Dear Members of the AJC

The Board and Executive of the AJC wish to alert members and all those with an interest and concern for racing of a pending decision by the caretaker Board of Racing NSW to change a time honoured schedule of Easter Saturday racing at Royal Randwick. Should this decision go through the historic link between the AJC and Easter will be broken, with a plan to reallocate 50% of Easter Saturday’s from 2010.

We are extremely concerned our submission to the caretaker Board (a summary of which can be viewed on our website) and prolonged protestations on behalf of our members, appears to have been overridden in favour of other interests. Our concern is twofold: firstly, why such a monumental decision to undo a tradition of racing which has been in place for over 150 years being rushed through by a caretaker Board, when a new Board of RNSW is imminent?

Secondly, we firmly believe such a move to potentially remove half of all Easter Saturdays from Royal Randwick is misguided and detrimental to the interests not only of the club, but of the racing industry. Overall attendance and wagering turnover could be adversely affected, and be confusing for the racing public for whom Easter Saturday is synonymous with Royal Randwick.

We urge you to voice your concerns by making contact directly either by phone or email to the Hon. Kevin Greene, Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Peter V’Landys, the CEO of Racing NSW, prior to the Board meeting on Tuesday 25 November.

Contact details are as follows:

The Hon. Kevin Greene
Minister for Gaming and Racing
Level 36
Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 9228 5331
Fax: 9228 5549

Mr. Peter V’Landys
Chief Executive
Racing NSW
Level 7
51 Druitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 9551 7500
Fax: 9551 7501

Yours Sincerely, 

Norman Gillespie
Chief Executive Officer