Mike Hirst has marked the end of his tenure as interim Racing Victoria chairman with a stern defence of the board's achievements and a rebuke to TROA boss Jonathan Munz.
Hirst has served as RV’s interim chairman since Brian Kruger left the role 12 months ago. After a year marked by instability, he twice had his term extended as Racing Minister Anthony Carbines failed to find a replacement.
Last Friday, Tim Eddy, who was already on the board, was confirmed as the permanent RV chairman after Carbines failed to convince Gillion McLachlan to take the role.
That appointment drew a strong reaction from Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA) Chairman Munz, who refuted the claim that Eddy had the widespread support of stakeholders.
Hirst issued a statement on Monday having officially stepped down as a director of the board after nine years.
“I am very grateful to have been afforded an opportunity to contribute to an industry that I love. I have been fortunate to meet a lot of similarly committed people and will walk away with admiration for all those who give so much,” he said.
“However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a director of Racing Victoria (and Acting Chair for two years), it’s that you can put seven participants in a room and get eight different opinions. Or occasionally, as we have seen recently, you get a single opinion that tries to dominate.
“One of the great strengths of our industry is that everyone is passionate. One of its weaknesses is that the loudest voices, mostly driven by self-interest, sometimes drown out the facts and occasionally end up giving the industry a black eye.”
Hirst, who has assumed the role as chairman of AMP, called out Munz’s latest missive on Eddy, accusing him of bluster and “appalling behaviour”.
“For some reason the TROA Chairman, Jonathan Munz, can’t find a positive or constructive thing to say about the performance of RV,” he said.
“His latest target is Tim Eddy, the newly elected Chair whose appointment has been welcomed by every club and stakeholder group except TROA.
“Once again, with his trademark bluster, Munz claims to represent the views of the industry when in reality he speaks for nobody but himself.”
Bren O’Brien
Hirst said Munz had suffered a “comprehensive defeat” in February when he called an extraordinary general meeting to vote on the future of five board members, including Eddy, but failed to get the votes required.
“Rather than accept the verdict, Munz continues his ongoing public, personal and vitriolic attacks on the Racing Minister, and RV board and executives. And anyone else who doesn’t bow down to him or agree with everything he says,” Hirst said.
“How he believes his appalling behaviour advances the industry, interests of owners, or assists TROA’s effectiveness as a stakeholder is anyone’s guess.”
Bren O’Brien
Hirst said during his time as a director, the RV board had steered the Victorian industry through “a time of unprecedented challenges”.
“When most sports shut down during COVID, the industry worked around the clock to keep racing going, with RV injecting $75 million into our clubs and helping save 25,000 jobs,” he said.
“Faced with the end of existing funding arrangements through our JV with Tabcorp, we negotiated a landmark 10-year, $2 billion funding agreement with the Victorian Government to secure the industry’s future.
“In my nine years on the Board wagering turnover on Victorian racing has grown from $5.3 billion to $8.8 billion, annual industry prizemoney and bonuses on offer has grown by over $140 million, and club funding has doubled (not including the COVID payments).”
He also cited the VOBIS program, the development of the racing program, and the acquisition of a 100-acre property at Oaklands as further achievements.
“All of that was led by a board with deep experience in all the areas that matter,” he said.
