The short reign of John Kanga as chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club has come to a dramatic end on the eve of one of the club’s biggest days of the year.
Kanga, who fought his way to the role of chairman via a bitter board battle last year, had presided over a major period of change at the MRC, which oversees Caulfield, Sandown and Mornington racecourses, and is the richest race club in Australia.
His sudden resignation came on Friday, less than 24 hours before Caulfield was due to host its marquee Guineas day meeting.
He cited "public attacks" on his character and the desire not to be a distraction to the club during the Caulfield Cup carnival as the reasons for his decision to resign.
“In recent weeks there has been a series of public attacks directed at me personally. While I completely reject the nature and accuracy of those attacks, I do not want them to distract from the Club, its members, or the excitement of the Caulfield Cup carnival,” he said.
“My decision to step aside is about putting the interests of the club and the broader racing industry ahead of my own.
“The MRC is bigger than any one individual, and I want to ensure the focus remains where it belongs – on racing, our members, staff, and delivering a world-class spring carnival.”
Vice chairman, Cameron Fisher has been elected chairman.
The sudden decision comes amid a series of articles about the operation of the MRC published by Nine media. It is believed there are more specific revelations around Kanga’s background to come.
The Straight understands that the committee and other industry powerbrokers met this week to discuss Kanga’s future.
Acting chief executive Tanya Fullarton praised Kanga’s actions to put the club first.
“John’s decision to step aside reflects his deep respect for the club and its members. We thank him for his service and wish him all the very best for the future,” she said.
“The committee’s appointment of Cameron Fisher as chairman ensures strong leadership and continuity as we head into the Caulfield Cup carnival.”
Kanga, who has served on the MRC committee since 2023, was elevated to chairman after a prolonged battle, having withstood a challenge from former vice-chairman Nick Hassett last year. He was then re-elected uncontested only last month.
He enjoyed somewhat of a honeymoon in the first three months in the chairman’s role, having led the initiative to preserve Sandown racecourse, cancel a proposed major renovation of Caulfield and move the Caulfield mounting yard back to its position and having announced a key land sale to relieve the club of $195 million worth of debt.
Bren O’Brien
A grandstand fire in January saw Kanga leading the clean-up effort, and he was joined by newly appointed chief executive Tom Reilly.
Kanga was also front and centre trackside when Feroce, a horse he part-owned, won the Australian Guineas at Flemington.
He was also reportedly part of a meeting with Victoria Racing Club board members at racing powerbroker Jonathan Munz’s Toorak mansion to discuss a possible merger of the two metropolitan clubs.
That didn’t proceed, as the VRC’s appetite for a merger waned.
Reilly’s appointment was to prove short-lived. He departed in June with the MRC issuing a rambling press release. Committee member Barb Saunders resigned in the ensuing days, citing governance concerns.
Bren O’Brien
Fullarton, closely aligned with Munz, was appointed firstly as chief operating officer and then as acting chief executive.
While things have seemed to settle back down and Kanga was reappointed to the committee without contest in September, there has been scrutiny over the bulk purchases of memberships, as reported in The Age.
A club probe confirmed there was a block of 24 memberships linked to Kanga’s family and friends purchased before the board dramas in 2024. The investigation found those purchases to be legitimate.
Fisher, a club member since 1990, was elected to the MRC committee in 2024.
