Racing NSW board unanimous in appointing Graeme Hinton as new chief executive

Racing NSW has wasted little time finding a successor to Peter V’landys, appointing Graeme Hinton as chief executive in a unanimous board decision, with the former chief operating officer to formally take up the role on December 1.

Since July, Hinton has served as acting chief executive during V’landys’ leave. V’landys announced his departure last Thursday to take up the NRL’s executive chairman role, and will finish on November 30, ending 22 years in the job.

Racing NSW chair Dr Saranne Cooke commented on the appointment, which was announced four days after V’landys made his departure public, and before the release of the much-awaited Hazzard review into racing’s governance structures.

“The Board has had a succession plan in place for a number of years. When Peter advised us of his decision, we consulted key stakeholders across the industry, and their support for Graeme was resounding. The Board’s decision was unanimous,” she said.

“The industry faces significant opportunities and risks over the coming years, and a Chief Executive Officer with deep experience in wagering and racing is critical,” she said.

Hinton described the opportunity to lead Racing NSW as a privilege.

“Racing is part of the economic and social fabric of our entire state. It provides employment to tens of thousands of people and entertainment to many, many more,” he said.

“I have been honoured to have spent the past decade involved in growing and improving this industry and ensuring that we have the foundations in place to protect it for the future.

“I look forward to working closely with the Racing NSW Board, our clubs, participants and industry partners to build on these strong foundations to ensure NSW remains at the forefront of racing in Australia and internationally.”

“Anyone who knows me knows that I am always willing to listen and always keen to help. I want to continue to do that, so we can tackle the industry’s challenges together and ensure that it is here for generations to come.”

V’landys endorsed Hinton, who worked closely with him for more than a decade, as the perfect candidate to succeed him.

“He is a brilliant commercial operator and is just as comfortable making the hard decisions as a regulator, without fear or favour,” V’landys said.

Hinton expressed an interest in the permanent job in May, when V’landys announced he would be taking leave.

He was seen as the hot favourite to assume the role, although it was expected the release of the Hazzard review might delay the process.

However, Racing NSW has moved with surprising speed, crediting Hinton with contributing to the launch of The Everest and the expansion of the NSW Spring Carnival.

It also pointed to his work developing the organisation’s equine welfare programs during his time as chief operating officer.

“There is arguably no one in racing with Graeme’s breadth of knowledge, from the dynamics of wagering to the racing program, equine and participant welfare and the fundamentally important role of regulation,” Cooke said.

Cooke said Hinton was “widely respected amongst participants and clubs”. She also described him as “a big thinker who wants to grow racing, not simply manage it”.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris welcomed the appointment. “Mr Hinton brings valued experience and expertise to the role, and I look forward to working with him,” he said.

Hinton’s appointment comes while the NSW Government is considering a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996. In July, Brad Hazzard, who previously served as NSW health minister, lodged the review; its terms of reference cover Racing NSW’s governance structures and processes.

The review could reshape the parameters of Hinton’s future role.

Four days before the appointment was announced, the Racing Reform Group NSW called for the review’s release before Racing NSW selected a permanent chief executive.

The review’s terms also address possible legislative amendments, sustainability, stakeholder consultation and transparency. They leave out provisions that make Racing NSW independent of government, as well as those concerning industry funding.