MRC appoints new Caulfield racecourse manager

Sam Bennetts will lead the Caulfield racecourse management team as part of a series of changes and appointments at the Melbourne Racing Club.

Bennetts has served as assistant racecourse manager at Caulfield since joining the MRC from the Australian Turf Club last year.

He assumes the top role following the departure of Tim Bailey.

Bailey has taken the job as general manager for racecourses with Southside Racing.

James McElgunn and Tom Brown have been appointed assistant racecourse manager and foreman, respectively, at Caulfield.

The trio have been instrumental players in an MRC team overseeing the delivery of the Caulfield Heath, just the fourth new turf track to open in Victoria in 50 years.

The changes come as Caulfield will stage 31 race meetings during the 2024/25 racing season.

Ten of those fixtures will be held on the Heath track.

The MRC has also appointed Tate Griffin as its new assistant racecourse manager at Sandown.

Griffin takes a management role with the MRC having helmed the Super Gardens crew at the course.

“This has been a long-term ambition of mine since entering the racing industry in 2009, and I am very fortunate to follow in the footsteps of such well-respected and trusted racecourse managers here at MRC,” Bennetts said.