Polarising Racing Victoria chief executive quits
Racing Victoria will soon be on the hunt for a new CEO to serve under likely new chairman Gillon McLachlan after the end of Andrew Jones’s brief and controversial tenure, in which his “appetite for change” was said to be greater than that of the industry itself.
Jones, the former cricket and netball administrator appointed RV CEO in July 2022, surprised many with his sudden resignation on Friday, saying he had left “nothing on the table” in his efforts to invigorate racing in the state.
Certain aspects among the raft of changes enacted or suggested during his time in charge, many in response to the plethora of moves by Racing NSW, had left many in Victorian racing disillusioned.
These were headed by a long list of scheduling amendments and suggestions – including moving the Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) to after the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m), and Jones’s quickly rejected idea to move the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) to November – which were widely regarded as stop-gap measures brought in without a long-term vision.
Other radical proposals to emerge under Jones’s leadership included the use of interactive jockey earpieces, a whip-free summer racing series, a teams-based racing series, and the idea to drop any dress regulations in members’ areas.
Mike Hirst, acting RV chairman until former AFL boss McLachlan’s widely forecast takeover in the next few weeks, said speculation had swirled around Jones’s future “for a long period of time”.
“Andrew has come to the view that given we’re going to have a new chair, and essentially a new board with three new directors, perhaps the time for a reset is now,” Hirst told racing broadcaster RSN.
“His appetite for change … was perhaps greater than the appetite for change the industry had.”
Criticism of Jones had been led by prominent owner-breeder Jonathan Munz. In December, the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association chairman called for Jones to be sacked for doing “a terrible job”.
“There is widespread dissatisfaction across the whole industry with the performance of RVL,” Munz said at the time, calling also for a major refresh of the RV board.
“Jones is regarded as arrogant, out of touch and lacking racing knowledge and experience.
“He and his team are considered to be completely out of their depth and apart from fundamental management errors, are seen as pushing a misconceived radical strategy that has alarmed industry investors and participants.”
In February, a motion put by Munz at an RV special general meeting, seeking to unseat up to five directors and ultimately trigger Jones’s removal, was defeated in a secret ballot.
Jones’s resignation clears the way for a new team under McLachlan, who is widely respected across the sporting landscape for his decade as AFL CEO, and comes from an equine background having been a racehorse owner and having represented Victoria in polo.
The 51-year-old formally applied two weeks ago to become a director at RV, a key step in any move to become chairman. If he is approved as a director, McLachlan would then be subject to a vote to become chairman.
Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines, known to be a personal supporter of McLachlan, would then have to sign off on his chairmanship.
The Melbourne Age yesterday reported that before McLachlan could take the reins, he – and any other prospective candidates for chairman – would need to sit before a special industry interview panel that would include Munz.
Also, the Age cited two unnamed sources as saying McLachlan had already handpicked two new directors – prominent industry identities Tim Rourke and Mark Player – to join him on the board in the coming weeks.
RV’s chief operating officer Aaron Morrison will be interim CEO until Jones’s replacement is found. An RV administrator since 2017, Morrison is understood to be among the likely candidates for the full time job.
Despite his at-best patchy popularity amongst the Victorian racing fraternity, and his assumed frustration at its pushback to his agitation for change, Jones said his decision to quit was made to allow the incoming chairman to start with a new team.
“Having served under two chairmen, my resignation makes way for the new chair and board to select a new CEO to take Racing Victoria forward into the future,” he said in a statement.
“I came to the role with a clear view on the challenges facing the industry, and I leave knowing I left nothing on the table.
“I thank my team at RV for their enormous efforts over the past two years which include the delivery of more than $2 billion in future funding for racing, an improved schedule, a dedicated media business to grow the sport, world class equine welfare policies, increased support for jockeys and trainers, and the first significant club merger in decades,” he said, referring to Cranbourne and Pakenham’s formation of Southside Racing.
“Growing the fan base of this fantastic sport remains the number one challenge to secure its future sustainability, and I wish Racing Victoria every success under its new leadership.”
RV has said Jones’s departure will be ‘effective immediately’.
Hirst and long-serving director Greg Nichols will vacate their positions before June 30.
In the RV statement announcing Jones’s resignation, Hirst thanked him for “the passion and commitment” he brought to the role.
“Andrew brought fresh eyes and ideas to our industry, and on behalf of the Board I acknowledge the significant contribution he has made,” Hirst said.
“He challenged the industry to be more ambitious, and to rethink everything from programming and prize-money distribution, to growing the fanbase and participant and equine welfare.
“In the face of a declining wagering environment, his leadership has been instrumental in sustaining an industry which supports more than 25,000 jobs across the State.”
McLachlan’s elevation to the role would again bring him into competition with Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’Landys, his former opposite number during his time at the AFL due to V’Landys’s other role as NRL boss.
RV has been without a permanent chairman since Brian Kruger left the role on June 30 last year.
The latest moves also come after Victoria Racing Club CEO Steve Rosich quit that role earlier this month. He has been linked to the CEO role at St Kilda AFL club.