Messara resigns as Racing Australia chair
A tumultuous 24 hours for Racing Australia has culminated in the resignation of chairman John Messara last night, a day after chief executive Myles Foreman foreshadowed his departure in June.
Arrowfield Stud principal Messara, who was appointed in May in an attempt to mend the thawed relationship between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria, conceded defeat in a short statement last night announcing his resignation as Racing Australia’s first independent chairman.
“I joined the board of Racing Australia as its first ever Independent chairman with the intention of reconciling differences,” Messara said in a statement. “I am now stepping aside to allow the Board to vote in a new chair, who I hope will have more success than I have had.”
The Racing Australia board accepted his resignation, paying tribute to his “long record of dynamic leadership in Australian thoroughbred breeding, racing and administration”.
It was Messara’s second stint as Racing Australia chairman after he held the post from 2014 to 2016. However, this time around he came in as an independent broker, whereas his first spell saw the legendary breeder elevated to the national position in his capacity as Racing NSW chairman, a role he held from 2011 to 2016.
While Messara worked closely with Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys during his tenure as the principal racing authority’s chairman, tensions between the two administrators had reportedly reached boiling point as V’landys turned his back on any notion of national cooperation.
Attempts to bring the Racing Australia board together in a bid to end the “war” between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria had proven fruitless, with both state bodies holding significant veto powers that could prevent even the most minor business being progressed.
While Racing Victoria were keen to come to the table, V’landys and Racing NSW instead ensured that Racing Australia was unable to meet during Messara’s tenure as chairman.
The Racing Australia board said that its search for a successor would commence shortly.