Caulfield rebel John Kanga named chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club

The vote to select Melbourne Racing Club’s new leader ends a bitter boardroom brawl and comes after a month of scandal involving claims of toxic atmosphere and poor culture.

John Kanga, MRC board member challenging for the chairmanÕs role. The Melbourne Racing Club is holding a landmark AGM at Caulfield Racecourse. Picture: Jason Edwards

Rebel challenger John Kanga has been appointed as chair of the Melbourne Racing Club, ending a bitter boardroom brawl just two weeks before the Caulfield Cup.

Kanga, who was only appointed as a casual vacancy to the board less than two years ago, has shaken up the MRC.

He was appointed at a board meeting on Thursday evening, replacing outgoing chair Matt Cain.

Kanga also saw off a challenge from former deputy chair Nick Hassett to take the top job.

The MRC confirmed in a statement that “John Kanga has been appointed as its new Chairman”.

“Mr. Kanga takes over the role with immediate effect,” the MRC said.

“In conjunction with this announcement, Nick Hassett, former Vice Chairman, has announced his resignation from the committee.”

John Kanga has been appointed the next MRC chairman. Picture: Jason Edwards

Kanga signalled that the bloodletting of recent weeks was now over.

“I am honoured to have been selected to this position. I am committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure there is a united board that focuses on the needs of members,” he said.

Kanga had the support of his fellow Save Our MRC block of Alison Saville and Caitrin Kelly, and newly elected board members Sheamus Mills and Cameron Fisher.

But he had been opposed by Hassett, treasurer Jill Monk, Brooke Dawson and Scott Davidson and a newly appointed representative from the Mornington racecourse.

Hassett’s resignation ended a week-long deadlock.

Kanga had campaigned to save racing at Sandown, shelve a $250 million grandstand plan for Caulfield and put the mounting yard back to its original position.

Cain departed the club last week after 15 years on the board, with angry members saying “you’re gone” in his final annual meeting.

It ends more than a month of drama at the MRC, amid claims of a “toxic atmosphere” and “poor culture”.

Outgoing chairman Matt Cain left the role after 15 years on the board. Picture: Jason Edwards

The club spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of legal and strategic advice to block Kanga’s bid from his Save Our MRC group to call a special general meeting to spill the board.

Now Kanga, a director at a finance company who has close relationships with a number of high profile jockeys, needs to deliver on his promises.

Any moves to continue racing at Sandown, which is sitting on at least $800 million of prime land in Melbourne’s southeast, was likely to be tied to allowing some development on the outside of the course.

The Victorian Government has plans to supercharge housing in established suburbs of Melbourne, with plans for 20 storey towers across the city.

A complete block on the sale of Sandown was expected to hit roadblocks with Racing Minister Anthony Carbines.

Builders were expected to be called in as soon as this weekend to start work on relocating the mounting yard in time for the club’s marquee Caulfield Cup meeting on October 19.

However, it was unclear if work could be completed in time for the Group 1 meeting.

Kanga was also likely to hit challenges with his plans to stop the proposed Grand Pavilion at Caulfield, with questions being raised about whether some deals had already been signed.

The Melbourne Racing Club remains the wealthiest Victorian racing club, but has been losing money despite making a $40 million profit on its pokies venues in the 2023 financial year.

Originally published as Caulfield rebel John Kanga named chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club