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Messara Steps Down as Racing Australia Chair

by TDN AusNZ

Racing Australia has had its second high-profile resignation this week, with John Messara stepping down as the Chair of the embattled body, just a day after it was announced CEO Myles Foreman would be leaving.

Messara was appointed the first Independent Chairman in June last year replacing Greg Nichols and was charged with the task of breaking the state-based deadlock which has plagued the organisation for several years.

However, he was not able to reconcile the differences between the major state bodies, chiefly Racing New South Wales and Racing Victoria, nor was he able to progress on the stated aims of Racing Australia and he has decided to step down.

“I joined the Board of Racing Australia as its first-ever Independent Chairman with the intention of reconciling differences,” he said in a short statement.

“I am now stepping aside to allow the Board to vote in a new Chair, who I hope will have more success than I have had.”

When Messara assumed the role of Chair, he listed animal welfare, whip reform and the prolonged debate between the states over the group and listed racing Pattern as priorities to address.

The Board, which will shortly consider the replacement process for a new Chair, paid tribute to Messara, who also held the position of Chairman from 2014 to 2016.

The Arrowfield Chairman has a long list of leadership roles in Australian racing, including as Racing NSW Chairman from 2011 to 2016.

On Tuesday, Racing Australia confirmed that Foreman would step down as CEO after two years in the role and 16 years with the organisation.

“The Board joins me in thanking Myles for his hard work and dedication to the advancement of Australian racing and breeding over the past 16 years and we wish him well in the future, including in the establishment of his sports and business consultancy company,” Messara said on Tuesday.

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Messara Elected Chair Of Racing Australia After Appointment As Independent Director

John Messara was unanimously appointed by the Directors of Racing Australia as an Independent Director and elected as Chair of Racing Australia, replacing Greg Nichols whose term as Chair concluded in April 2021.

The Constitution of Racing Australia allows for the appointment of an Independent Director in addition to the Directors nominated by each of the Principal Racing Authorities. This is the first time that an Independent Director has been appointed since the establishment of Racing Australia.

John Messara brings to the role a long record of dynamic leadership in Australian Thoroughbred breeding, racing and administration. Earlier this month he was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame as an Associate, recognizing his achievements as the founder and owner of Arrowfield Stud, and his industry service in several roles, including as the Chairman of Racing New South Wales from 2011–16, and as the inaugural Chair of Racing Australia from 2014–16.

Speaking upon his appointment, John Messara thanked the Directors for the opportunity and responsibility to continue the work of Racing Australia as Chair, and paid tribute to Greg Nichols, who remains on the Board as a Director. “Greg has made an outstanding contribution as Chairman, particularly over the last 16 months dealing with the many challenges our industry has faced due to the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19.

“After more than four years away from administration, I can see how much more our industry can achieve with strong interstate relationships and collaboration,” he added. “I look forward to working with all the Principal Racing Authorities, the Directors and Racing Australia's Executive for the benefit of everyone who works and invests in the Australian thoroughbred industry.”

The Racing Australia Board will meet in mid-July and in the meantime will continue to deliver key industry services and leadership across its Breeding and Racing operations.

The post Messara Elected Chair Of Racing Australia After Appointment As Independent Director appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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New Australian Regulations To Protect Thoroughbreds Effective May 1

Racing Australia will begin enforcing its new traceability rules on May 1. Created in an effort to ensure Thoroughbred health and welfare by tracing racehorses throughout their lives, officials hope the rules will result in positive equine welfare outcomes.

The new rules will require regular and detailed reporting of a horse's status and movements, providing transparency about where Australian Thoroughbreds are and what they are doing. The rules apply to breeding horses, unnamed horses not registered to race, named and registered racehorses and retired racehorses. Racing Australia must be made aware of a horse's change of ownership, location change, retirement from breeding or racing, and a status update must be provided if the horse hasn't raced for six months. Death of a horse is also reportable. Each of these events must be reported to Racing Australia within a specific timeframe.

The new regulations also allow for stewards to enter a property to assess a horse's health and welfare; stewards are permitted to bring along anyone necessary to assist in the examinations. Anyone found to be in violation of these new rules is subject to restrictions of their ability to race or breed, and the withholding of earnings.

Though current reporting obligations end when a horse is retired from racing, sending a horse directly to slaughter or sending it to a sale where it might be sold to slaughter is prohibited. A potential joint effort between the racing industry and the government has been proposed to ensure retired racehorses stay safe throughout their lifetime, even after they leave the jurisdiction of Racing Australia.