Steve McMahon in ATC hot seat as Galanos takes spring break

Steve McMahon is acting as chief executive of the Australian Turf Club during one of its busiest periods in the build up to The Everest while incumbent Matt Galanos takes personal leave.

*Matt Galanos has taken leave from his position in charge of the Australian Turf Club. (Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)*

As speculation mounts about the tenure of Galanos, who has been CEO two-and-a-half years, it has emerged that McMahon has taken on extra responsibility just as Sydney’s spring carnival heats up.

McMahon, the ATC’s head of corporate affairs and government relations, was a leading figure, alongside then chair Peter McGauran, in championing the $5 billion sale of Rosehill racecourse to the state government.

ATC members eventually voted down the sale proposal in a 56 per cent to 44 per cent count, paving the way for changes at board level with deputy Tim Hale appointed as chair amid McGauran’s unceremonious departure.

Galanos’ absence presents another challenge for the new-look ATC administration under the chairmanship of Hale, who has been charged with reuniting a fractured ATC membership following more than 18 months of bitter infighting about the proposed sale of Rosehill.

Hale, who campaigned for the retention of Rosehill, declined to comment about the status of Galanos’ employment when contacted by The Straight on Monday.

The uncertain situation threatens to take some of the spotlight away from the on-track action where Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising’s presence in Sydney for The Everest promises to be a World Pool bonanza for the club’s stretched coffers.

Saturday’s Randwick meeting will see the return of the unbeaten Everest contender Private Harry, TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa, top sprinter Joliestar and reigning Golden Slipper-winning filly Marhoona in the Group 2 The Shorts while the $1 million 7 Stakes will be a key lead-up to the Group 1 Epsom Handicap.

The ATC’s chief financial officer for a decade, Galanos was promoted to the top job following the sudden departure of Jamie Barkley in April 2023. He initially served in an acting capacity before getting the job on a permanent basis in August 2023.

It was McMahon and McGauran – and not Galanos – who were the club’s public advocates for the failed proposal to sell Rosehill to the NSW government.

It attracted stinging criticism from members as well as premier trainers Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse who both appeared before a NSW Upper House parliamentary inquiry investigating the unsolicited sale process.

McGauran and McMahon, the latter a close friend and former work colleague of the state’s Premier Chris Minns, also fronted the inquiry as did Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys. Galanos was not called before the parliamentary committee.

The initial vote on the sale of Rosehill was delayed by Racing NSW, which claimed ATC members did not have the satisfactory information to make an informed decision.

But at the rescheduled vote in late May, the majority of ATC members sided with keeping the western Sydney racecourse alongside Randwick, Warwick Farm and Canterbury.

McGauran announced his decision to stand down on July 9 in an early exit from a government-appointed position that was due to continue until January 2026.

Racing media identity Caroline Searcy was voted in as the ATC’s deputy chair upon the ascension of Hale to chair.

McGauran’s replacement on the board in his government-appointed role has not been announced.