Bren O'Brien

Chief executive-elect Gillon McLachlan has identified that Tabcorp requires a reset of team, culture and cadence to become a simplified and more focused organisation and has outlined a national tote as key to that strategy.

The possibility of 40,000 houses and a new Metro station led the Australian Turf Club down the path of its proposal to sell Rosehill racecourse. But questions remain over which key figures were discussed with whom before the idea was made public in December.

Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins believes clouds over integrity, wagering and the Tasmanian industry’s financial future are beginning to lift as he plots a path for blue skies and certainty for participants.

The composition of the Racing NSW Board, the spread of prize money and the conduct of the Australian Turf Club have been put under scrutiny by respected thoroughbred industry figure Ron Finemore at the Rosehill parliamentary inquiry.

Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa is the sixth Australian Group 1 winner for Lope De Vega, the one-time shuttle stallion whose influence persists in Australia a decade after he last served here. This week’s Run The Numbers examines his Australian record and that of his own sire Shamardal.

The upgraded status of three stakes races on Saturday’s feature The Everest meeting at Randwick is yet to be internationally recognised as uncertainty persists over the black type pattern in Australia.

Interstate racing bodies are unlikely to acknowledge some of the upgrades made to 12 races in New South Wales, in a move which may have consequences for horses looking to qualify or move up the order of entry to the Melbourne Cup.