Horse racing infighting breaks out at start of spring carnival

Racing Victoria is trying to contain an uprising from disgruntled stakeholders during the opening days of the spring racing carnival in a stoush over prizemoney and attempts to modernise the sport.

More than a dozen sources across the Victorian racing industry told The Age they were aware of a push to hold a special general meeting of the Racing Victoria board in an attempt to oust supporters of current chief executive Andrew Jones and remove him from his position.

There is unrest in Victorian racing ahead of the 2023 spring carnival, with billionaire and thoroughbred owner Jonathan Munz (left) and Racing Victoria CEO Andrew Jones key figures.Credit: Marija Ercegovac

While there is tension between Jones and some racing groups, influential sources with knowledge of the dispute say the agitators remain short of the numbers they require to force change and those supportive of the Racing Victoria board and executive still command majority support.

Jones, a Sydneysider from outside horse racing, confirmed to The Age that he was aware of the unrest.

He has been unapologetic in his quest to attract new racegoers and increase betting revenue after the pandemic, adjusting more than 150 years of tradition. Since taking over as Racing Victoria CEO in July last year, Jones has proposed a whip-free race series, introduced changes to the racing calendar and spring carnival – including prizemoney cuts – and called for racing clubs to relax dress codes. By his own admission, he hates wearing ties.

Asked about those agitating for his removal, Jones defended his executive team and his efforts to re-energise racing while managing the industry’s many competing interests.

“We have been in constant dialogue with the ATA (Australian Trainers’ Association) and other member associations on a wide range of issues,” said Jones, who was one of the architects of cricket’s Big Bash League.

“The fact that we don’t always necessarily agree doesn’t mean we don’t consult. We take account of a wide range of perspectives, and ultimately make the best decisions in the best interests of the entire industry.”

Racing Victoria is the governing authority that oversees the rules, scheduling and prizemoney in thoroughbred horse racing. Its board comprises various racing clubs, which operate racetracks such as Flemington and Caulfield, and participant groups.

Each metropolitan racing club (Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Racing Club and the Moonee Valley Racing Club) has five votes on the Racing Victoria board, and Country Racing Victoria has 10 votes of the total of 35. The remaining 10 votes are split between the owners’, breeders’, jockeys’ and trainers’ associations, as well as bookmakers and jumps racing.

The VRC, which runs the Melbourne Cup carnival, has been at loggerheads with Jones since his push to relax racing dress codes in an attempt to attract younger racegoers, but a disagreement over which television network should win the next batch of Melbourne Cup carnival rights has further soured their relationship.

The Age is aware of at least three stakeholder groups with various disputes or grievances with the governing body.

Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association chairman Jonathan Munz, the billionaire owner of Everest-winning sprinter Giga Kick, has openly criticised Racing Victoria in public statements about what the association referred to as “terrible” changes to the spring carnival, including prizemoney cuts and the “Big Bash” proposal.

“There is now an ongoing general problem in Victoria, with recent Racing Victoria policies and changes having caused damage to the operation and reputation of Victorian racing,” Munz said in one statement.

He did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

According to two sources familiar with the situation but not authorised to speak publicly because negotiations are confidential, the VRC did not want Melbourne Cup week to be on the same television network as Sydney racing, which is on Seven. But Racing Victoria believed the sport should have one free-to-air home.

The VRC declined to comment on Thursday, as did the Moonee Valley Racing Club, while the trainers’ and breeders’ associations did not respond to calls. Country Racing Victoria, the Melbourne Racing Club and the Victorian Jockeys’ Association, which together account for 16 votes, are not expected to support the agitators according to sources familiar with the positions of those boards.

The MRC and CRV also declined to comment, but Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Matt Hyland said: “We’re awake to the discussions taking place behind the scenes.

“My board met earlier this week, discussed the issues, and our position is the current Racing Victoria board has our absolute backing and support,” Hyland said.

Gold Trip and jockey Mark Zahra soak up the adulation on Melbourne Cup Day last year.Credit: Getty Images

Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines, who appoints Racing Victoria board members, is aware of the dispute but says he has no intention of getting involved.

“We continue to support a strong and sustainable Victorian racing industry that makes a positive contribution to Victorian communities,” Carbines said. “It is important that industry participants work together to showcase Victorian racing at its best during the spring racing carnival.”

Race club officials distancing themselves from the push believe the timing could not be worse, with the sport again under significant scrutiny. Doping scandals, horse welfare accusations and horse deaths in the Melbourne Cup have marred past carnivals, while Racing NSW’s court battles with Racing Victoria have also taken a toll.

In the past 48 hours, Racing Victoria also apologised over systemic physical and sexual abuse in the racing industry dating back to the 1970s, and handed down fresh animal cruelty charges against Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir.

Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones at this year’s spring carnival launch.Credit: Getty Images

Jones’ idea for a new whip-free racing series contested by teams, dubbed “the Big Bash of racing”, caused considerable angst. The concept aimed to reinvigorate the television product through the use of microphones on jockeys.

But it was met with resistance by Munz, who described it as an “ill-conceived gimmick”.

Some leading jockeys opposed the idea of riding without whips, or having trainers talking via earpieces while riding, while the trainers’ association didn’t believe a series limited to just the top trainers was fair on the back of prizemoney cuts.

But Jones says the ideas were simply explored. The concept remains on the table for 2024.

Racing Victoria’s quest to innovate has come in the face of prizemoney and race wars with Racing NSW. Sydney’s Everest and Golden Eagle, races each worth more than the Melbourne Cup, were introduced by Peter V’landys to grab a greater share of the wagering pie and attract horses away from Melbourne during the spring carnival.

The addition of a 10th race to Saturday metropolitan race cards has also caused unrest. While Racing Victoria is trying to capitalise on the biggest betting day of the week, the longer days have added to the clubs’ operating costs.

Despite criticism from the owners and breeders’ associations over the spring carnival changes, including the move of the Thousand Guineas to the end of the carnival, Racing Victoria have stuck firm on the changes, in an attempt to elongate the carnival and increase wagering income by taking advantage of clean air in Victoria’s sporting calendar in November.

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