coming out written by former Herald Sun racing writer Rod Nicholson.

The book chronicles the great history of the club with the first copies circulated among board members last week for a sneak peek.

There was great excitement in the committee room as everyone skimmed through the impressive book.

Former Herald Sun racing writer Rod Nicholson penned the new book Heroes of the Heath. that triggered the walkout.

That was before one er, “larger than life” committeeman stormed out.

Turns out he couldn’t find his name or photo anywhere in the publication so the toys were thrown out of the cot.

He stood up, described his absence from the book as a “disgrace” and declared he’d had enough of the club and the committee.

That was before his stunned committee colleagues had a closer look at the contents and, surprise surprise, found his photo and profile.

After much laughter, text messages with pics of the profile were sent to the outraged committeeman.

There was no response and the dummy spitter hasn’t been seen or heard of since, with the blow-up having wider consequences given the furious committeeman is about to face the members for re-election.

Watch this space!

Meanwhile …

The Melbourne Racing Club is racing’s richest thanks to its pub and other business portfolios.

A new cohort of “activists” are campaigning on the promise of saving Sandown racecourse, which is no secret that participants love, but no one attends.

There’s even talk of rolling relatively new and relatively liked chairman Matthew Cain.

Club insiders fear that plans for a new grandstand and other capital projects could be under risk if the activists (their word not ours) are elected.

No wonder photos of a former committee member monstering at the VRC committee room and damaging a piece of gilded artwork in the process of getting escorted out by security is doing the rounds as the election looms.

They’re off and it’s turned nasty.