COMMENT: Melbourne Racing Club chair John ‘Kanga holds court on Caulfield Cup Day

The King didn’t turn up for The Everest at Royal Randwick – but new Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga made a royal impression at Caulfield on Saturday.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse poses with Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga after Too Darn Lizzie the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

The King didn’t turn up for The Everest at Royal Randwick – but he was at Caulfield.

King Kanga that is.

Wandering through the Caulfield Cup crowd of more than 25,000 with John Kanga on Saturday, it was impossible not to be swept up in his orbit.

He’s not a jockey or a trainer but the new Melbourne Racing Club chairman has more chutzpah than most.

Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga and wife Stephanie. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Trying to get from one spot to another on track, with this journalist in tow, should have been a five minute job.

But it took much longer.

Seemingly every second racegoer yelled out ‘Kanga!” and gave him a high five or a slap on the back.

Then, walking through the underground bowels of Caulfield racecourse, even several of the cleaners and food service people were keen to give him a shout out.

John Kanga (far right) poses with the connections of Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

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There are many race clubs who sit in the shadows but under Kanga’s watch, Caulfield won’t be one of them.

Only new to the chairmanship, there is little doubt Kanga is a man of action.

On Cup day, there were tweets from a racegoer about an issue with sound for the race calls in the Medallion Bar.

“Onto it boys,” Kanga tweeted back, before later following it up with “Is it working?” before the tweeter replied: “Correct weight.”

Is it working ?

— Kanga (@johnkanga) October 19, 2024

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During the week, Kanga issued an apology to Caulfield Cup owners for “the absence of a proper barrier draw event. Inadequate excuse for MRC, but I have only just taken over as chairman. Promise we will fix next year.”

He also went on the front foot about perceived track bias on Caulfield Guineas day, launching an in-depth review.

They might seem little things – compared to other big-picture issues like the future of Sandown racecourse – but in reality they are big things.

Dennis, your feedback was invaluable. POLICY changed - all partners receive the same hospitality effective immediately - happy Caulfield Cup day.
Kanga

— Kanga (@johnkanga) October 17, 2024

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The proof will be in the pudding as to what Kanga achieves in the job but the early signs are promising.

There is no doubt he is listening to concerns of the industry as a whole, and, probably even more importantly, any grievances from racegoers and punters.

Racing likes to whinge and bleat, but there are also plenty of positives to puff out the chest about.

@ghall27@SEN_track@MelbRacingClub
Apologies to owners with runners 🐎in the Caulfield Cup for the absence of a proper barrier draw event. Inadequate excuse for MRC, but I have only just taken over as Chairman. Promise we will fix it next year.

— Kanga (@johnkanga) October 16, 2024

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The Caulfield Cup itself was hardly a vintage edition but, being on track on Saturday and being out and about with the punters, I can attest there was a fabulous vibe.

The pulsating crowd of more than 25,000 was a ripper.

Remember when the narks said having The Everest and the Caulfield Cup on the same day would never work as they would cannibalise each other.

What poppycock.

Originally published as COMMENT: Melbourne Racing Club chair John ‘Kanga holds court on Caulfield Cup Day