- May 28, 2008
- 16,900
- 4,884
THERE are two positions to be filled in racing. One is important, the other is not.
Racing Victoria has advertised for a new chief executive. The industry cackle has the salary set at about $400,000. That suggests the job is between Bugs Bunny and Kermit the Frog.
Powerful people in racing go hoarse telling us the industry is a billion-dollar affair when you trace it from feed supplier, strapper and horse float driver through to jockeys, owners and trainers. It is therefore a little disappointing that the job of running the massive business is considered worth no more than the first at Flemington in the spring.
There are good men and women who would make a difference in the role. Acting chief executive Bernard Saundry has proved an adequate administrator since Jack Hindon disappeared during active service. Hindon was also known as Stephen Allanson. It depended on whether he was betting or not. Anyway, he departed leaving a paper trail the envy of Hansel and Gretel.
Andrew Harding is chief executive of the Australian Racing Board and appears quite a brilliant young administrator. He has proven ability to work with government and has a broad knowledge of the racing industry. Former VRC chief executive Brian Beattie has the wisdom and strength of personality to steer a sensible course in what will prove a most dramatic short-term future for racing in Victoria specifically and Australia generally.
Presumably, the Racing Victoria board thinks $400,000 is a significant figure considering it has recently trimmed nearly 40 jobs and $6 million from its bottom line. It is a mistake, saving money in all the wrong places.
Other names have been mentioned. Geelong Football Club chief executive Brian Cook would suit the position absolutely. But such are his talents that Cook is pushed up for every executive sporting position on offer. He was nearly flown over to the West Indies as Matthew Hayden's replacement. As good as he would be for Racing Victoria, the AFL, too, has long had its eye on him for the new team on the Gold Coast.
Then there is Essendon's boss Peter Jackson. The poor timing of Kevin Sheedy's exit aside, he has been critical to Essendon's growth as one of the most financially powerful clubs in the competition.
Jackson has been running Essendon since 1996. He is highly regarded by the hard markers inside football. Well-placed sources confirmed to The Australian yesterday that he was prominent on the short list for the vacant CEO's job. There is just one problem. Sheedy's sacking last season was a traumatic event for all involved - staff, board members, players and supporters.
Jackson might feel obliged to see Essendon through the first 12 months after Sheedy - coach for 27 years and this year inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame - to ensure the transition to Matthew Knights is as seamless as possible.
The other chief executive position vacant is that belonging to the Moonee Valley Racing Club. The advertisement for the position appeared last weekend. It mentioned that annual revenue was close to $50m and that the club employed around 100 people full-time. "This is a rare opportunity to take the reins of a legendary Melbourne Club and lead the delivery of its exciting future," read the advertisement.
And what future would that be? Already a select committee of racing administrators is considering the amalgamation of the three Melbourne race clubs - the Victoria Racing Club, the Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley.
On one level it makes sense because the most detailed study so far estimates that an amalgamation of all three clubs would save as much as $8m. As welcome as that would be for an industry facing a shrinking revenue base, it would be a one-off saving.
It would only be an incidental saving. If the marquee events that drive the revenue of all three clubs - the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington, the Caulfield Cup carnival at Caulfield and the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley - were damaged and therefore made less special then the long-term loss to the industry would far outweigh any $8m saving.
Racing now faces that very moment in time that confronted football in the mid-1980s when it was being pulled apart by self-interest. The football clubs fought each other for every dollar and the welfare of the sport was secondary. An independent commission was formed and Ross Oakley took over as chief executive. Clubs made sacrifices, gave up privileges, the number of home grounds was rationalised and the national draft was introduced.
The AFL has been able to assume control of major revenue streams and grow the sport - new teams are scheduled for the Gold Coast and Sydney - yet maintain the integrity of each club.
That is the issue facing racing. Three clubs running four tracks is an indulgence. But when they merge, and eventually they must, the new entity must ensure that the successful brands - Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and Cox Plate - still drive the business and the sport.
Football made the toughest of decisions and thrives. Racing can do it, too, if it has the nerve and the vision. And Jackson would be the ideal man to take the reins if he was so inclined. But Bugs Bunny he ain't.
Racing Victoria has advertised for a new chief executive. The industry cackle has the salary set at about $400,000. That suggests the job is between Bugs Bunny and Kermit the Frog.
Powerful people in racing go hoarse telling us the industry is a billion-dollar affair when you trace it from feed supplier, strapper and horse float driver through to jockeys, owners and trainers. It is therefore a little disappointing that the job of running the massive business is considered worth no more than the first at Flemington in the spring.
There are good men and women who would make a difference in the role. Acting chief executive Bernard Saundry has proved an adequate administrator since Jack Hindon disappeared during active service. Hindon was also known as Stephen Allanson. It depended on whether he was betting or not. Anyway, he departed leaving a paper trail the envy of Hansel and Gretel.
Andrew Harding is chief executive of the Australian Racing Board and appears quite a brilliant young administrator. He has proven ability to work with government and has a broad knowledge of the racing industry. Former VRC chief executive Brian Beattie has the wisdom and strength of personality to steer a sensible course in what will prove a most dramatic short-term future for racing in Victoria specifically and Australia generally.
Presumably, the Racing Victoria board thinks $400,000 is a significant figure considering it has recently trimmed nearly 40 jobs and $6 million from its bottom line. It is a mistake, saving money in all the wrong places.
Other names have been mentioned. Geelong Football Club chief executive Brian Cook would suit the position absolutely. But such are his talents that Cook is pushed up for every executive sporting position on offer. He was nearly flown over to the West Indies as Matthew Hayden's replacement. As good as he would be for Racing Victoria, the AFL, too, has long had its eye on him for the new team on the Gold Coast.
Then there is Essendon's boss Peter Jackson. The poor timing of Kevin Sheedy's exit aside, he has been critical to Essendon's growth as one of the most financially powerful clubs in the competition.
Jackson has been running Essendon since 1996. He is highly regarded by the hard markers inside football. Well-placed sources confirmed to The Australian yesterday that he was prominent on the short list for the vacant CEO's job. There is just one problem. Sheedy's sacking last season was a traumatic event for all involved - staff, board members, players and supporters.
Jackson might feel obliged to see Essendon through the first 12 months after Sheedy - coach for 27 years and this year inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame - to ensure the transition to Matthew Knights is as seamless as possible.
The other chief executive position vacant is that belonging to the Moonee Valley Racing Club. The advertisement for the position appeared last weekend. It mentioned that annual revenue was close to $50m and that the club employed around 100 people full-time. "This is a rare opportunity to take the reins of a legendary Melbourne Club and lead the delivery of its exciting future," read the advertisement.
And what future would that be? Already a select committee of racing administrators is considering the amalgamation of the three Melbourne race clubs - the Victoria Racing Club, the Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley.
On one level it makes sense because the most detailed study so far estimates that an amalgamation of all three clubs would save as much as $8m. As welcome as that would be for an industry facing a shrinking revenue base, it would be a one-off saving.
It would only be an incidental saving. If the marquee events that drive the revenue of all three clubs - the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington, the Caulfield Cup carnival at Caulfield and the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley - were damaged and therefore made less special then the long-term loss to the industry would far outweigh any $8m saving.
Racing now faces that very moment in time that confronted football in the mid-1980s when it was being pulled apart by self-interest. The football clubs fought each other for every dollar and the welfare of the sport was secondary. An independent commission was formed and Ross Oakley took over as chief executive. Clubs made sacrifices, gave up privileges, the number of home grounds was rationalised and the national draft was introduced.
The AFL has been able to assume control of major revenue streams and grow the sport - new teams are scheduled for the Gold Coast and Sydney - yet maintain the integrity of each club.
That is the issue facing racing. Three clubs running four tracks is an indulgence. But when they merge, and eventually they must, the new entity must ensure that the successful brands - Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and Cox Plate - still drive the business and the sport.
Football made the toughest of decisions and thrives. Racing can do it, too, if it has the nerve and the vision. And Jackson would be the ideal man to take the reins if he was so inclined. But Bugs Bunny he ain't.
