John Kanga is the new chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, winning out in a bitter board battle that has seen rival Nick Hassett opt to step aside.
Kanga had led a strong campaign to call a board spill via a special general meeting, a request ultimately denied before last week’s annual general meeting where it was announced that Sheamus Mills and Cameron Fisher had been voted onto the 10-person Committee.
That left the board essentially split 5-5 on a new chairman between those who supported Kanga and those who supported Hassett.
The Straight understands that the impasse was resolved at a board meeting on Thursday, with Kanga elected chairman and Hassett deciding to leave the board.
Hassett’s replacement has yet to be confirmed but it is believed he will be replaced by Frank Pollio, which allows the Kanga faction a controlling position in its agenda.
The MRC sent a statement out to members on Thursday night saying the committee will convene next week to finalise the remaining office bearer positions.
Kanga has previously said he wanted to hit pause on the Caulfield masterplan, which involves the replacement of the Rupert Clarke grandstand, relocate the mounting yard from where it was rebuilt this year, and look to preserve the long-term future of Sandown Racecourse.
Should he persist with those measures, it would be a major change of strategy from that pursued under previous chairman Matt Cain, whose term came to an end last week.
Kanga and fellow board members Caitrin Kelly and Alison Saville were threatened with disciplinary action over comments made in the lead-up to the AGM. However, that action was delayed after threats of legal action.
The MRC, which has substantial gaming and hospitality interests, is currently searching for a new CEO after Josh Blanksby left the role at the end of August.
Warwick Barr
