Reporters dragged into Racing NSW’s internal war
A dispute at the top of the powerful NSW racing administration has descended into accusations that each side used its preferred publishers and broadcasters to attack the other in the lead-up to a decision on the tenure of Racing NSW chairman Russell Balding.
The acrimony, which appears in leaked emails obtained by The Australian Financial Review, comes as the Minns government considered changing laws to allow Mr Balding to remain in his position despite exceeding existing restrictions on how long a director can remain on the board.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys is one of the most powerful figures in the industry. Rhett Wyman
Racing Minister David Harris last week announced he would change the legislation to extend Mr Balding’s term by two years, which has divided the racing industry. Former Racing NSW chairman John Messara, star horse trainer Gai Waterhouse and Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page have publicly expressed their disdain for the decision.
In emails to Aushorse chairman Antony Thompson, Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys demanded to know whether the industry marketing body was assisting Guardian Australia reporter Anne Davies, who was writing on the relationship between racing and government.
Mr V’landys also accused the organisation of orchestrating a campaign to damage his and Mr Balding’s reputations and boost the Victorian industry, and demanded to know whether Aushorse was leaking information to the government that could affect Mr Balding’s term.
“What is most disappointing is that the NSW thoroughbred racing industry has many competitors but, rather than working together, some sectors seem intent on tearing it apart,” he wrote in one email, circulated widely within the industry, in
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