Latest news with #TimHale
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Vice Chair Tim Hale has been announced as the new chairman of the Australian Turf Club
Current vice-chair Tim Hale has won a spirited vote to become the new chairman of the Australian Turf Club (ATC). Joining Hale in the executive reshuffle is Caroline Searcy who will assume the newly vacated role of vice-chair of NSW's premier race club. 'The Board of Directors of the Australian Turf Club has this evening elected Tim Hale SC as Chairman,' an ATC statement read. 'Mr Hale has served on the ATC Board since February 2021 and brings extensive legal expertise, governance experience and a long connection to racing.' The appointments follow the decision by Peter McGauran to step down from his post as chairman prior to the expiration of his current term in January next year. McGauran, who has served on the board since February 2022 including three years as chairman, said he made the decision to vacate the role 'aware of the challenges for the ATC ahead' adding that a new chair 'would provide a renewed focus for the club's future and its members'. The outgoing McGauran was a staunch advocate of the failed bid to sell Rosehill Gardens saying he 'remains convinced it was a lost opportunity for the club and wider racing industry.' 'I am grateful to the 44 per cent of ATC members who voted in favour of the proposal (to sell Rosehill),' McGauran said. 'I believe history will judge the decision to pursue the vision as having been the right one.' But while McGauran was spearheading the mooted $5 billion sale, Hale was in strong opposition from the outset, a position he made clear at the highly publicised Upper House inquiry in August last year. Hale's ascension to chairman of the ATC follows a 4 ½ year tenure on the board which has seen him serve as vice-chair since August 2022. Last November, he was successful in being re-elected for a further four-year term. McGauran's departure will see the ATC Board function with six committee members in the interim. The ATC Board comprises seven directors, four elected by ATC members while three independent directors are appointed by Racing Minister David Harris on the recommendation of a selection panel. With McGauran's place a Government appointment, it will be the role of Minister Harris to set about identifying a replacement.
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Racing Confidential: The leading contenders to replace Peter McGauran as ATC chairman
The Australian Turf Club board will vote on a new chairman and vice-chair at the end of the month in the wake of Wednesday's surprise resignation of incumbent Peter McGauran. McGauran announced his decision this week to vacate his post as chairman and director on the board prior to the expiration of his term in January, 2026. • 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! The decision comes in the wake of the ATC's failed bid to sell Rosehill Gardens racecourse, of which McGauran was a staunch advocate, following a members vote in May. McGauran labelled the decision 'a lost opportunity for the club' after 56.1 per cent of members said 'no' to the sale. It led to a petition from the Save Rosehill group calling on McGauran to resign – a fate which has now become a reality. Six directors will remain on the board including current vice-chair Tim Hale as well as Ben Bayot, Caroline Searcy, Natalie Hewson, David McGrath and Annette English. All directors will have the opportunity to contest for the chairman seat at their next board meeting, slated for July 28, with McGauran also set to get a vote before departing his post. Hale and McGrath are understood to be the leading candidates vying for the chairman role. It will be up to the NSW Government and Racing Minister David Harris to determine if another director joins the board and who that may be after McGauran departs. â– â– â– â– â– FORD IN DOUBT AFTER FALL Group 1 jockey Jay Ford escaped serious injury after falling at Canterbury Park on Wednesday but remains a 50-50 chance of riding at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Ford knocked his head when he came off Investment at the midweek meeting and had to be taken to hospital for further assessment. He released late on Wednesday night but had to forgo his rides at Gosford on Wednesday as he continued to deal with a headache. Ford has been booked for six rides on Saturday. â– â– â– â– â– KATSU WEIGHT CHALLENGE Victorian raider Katsu would equal a modern day weight carrying record in Sydney if he was to lug the monster impost of 64kg to victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Lindsay Park galloper was given the topweight of 66kg as a 90-rater in The Agency Real Estate Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m). The 2kg claim of star apprentice Braith Nock gets him in with a slightly more manageable weight. But history is against Katsu as no horse this century has carried 64kg to victory in a Sydney Saturday race. It was way back on October 26, 1997 that Anthems defied the heavyweight task to score in a 3YOs and Up Two Handicap (1500m) with Rod Quinn aboard at Rosehill Gardens. The John Hawkes-trained gelding was a two-time Group 1 winner as a juvenile. The last horse to carry 64kg in Sydney was My Truth at Warwick Farm on June 12, 2023. He finished last. On a Saturday, Mahagoni lumped the same weight to creditable sixth in the $500,000 Four Pillars at Rosehill Gardens on October 29, 2022. Zoushack carried 64.5kg to salute at the midweeks at Warwick Farm on October 19 of the same year. Katsu is a $4.60 chance to prevail this weekend.
