Melbourne Racing Club war heats up

A bold plan to spill five members of the Melbourne Racing Club board has been denied as the club’s debt bill hits $30,000 a day.

The civil war at the Melbourne Racing Club has deepened, with the executive committee rejecting a bold move to spill five members of the board.

The MRC told members in an email on Thursday morning that John Kanga’s push for a special general meeting was denied.

Mr Kanga had demanded the vote to get a mandate to keep Sandown racecourse, which the club had planned to sell as part of an $800 million deal to fund a new grandstand at Caulfield.

But the club quashed the move in an unsigned statement sent to members.

“The Executive Committee, excluding members with conflicts of interest, has reviewed a motion received by Committee Member John Kanga in detail and concluded that it is not legally valid,” the email to members said.

“As a result, we will not be holding a special general meeting to address the motion.”

It was unclear which members of the 10-person executive committee made the decision.

Melbourne Racing Club board member John Kanga. Picture: Supplied

It comes as the MRC’s annual report revealed that the club lost $8.7 million overall last year despite a $46 million profit from its pokie machines.

At the same time executive pay soared 32 per cent to more than $5 million.

And debt had almost doubled in the 2023 financial year to $154 million, costing the club $30,000 a day in interest.

Membership had increased to 14,592.

Matt Cain, Chairman of Melbourne Race Club. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Kanga hit back at the club’s decision to block the vote and questioned the club’s decision to spend money on lawyers to prevent the move.

“It is disappointing, but hardly surprising, that some of the Executive Committee have sought to find ways to prevent the members having the opportunity to vote at an SGM to take action on key issues such as moving the mounting yard, retaining racing at Sandown and preventing hundreds of millions being spent on a white elephant of a grandstand,” he said.

“I understand a huge amount of the club’s money has already been wasted on legal fees and spin doctors as the chair and others have tried to delay and defer an SGM.

“Personally, I don’t think this is the best use of the club’s money.”

Racing fans at Caulfield. Picture: Getty Images

The board has been divided, with Caitrin Kelly and Alison Saville releasing a statement saying there was a “poor culture” and “toxic atmosphere” at the club.

That resulted in them receiving a legal threat from fellow board member Mark Pratt, threatening to sue them for defamation.

Current chairman Matt Cain has announced he will step away from the club at next week’s AGM, with Mr Pratt also not contesting re-election at next week’s annual general meeting at Caulfield.

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