Trio vies for ATC leadership as appointment of McGauran’s successor is brought forward

Three candidates are vying for the chairmanship of the Australian Turf Club as the board attempts to unite a fractured membership after an extended period of bitter infighting about the sale of Rosehill.

Almost two months since ATC members voted against the proposal to sell Rosehill to the state government for $5 billion, a proposal which split the board, the racing club directors will meet on Monday afternoon to vote on who will replace Peter McGauran, the man who championed the plan to sell the Sydney racecourse.

A proponent of the radical plan, which he believed would have shored up Sydney racing for at least the next 50 years, McGauran signalled his intent to resign as the ATC chair on July 9, forcing the election of a new leader.

Ben Bayot, who is believed to have the support of the outgoing McGauran, current vice-chair Tim Hale, and David McGrath have emerged as the directors most likely to be voted in as the next leader of the ATC, which runs Sydney’s Randwick, Rosehill, Canterbury and Warwick Farm racecourses.

Annette English, who was elected in February on a mandate of opposing the sale of Rosehill, shapes as the most likely vice-chair under a Hale or McGrath-led board with the duo also in the no sale faction.

The Straight has been told that racing media identity Caroline Searcy, who joined the ATC in February 2023, could be voted in as vice-chair on a Bayot-led board.

Less likely, although possible, is that Searcy could also become vice-chair to either Hale or McGrath.

McGauran would not comment about the meeting or how he intended to vote in the secret ballot when contacted by this publication on Sunday.

The decision was initially scheduled for a July 28 board meeting, but a vote has been brought forward by seven days to a newly convened meeting, as directors try to move forward from a tumultuous 20-month period for the club.

Peter McGauran resigns from ATC amid Rosehill fallout

Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran has resigned his position with the board following the fallout from the failed proposal to sell Rosehill racecourse.

The StraightBren O’Brien

The term of government appointee McGauran, who joined the board in 2022 and was elected as chair later that year, was set to expire in January next year but he opted to resign earlier this month.

“I have made this decision aware of the challenges for the ATC ahead and believe that a new Chairman and renewed focus will guide new initiatives for the Club’s future and its Members,” McGauran said in his resignation statement earlier this month. 

“I remain convinced the potential sale of Rosehill Gardens was a lost opportunity for the Club and the wider racing industry.” 

“It was a fully transparent and vigorous debate, and I am grateful to the 44 per cent of ATC Members who voted in favour of the proposal.

“I believe history will judge the decision to pursue the vision as having been the right one.” 

If former federal Coalition government minister McGauran did not resign, the vocal Save Rosehill group claimed it had the numbers to file a petition to force an end to his tenure. The ATC, however, disputed this claim.