Melbourne and Sydney prepare for massive race day; all the odds, predictions, start times and results
Amidst the glitz and glamour, we were stranded on a boat for three hours for the Everest barrier raffle in Sydney Harbor, It was a case of life jackets or bulletproof vests for Sydney’s warring race officials.
At one of the tables at the front sat Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys and guests including National Rugby League chief executive Andrew Abdo. Another featured members of the races’ wealthy controlling committee. Nearby were directors and managers of the Australian Turf Club, operator of Sydney’s four metropolitan racetracks, including Royal Randwick, the venue for Saturday’s sold-out running of the world’s richest turf race.
Peter V’landys launched Everest in 2017 to tackle Melbourne’s spring carnival.Credit: Stephen Kyprillis
The atmosphere at Tuesday night’s on-water event has been described as “cordial” at a tense moment when Racing NSW is threatening to appoint an administrator for the turf club, targeting its financial management, business acumen and corporate governance as it prepares for Sydney’s biggest racing day.
Its extraordinary action and timing made it seem like a favorite of many in the $3.3 billion industry; It was viewed by critics as revenge, a ploy to establish a compliant board and a simple power play against club directors who opposed the $5 billion sale of Rosehill Gardens for housing development.
These allegations were denied by V’landys, who said Racing NSW was forced to notify the club when alarm bells rang about the club’s outlook and practices.
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