A spate of resignations among Australia’s senior racing figures has continued with Tony Partridge stepping down as Brisbane Racing Club chief executive.
According to reports on Racenet, Partridge will depart the BRC after five years at the helm.
He told BRC staff of his decision on Wednesday and will reportedly finish at the end of the week.
He told Racenet that he was departing to tackle a new challenge.
"I believe now is the best time for me to depart with the business, having just delivered another successful Stradbroke season and opened our newly built licensed club," he said.
Partridge assumed the role in 2019.
He moved to Queensland following a term as acting chief executive of the Australian Turf Club, where he also served as its chief operating officer.
Partridge, a lawyer by trade, joined the ATC after a long and successful period at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.
Bren O’Brien
As general counsel and commercial director, Partridge helped grow the stadium's business after the 2000 Olympics to the stage where it regularly held more than 50 annual events.
Partridge worked with the four codes of football, cricket and concert promoters on major events and with broadcasters, wagering providers, suppliers and major sponsors in the racing industry.
Warwick Barr
During this year's Brisbane City Council elections, Partridge was unwittingly dragged into the Brisbane lord mayoral race.
As part of his election campaign, Greens councillor and lord mayor candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan said he wanted the BRC’s Eagle Farm racetrack turned into land for 4000 apartments and green space.
In a letter to BRC members, Partridge wrote: “Let’s be frank about these comments - the Greens despise horse racing.”
Partridge is the third chief executive to resign from a major Australian race club in 2024.
Steve Rosich quit his post as Victoria Racing Club boss in April with AFL administrator Kylie Rogers stepping into the role on September 1.
A day after Rogers’ appointment, the Melbourne Racing Club announced the departure of long-serving boss Josh Blanksby.
Blanksby, who spent 10 years as MRC chief executive, will finish on August 31.
Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones also called time on his tenure in April.
