Harness Racing SA chief executive Ross Neal resigns just weeks after chairman George Fiacchi
The boss of South Australia’s peak harness racing body has quit just weeks after its chairman resigned.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The state’s ailing harness racing industry has been plunged into further turmoil with the resignation of the chief executive of its peak body.
Harness Racing SA has announced expatriate New Zealander Ross Neal has quit just weeks after the resignation of its former chairman, George Fiacchi.
Mr Fiacchi’s replacement, former army officer Emma Grigson, said Mr Neal had demonstrated “immense passion and leadership” during his three years at the helm of harness racing.
“Mr Neal has acted tirelessly in the interests of the industry, actively campaigning for growth and positive change.” she said.
“Mr Neal will pursue a change in career direction and the (HRSA) board wishes him every success in his future endeavours.
“His legacy and contribution are very much appreciated.”
Mr Neal initially was employed as HRSA’s chief steward in 2017 after he resigned as a senior investigator with New Zealand’s racing integrity body over a widely-publicised extramarital affair.
The relationship became public when Mr Neal travelled with a married staff member to a hospital in an ambulance when she suffered a heart attack while they were together in a motel room. The woman died several days later.
Subsequent investigations by the integrity body into the relationship led to Mr Neal resigning and moving to Adelaide to take up a new position with HRSA.
The organisation’s board was aware of the controversy when it employed Mr Neal.
It then appointed him in 2018 as chief executive without advertising the position, drawing criticism from some industry participants.
Announcing the appointment, HRSA said Mr Neal had “a wealth of experience, both in harness racing – having been a trainer, driver, club administrator and steward – and externally in senior management”.
Over the past 18 months Mr Neal and Mr Fiacchi were embroiled in a protracted dispute with the financially-troubled SA Harness Racing Club, which holds meetings at Globe Derby Park.
The pair withheld almost $400,000 owing in meeting fees and rent to the club while demanding access to its financial records, prompting protests by its committee to Racing Minister Corey Wingard and Treasurer Rob Lucas.
Mr Wingard since has threatened to reduce government funding to harness racing because of ongoing issues within the industry, particularly its financial management.
Other issues have included the fining of a part-owner in a horse who criticised the HRSA on social media, the granting of a driving license to a trainer banned interstate for doping horses and the arrest of two industry participants over a 50kg haul of methamphetamine.
The most recent controversy has involved the reduction of prize money for races, with some individuals saying they are likely to quit as a result.
Mr Neal, who is believed to be moving to a new role in Tasmania, is expected to remain in his role until November while the HRSA board looks for a replacement.
He did not respond to a request for comment.
Originally published as Harness Racing SA chief executive Ross Neal resigns just weeks after chairman George Fiacchi
Cancelled comic weighs in on Lib’s abortion bid ‘no-brainer’
The comedian who says she was dumped by two Adelaide pubs over her views on gender identity gave her verdict after performing at a women-only event.
The rubbish rule this council is using to slug locals $312
How quickly do you bring in your bins? It might not be fast enough for this Adelaide council. It’s been laying down the law before bringing in the bucks.