NSW Racing Minister David Harris’ decision to select former director Kevin Greene to return to the Racing NSW board has drawn the ire of Thoroughbred Breeders NSW chairman Hamish Esplin who has described the decision as “bitterly disappointing”.
Esplin, a respected breeder and head of TBNSW since 2021, says his objection is nothing to do with the professional capability of Greene, the former Racing and Gaming Minister who previously served on the Racing NSW board from 2011 until 2018, but everything to do with the sign it sends the rest of the industry.
“TBNSW is extremely disappointed at the announcement that the best candidate that they could find for a new appointment to the Racing NSW board was a former member,” Esplin told The Straight.
“I have not met Kevin Greene, and I have not met (newly elected chair) Saranne Cooke at all, so this is not a personal comment on their skills.
“But we have just gone through several months of very public statements about the role of corporate governance of Racing NSW and the involvement of government in the decision-making as to what goes on there, in respect to leadership.”
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