Independent MP Mark Latham was ejected from one of Randwick’s biggest racedays, with the Australian Turf Club confirming the former club member was not permitted within the members area of the racecourse due to "disciplinary proceedings".
The controversial politician had been subject to a good behaviour bond by the ATC earlier this year after a raceday run-in at Rosehill with ATC executive Steve McMahon. However, Latham has since renounced his ATC membership.
According to reports, Latham was walking between the Chairman’s Lounge and Grand View Restaurant in the members area at Randwick during Saturday’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap meeting when he was asked to leave by ATC staff.
An argument ensured before Latham and his companion were both escorted from the racecourse by NSW police.
Latham said on social media that he had no knowledge of being banned from attending the ATC members area at Sydney’s four racetracks, Randwick, Rosehill, Warwick Farm and Canterbury.
An ATC spokesman issued a statement confirming the incident had taken place.
“We can confirm an incident occurred regarding a former member who had been subject to disciplinary proceedings,” he said. “He was asked to leave the racecourse.”
Latham said he was admitted through three checkpoints by the club and was now considering his legal options over the incident.
"After an ATC director went out of her way to greet me, discuss relevant matters and made no mention of any problem whatsoever with me being on-course," he said on X.
"And I have never been notified of such, had a hearing or process about my rights as a guest of an ATC member, as I was today.
"Plus I was at Rosehill 4 weeks ago as a guest of a member, not a word said all day. Outrageous."
He continued: "The ATC has never held a hearing or notified me of a racetrack ban. Nothing until today when they called Maroubra Police. This is simply vicious payback for stopping the sale of Rosehill.
"I have spoken to my lawyers to commence legal proceedings."
After his exit from Randwick, Latham then travelled to Kembla Grange racecourse to watch his horse run.
Latham has been a major critic of the ATC during the proposed sale of Rosehill and his argument with McMahon occurred in the build up to the club member vote in May which saw that controversial proposal defeated.
That incident was dealt with via a members’ disciplinary process in June, before Latham confirmed he would no longer be a member of the club.
The McMahon incident is also the centre of a current Racing NSW show cause hearing. Latham is subject to Racing NSW rules as a racehorse owner and could face a possible banning order from all NSW racetracks.
Latham has used his position within parliament to raise concerns with how Racing NSW and its CEO Peter V’landys conduct business. He has made serious allegations about both the racing regulator and the CEO under parliamentary privilege.
The Latham-V’landys feud exploded during a Select Committee parliamentary hearing last year which was supposed to be focused on the sale of Rosehill.
V’landys’ conduct during that hearing was the subject of a subsequent privilege committee investigation, while Latham is also subject to a similar inquiry after he revealed V’landys’ home address during a parliamentary estimates hearing with Racing Minister David Harris last month.
Latham has courted controversy throughout most of his parliamentary career. But the Upper House member’s calls for greater transparency from Racing NSW has resonated strongly with industry critics of the racing regulator.
Bren O’Brien
