The Kanga comeback – former MRC chairman to stand in VRC election

Former Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) chairman John Kanga has thrown his hat in the ring for the upcoming Victoria Racing Club (VRC) board election and will stand as an independent candidate.

With four positions open on the VRC board, and nominations to close on Thursday, Kanga has put his name forward, only 13 months after he stood down from his chairmanship of the MRC after a high-profile and eventful 12-month tenure.

As well as the vacancy left by retiring chairman Neil Wilson, also up for grabs are the director seats of likely incoming chairman Vin Cox, treasurer Glen Carmody and director Michael Saadie, all of whom are seeking re-election.

A contested ballot would go to a members’ vote towards the end of November, with the result announced at the annual general meeting at Flemington on December 15.

The VRC has named Cox its 23rd chairman, effective at the close of that meeting, but he must first retain his board position.

In a statement announcing his candidature, Kanga distanced his campaign from MRC vice chairman and powerful industry figure Jonathan Munz.

“I am an independent candidate,” he said. “I respect Jonathan and agree with most of his views on what is best for the industry, but he is not involved in my campaign and did not encourage me to run as a candidate.

“I have my own views, my own experience and reasons for wanting to contribute. I make my own decisions, always have and always will.”

His campaign statement centres on member service, food and drink prices, membership value and the race-day experience at Flemington, and it points to his record at Caulfield.

“When I was chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, we delivered better value for money on food, drinks and membership, and importantly, we listened to our members,” he said.

Kanga has been a proponent of club mergers and while he was MRC chairman, he met Wilson and current VRC vice-chair Michael Ramsden at Munz’s Toorak home to discuss bringing Flemington and Caulfield under one administration.

While he has yet to confirm his position, Cox is known to oppose any club merger, and chief executive Kylie Rogers has told VRC members the club had “no reason, financial or otherwise” to pursue a merger.

However, Cox position as chairman is not yet guaranteed as he will need to win re-election after his three-year term expires.

It is believed he was narrowly approved as the next chairman in a board vote, but that process has become politicised with widespread reports that Ramsden still covets the role.

Kanga’s entry into the race is another wildcard, given his strong profile. While he has no official role within racing, he has been seen regularly discussing a variety of issues with racing figures over the spring carnival.

During Kanga’s time as MRC chairman, the club abandoned plans to sell Sandown for housing, reinstated the mounting yard in the space facing the Caulfield members’ stand and dropped a proposed $250 million grandstand.

He resigned as chairman and from the committee before the 2025 Caulfield Cup carnival, following media coverage of associations from his past.

Munz took his committee position and became vice chairman, and Cameron Fisher became chairman.