Furious minister ‘planning racing overhaul’ after David Moodie steps down amid integrity probe

THE string of departures of key Racing Victoria officials has sparked anger from the racing minister and speculation of an overhaul of the governing body.

David Moodie only replaced Rob Roulston as chairman in May 2015. Picture: David Crosling

THE string of departures of key Racing Victoria officials has sparked anger from the racing minister and speculation of an overhaul of the governing body.

The “top deck’’ of RV has been ­dismantled in recent weeks, including Friday’s decision by chairman David Moodie to step aside amid a probe into an alleged integrity breach.

RV’s integrity council is investigating the allegation that Moodie tipped off trainer Peter Moody that Flemington trainers Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh would be informed of positive drug tests for cobalt.

Kavanagh and O’Brien were told on January 14 last year of the positive tests to some of their horses, a day after Moody had been informed.

Moodie was an RV board member but not chairman at the time.

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His interim replacement is Michael Cavaney, who lost his spot on the RV board early last week and will officially leave his role on October 24.

Moodie replaced Rob Roulston as chairman in May 2015 after impropriety from Roulston was discovered regarding the nomination cost of a horse in the Melbourne Cup.

RV and its media arm racing.com have been “made rudderless’’, according to one senior official, by a series of other departures, including racing.com chief executive Scott Perrin last month.

RV chief executive Bernard Saundry leaves his post at the end of the spring carnival and RV has struggled to entice candidates to replace him.

Racing Minister Martin Pakula would not comment at Caulfield on the ongoing probe into David Moodie. Picture: Mark Stewart

Racing Minister Martin Pakula attended Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, where he would not comment on the ongoing probe into Moodie.

But sources close to the minister revealed Pakula was “furious’’ as he dined in the committeeroom at the spiralling woes of RV.

Sources say Pakula had a number of animated conversations with RV board members and other senior officials at the races and is believed to be exploring options to eliminate the current power structure at RV.

The Sunday Herald Sun understands Pakula has commissioned legal advice regarding the required legislative changes to create an independent board chosen by the government. The complication is RV’s status as a company limited by guarantees with shareholders and RV’s substantial ­assets.

The second option for Pakula is believed to be a retention of some ­elements of the current structure and “better candidates”.

Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie has stood down from his post. Picture: David Crosling

The exodus of RV officials comes as RV’s legal bill for fighting a handful of cobalt cases lurches into the tens of millions and tensions exist between RV and the city clubs over a number of issues.

Lloyd Williams, a successful owner and former board member when the Victoria Racing Club governed racing in the 1980s, said dramatic restructure of governance was vital.

“It must be independent — owners or breeders, no jockey or trainers association, no city or country club representatives. Truly independent,’’ Williams said.

“They need a major search unit to find a new chief executive, which must be appointed by the (independent) board.”

At a board reappointment meeting last week, Andrew Twaits and Caveney lost their positions in what an official described as “a delicately political situation”.

Perrin’s shock resignation as racing.com chief executive last month came months after the departure of senior racing.com official Andrew Burke.

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