Australian Turf Club chairman Peter McGauran has resigned his position with the board following the fallout from the failed proposal to sell Rosehill racecourse.
The former federal politician, who also served as CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing Australia, had been ATC chairman since 2022.
He became the face of the $5 billion proposal to sell off Rosehill racecourse, an idea that fell short at a member vote in late May.
McGauran announced the Rosehill proposal alongside New South Wales Premier Chris Minns in December 2023 and along with key executive Steve McMahon, who was the architect of the idea, spearheaded a strategy which caused significant division within Sydney’s racing ranks.
On one hand, it promised to secure the financial future of Sydney racing for a generation, but on the other, it involved the sale of the club’s greatest asset.
He had survived several attempts to unset him from the chairmanship throughout the Rosehill saga, with the vocal and powerful Save Rosehill group repeatedly describing his position as untenable after the public scrutiny and the parliamentary inquiry.
The group has claimed it had gathered the required signatures to unseat McGauran, something that the ATC has denied.
Regardless, McGauran opted to end his own government-appointed term, which was due to continue until January next year.
“I have made this decision aware of the challenges for the ATC ahead and believe that a new Chairman and renewed focus will guide new initiatives for the Club’s future and its Members,” he said.
“I remain convinced the potential sale of Rosehill Gardens was a lost opportunity for the Club and the wider racing industry.”
“It was a fully transparent and vigorous debate, and I am grateful to the 44 per cent of ATC Members who voted in favour of the proposal.
“I believe history will judge the decision to pursue the vision as having been the right one.”
Warwick Barr
Minns, who had Rosehill as a centrepiece of his future housing policy, praised McGauran.
“Peter had a big vision for Sydney and Rosehill and I’ll always respect him for that. We’d love him to stay on, but Peter has elected to pass on the baton,” Minns said.
“He’s been a gentleman throughout - even in the face of tough debates - and always acted with integrity.
“We need more people bowling up ideas and trying to get things done for the city, not less.”
While the ATC financial future without the Rosehill deal remains uncertain, McGauran said he was proud of what he was able to achieve in his three-year reign.
“When I was elected Chairman, the Club had posted a financial year deficit of $6.9 million and had a top-heavy management structure,” he said.
“In the past three years we have driven down costs, including a restructure of the leadership team, which assisted the Club in posting an operating surplus of $570,000 in 2023/2024.”
“There have been many highlights in my time on the Board including a sold-out Royal Randwick at last year’s TAB Everest and the number of Victorian trainers now stabled in Sydney.”
“I am especially proud of the tough decision we made, in the face of strong opposition, to introduce later trackwork starting times in the interest of stable staff safety and wellbeing.”
Bren O’Brien
Save Rosehill has said it was poised to file its petition to remove McGauran this week.
“The Save Rosehill petition to remove McGauran was overwhelmingly supported, exceeding the required threshold and applying the necessary pressure for change from engaged members,” Save Rosehill representative Julia Ritchie said.
