‘Nothing left to prove’: Peter V’landys’ future uncertain as boss of Racing NSW and the NRL

One of Australian’s most powerful sporting identities is considering his future.

One of the most powerful people in Australian sport, Peter V’landys, is said to be considering his future in his dual roles as CEO of Racing NSW and chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

V’landys is considering walking away from his stewardship of one of the organisations, according to veteran sports journalist Buzz Rothfield, who said on the Off The Record podcast on Thursday that managing both jobs has become too much for the 63-year-old to handle.

“I think he’s now - and I’ve made a lot of phone calls - on the verge of deciding between racing and rugby league,” he said.

“At his age with a young family, I think the jobs have become too stressful for him to manage and have some sort of decent life with it.”

Rothfield predicted that V’landys, who is the man behind The Everest, will likely walk away from racing despite being on a $1 million salary.

Peter V'landys is considering stepping down as boss of Racing NSW or the NRL according to a veteran sports journalist. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

“Racing has become a real snake pit - the $5 billion sale of Rosehill, the Mark Latham pile-on and the parliamentary inquiry where he said some disgusting things about Peter V’landys,” Rothfield said.

“He’s not talking to Gai Waterhouse and the Chris Waller relationship has been a little bit strained. I’m not sure that he will stay in racing.”

Podcast co-host Andrew Webster added that V’landys has likely been worn down by these issues, saying, “He’s got nothing left to prove in racing.”

“They are all coming for him, whether that’s right or not, and the way that he operates he’s a bulldozer and he upsets a lot of people but you can’t deny what he’s done in racing,” Webster continued, “But I get the impression that he’s so worn down by it.”

V’landys created the world's richest race on turf, The Everest, as Sydney's answer to the Melbourne Cup. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

V’landys has held the role as the CEO of Racing NSW since 2004 and has been given an Order of Australia for his services to the sport.

The 63-year-old has also been a defining force in the NRL since he joined in 2019.

However, it is understood his salary there as chairman of the independent commission is significantly lower at around $150,000 to $200,000.

Rothfield said he believes this can be increased by changing the constitution to allow V’landys to take on a full-time role as executive chairman with a $1 million salary.

Originally published as ‘Nothing left to prove’: Peter V’landys’ future uncertain as boss of Racing NSW and the NRL