Latest news with #MelbourneRacingClub
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
MRC maintains Caulfield Cup prizemoney as part of strategy to attract more World Pool fixtures
Melbourne Racing Club has committed to review Caulfield Cup prizemoney next year. The Caulfield Cup – the first of three prestigious Victorian spring carnival majors – missed out on an increase this year by design, while the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cupattracted significant boosts. 'We are very comfortable that the $5m prizemoney for the Caulfield Cup is the right setting,' acting MRC chief executive Tanya Fullarton said. 'Adding $1m to Caulfield Cup prizemoney would not improve the field at all and that would be a less sensible application of money we have used to enhance our broader stakes races. 'We will review prizemoney for our marquee races each year to make sure they maintain their competitiveness and prestige.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Racing Victoria, responsible for prizemoney, announced stakes for the 2025-26 season last week. The peak body afforded clubs an opportunity to make their own strategic changes after significant consultation and collaboration through successful industry forums. Moonee Valley Racing Club raised the Cox Plate to $6m (up from $5) to mark a historic last running of Australia's best race on the traditional circuit before its racecourse redevelopment. Victoria Racing Club lifted the Melbourne Cup to $10m (up from $8.75m) to reflect its importance to the Australian sporting and cultural landscape. • Shinn vote produces lofty Flemington expectations The MRC chose to share more than $2m in prizemoney top-ups across multiple Group 1 and feature races. Fullarton said the MRC wanted to get its 'race programming right' before any further prizemoney consideration. 'You need the right races on the right days,' Fullarton said. 'We all want to see the best horses competing and every major MRC race day in the spring is now significantly better and more exciting. 'Racing Victoria has done a good job and listened to clubs, owners, trainers and breeders in fixing spring programming … and respect the racing pattern.' Duke De Sessa winning last year's Caulfield Cup, which will remain at $5m. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images Program changes included Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (September 20) and Thousand Guineas (October 18) back to traditional slots after being tried in mid-November since 2023. The Group 1 CF Orr Stakes moved to November 15 – from autumn – and Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes prizemoney boosted to $1m – up from $200,000 – rounded out a Caulfield spring calendar reshuffle. • Shades of Robbie Laing in young trainer's Sandown hope The four multiple $1m/Group 1 spring race cards could help MRC 'qualify' for more lucrative World Pool fixtures. 'World Pool is a brilliant innovation led by the Hong Kong Jockey Club that yields extra revenue to the club and a deeper pool for Australian punters,' Fullarton said. The MRC is set to advance talks this week with HKJC counterparts on future World Pool events. Caulfield hosted only two World Pool fixtures this season, the 2024 Caulfield Cup and five races on Futurity Stakes day last February. The HKJC-powered World Pool is a co-mingled global betting market on selected race dates. The World Pool has potential to return stronger tote dividends, especially on horses, trainers and jockeys known to Hong Kong punters, while the host jurisdictions and race clubs benefit directly from royalty arrangements. Originally published as MRC maintains Caulfield Cup prizemoney as part of strategy to enhance programming and attract more World Pool fixtures
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Racing Victoria delays decision on 2026 Cox Plate host
Racing Victoria has pushed back discussions on 2026 Cox Plate hosting rights to early next month. Flemington and Caulfield stay in contention for the historic schedule, a temporary relocation of Australia's best race during The Valley redevelopment set to start after the Cox Plate this year. The RV board met on Tuesday but deferred the 2026 Cox Plate agenda item as metropolitan clubs involved iron out conditions for the transferred fixture. Sources not authorised to speak publicly said Cox Plate rights remained a work in progress. A Cox Plate at Flemington next year could deliver a record 60,000-strong crowd for the prestigious $5m weight-for-age Group 1 and double as a blockbuster start to the Melbourne Cup carnival. Legendary mare Winx drew a record Valley crowd of 38,035 in 2018 for her unprecedented fourth-straight Cox Plate success. The Melbourne Cup carnival has enjoyed a recent spike in crowds, with 285,675 through the gate last year at Flemington for the biggest combined four-day attendance since 2018. Melbourne Cup Day (91,168) and Victoria Derby Day (81,612) led the way, from Champions Stakes Day (62,022) and Oaks Day (50,873). Victoria Racing Club has crowd ambitions of 60,000-plus for the Cox Plate, should Flemington secure the 2026 rights. While unable to compete on crowd and wagering fronts, Melbourne Racing Club could offer a like-for-like Cox Plate spectacle at Caulfield with its boutique atmosphere and tight-turning circuit. Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman Adam Lennen endorsed the Cox Plate negotiations. 'We're close but not there yet,' Lennen said. The MVRC has awarded a circa $70m contract for civil and infrastructure works for the new Moonee Valley Racecourse precinct to Symal Group. The scope of work includes bulk earthworks, full track reconstruction, new racing infrastructure, upgraded underpasses, retaining walls and the installation of new track lighting. The MVRC has held early talks with stakeholders, including the AFL, around future infield uses but Lennen said racecourse redevelopment, including grandstand and events centre, is the priority. The Valley infield had been linked as potential base for AFL umpires. The AFL on Tuesday confirmed the purchase of Waverley Park and ambitions for the historic venue to house its talent pathways programs, community footy and umpire development. The Valley infield remains in play as a potential boutique AFLW venue.
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
John Kanga to serve as executive chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club following the departure of CEO Tom Reilly
Chairman John Kanga will again spearhead a new-look Melbourne Racing Club administration. Kanga has assumed the honorary role of executive chairman and confirmed the club would not seek to fill its chief executive officer vacancy. The MRC last Monday terminated former chief executive Tom Reilly. Tanya Fullerton, the newly-appointed chief operating officer, is slated to start on Thursday. 'The club will not be recruiting for a CEO,' Kanga told this masthead. 'Tanya is the chief operating officer and we're also going to bolster our racing operations.' Kanga served as executive chairman from October last year to February, until Reilly started. He backed Fullerton to do 'an excellent job'. Fullerton, vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Association, has worked closely with Kanga the past six months in particular on the 'Save Our Sandown' campaign. Kanga refused to comment on the reasons behind a 'unanimous' MRC board decision to remove Reilly last Monday. He would also not be drawn on the resignation of long-time MRC committee member Barb Saunders. As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Saunders resigned in protest of the Reilly termination, the Fullerton appointment and MRC governance. Kanga has deferred any discussions on a potential casual vacancy replacement for Saunders to the next MRC committee meeting in two weeks. The MRC could proceed with nine on the committee through to its September election. Kanga is one of three committee members, including Alison Saville and Frank Pollio, up for election this year. Kanga said the MRC has a strong management structure in place. 'The team is working hard to deliver a fantastic Spring Carnival at Caulfield,' Kanga said. In a letter to members, following the Reilly termination, Kanga said the current administration has 'turned the club around' and restored member and industry confidence 'making common sense decisions'. Kanga sighted key milestones, including the saving of racing at Sandown, relocating the Caulfield racecourse mounting yard to its original position and reversing the proposal to build a 'wasteful' new grandstand at The Heath. The MRC last year under Kanga's watch also entered into an agreement to sell a parcel of land next to Caulfield racecourse for $195m. 'That does not mean that we cannot improve,' Kanga said. 'Tanya and I and the MRC management team will work hard, on an ongoing basis, to deliver better services and results for members.'
The Age
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
‘Best to move on': Melbourne Racing Club's shock call to remove CEO
Melbourne Racing Club has suddenly removed CEO Tom Reilly just months after the former newspaper editor was appointed to the role. MRC Chairman John Kanga announced on Monday night that the club that runs Caulfield Racecourse had removed Reilly from the position because 'sometimes it just doesn't work out'. 'Tom was only CEO for three months and when things don't go as well as they should, it is best to pivot and move on,' Kanga said in a statement released by the MRC. 'Everyone can be assured that we have put a management structure in place to ensure a smooth transition. 'I will spend substantial time at the club as chairman, as I did before Tom Reilly was appointed and am pleased to announce that we have appointed Tanya Fullarton as Chief Operating Officer to work with me.' Loading Fullarton is a board member with Geelong Racing Club and vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA), sitting alongside billionaire racehorse owner Jonathan Munz who is TROA chairman. Reilly's sudden axing on the King's Birthday weekend follows a turbulent 12 months for the Melbourne Racing Club. Kanga filed a motion in August last year for a special general meeting to remove board members Matt Cain, Nick Hassett, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson, Scott Davidson and Jill Monk.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Best to move on': Melbourne Racing Club's shock call to remove CEO
Melbourne Racing Club has suddenly removed CEO Tom Reilly just months after the former newspaper editor was appointed to the role. MRC Chairman John Kanga announced on Monday night that the club that runs Caulfield Racecourse had removed Reilly from the position because 'sometimes it just doesn't work out'. 'Tom was only CEO for three months and when things don't go as well as they should, it is best to pivot and move on,' Kanga said in a statement released by the MRC. 'Everyone can be assured that we have put a management structure in place to ensure a smooth transition. 'I will spend substantial time at the club as chairman, as I did before Tom Reilly was appointed and am pleased to announce that we have appointed Tanya Fullarton as Chief Operating Officer to work with me.' Loading Fullarton is a board member with Geelong Racing Club and vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA), sitting alongside billionaire racehorse owner Jonathan Munz who is TROA chairman. Reilly's sudden axing on the King's Birthday weekend follows a turbulent 12 months for the Melbourne Racing Club. Kanga filed a motion in August last year for a special general meeting to remove board members Matt Cain, Nick Hassett, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson, Scott Davidson and Jill Monk.
