Jane Flemming favourite for Racing NSW board role amid Australian Turf Club feud
He was photographed sitting at Hale’s table at Royal Randwick racecourse in October for Everest, Sydney’s spring carnival’s extravagant racing day.
Ironically, Flemming would join a panel trying to oust Sydney lawyer Hale, who opposed the ultimately unsuccessful bid to sell the Rosehill Gardens racecourse for $5 billion.
Peter V’landys is chairman of Racing NSW, the sport’s controlling body in the state.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Hale sent a scathing statement to club members on Tuesday defending the club’s financial health and claiming its efforts to pursue commercial opportunities have been “hindered as a direct result of the restrictions imposed by Racing NSW” since a token notice was issued three months ago, effectively placing it in caretaker mode.
The ATC board has been reduced to just four members since directors Ben Bayot and Natalie Hewson resigned days after CEO Matt Galanos was sacked in September, and Hale said Racing NSW had not agreed to the club’s request to appoint an additional board member on an interim basis.
ATC managers dispute that Racing NSW has the power to sack them and appoint a replacement manager.
“The board is committed to defending the independence of the Australian Turf Club,” Hale said. “Imposing management would strip members of their democratic rights and leave control of the club in the hands of external parties.
“The board does not believe this outcome is justified, necessary or in the long-term interests of Sydney racing or the wider NSW racing industry.”
In response to Hale’s statement, Racing NSW made public its notice that a manager would be brought to the ATC.
It was stated that the dismissal of the club executives was “the result of months of growing concerns about the financial sustainability of the ATC”. [and] governance issues” and the breakdown of trust in Racing NSW.
Loading
“In addition, Racing NSW has formed a clear and considered view that the conduct of the ATC board raises serious and systemic corporate governance concerns,” the regulator said.
The notice to the club included correspondence between Hale and Latham regarding the proposed sale of Rosehill, and Racing NSW argued this should have been disclosed to the ATC board.
Latham, a harsh critic of V’landys who clashed with the Racing NSW chief during the parliamentary inquiry into the Rosehill scheme last year, turned whistleblower against his former ally Hale after being escorted out of Royal Randwick on Epsom Day in October.
Hale had previously refused to share any confidential board information with Latham.
