Political bombshell throws Demons’ Caulfield dream into chaos
Even figures within racing were privately acknowledging their bid to keep the Melbourne Football Club out of Caulfield Racecourse was looking like a battle lost.
But like every race, you just never know how it’s going to finish.
The future of Caulfield has now seemingly taken a dramatic twist, all thanks to the knifing of [now former] Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
Despite recently being a short price favourite in their battle with the Melbourne Racing Club to share the Caulfield precint, the future of the Melbourne Football Club’s dream appears to have taken a big hit.
It could even be all over – and that’s coming from both sides of the battle.
Multiple sources told Betsy that the football club’s ambition to make Caulfield home to their $100 million training base is on life-support.
And it all comes down to politics.
The football club had strong support within the state government, particularly from key personnel in Allan’s office and senior minister Steve Dimopoulos, himself a very close ally of the previous Premier.
With Dimopoulos’s backing [he previously had responsibility for the precinct], there was serious momentum behind the Demons to get their wish, who at early stages were seen as almost no chance to move to Caulfield.
As Betsy previously reported, the Demons were recently surging ahead.
With that momentum, the club recently met with the Caulfield Racecourse Trust, which manages the site, and there were reports the football club were even close to some kind of announcement.
They might want to hold that press release, for now.
Fast forward to Tuesday, where Allan was rolled and as a result, insiders now expect Dimopoulos’s political future – and, with it, the Demons’ hopes – to take a significant hit..
Insiders say while Dimopoulos was a strong supporter of the Demons moving to Caulfield, there is a general acceptance in racing circles that Racing Minister Anthony Carbines does not support the move. He is understood to believe it’s not in racing’s interests to allow the Demons plans given the course may have to shut for a year.
And who is a very close ally of new Premier Ben Carroll and was a key factor in the push to install his mate into the top job?
Carbines of course.
Dimopoulos meanwhile voted for Allan on Tuesday. He even backed moves for a late Labor candidate to topple Carroll once the fight seemed all over.
Noble perhaps, but a move that will likely see his political influence significantly diminished.
The football club also hired a firm to help them get momentum inside the government, which seemed to work, but there is a belief from some the same firm don’t have the same influence with the new leadership.
Many within racing have long believed that Carbines would back it in any fight with the Demons, but were worried by Dimopoulos support of the footy club.
Fair to say Carbines’ views – who supports the mighty Geelong Football Club who just happened to roll the Demons last week – and those of Dimopoulos differ in more ways than one. Their immediate political futures are likely to reflect their actions this week.
Those who spoke to Betsy on Wednesday – including those connected to racing and those who are not – believe Carroll hasn’t got the appetite to support the Demons and will back Carbines.
Meanwhile the Liberals – led by senior party figure and local Caulfield MP David Southwick – have already stated their opposition to the football club’s ambition. It represents a seismic shift in the saga.
One insider Betsy spoke described the Demons push as ‘’close to dead, but still breathing’’.
Another, more subtly, said of the football club ”mate, they are fucked”.
Betsy isn’t prepared, like some others out there, to call the race over.
But Carbines will likely win big in the new government and his views now likely to carry far more weight. Whether he remains Racing Minister will be interesting too.
So, in short, those in racing were far more positive on Tuesday regarding Caulfield. Borderline celebrating in some circles.
Some expect news imminently about the site’s future. Watch this space.
Good Grace
Betsy was sent this photo last week where former Racing Victoria vet Grace Forbes was recognised for her work across racing.
Forbes, of course, had a massive falling out with her former employer.
She accused the organisation’s leadership of bullying, an allegation strongly denied.
But what was and remains even more damaging was her claim that she was pressured to let horses “high risk of injury, to travel and run’’ in the Melbourne Cup. This was again strongly rejected by Racing Victoria.
The case was eventually settled out of court, at a decent cost to the industry.
Fast forward and now Forbes has been recognised by being awarded the Patricia Ellis award by the Equine Veterinary Association in recognition of her work in racing, including “developing world first veterinary safety protocols for international horses and Melbourne Cup runners”. The same measures hated by some, but have ensured the Melbourne Cup hasn’t seen a fatality since they were introduced.
When Forbes left, Racing Victoria famously hired Dr Glenn Robertson-Smith to replace her.
He lasted less than 36 hours after Betsy revealed he threatened a former racing executive via a series of voice messages.
Racing Victoria, meanwhile, continues its hunt for a new chief vet.
Racing’s unlikely news breaker?
Is racing’s newest news breaker actually Flemington trainer, Wayne Hawkes?
What we will say, is SEN’s entertaining contributor seems to be very well briefed.
“If there’s anything in this industry that we need to have right, it is Moonee Valley.”@bet365_aus | @ghall27 | @HawkesRacing | @mummify57 | @SENGiddyUp pic.twitter.com/dcw3kSBSpu
— SENTrack (@SEN_track) July 27, 2026
Get your Cox Plate ticket
In what looms as an historic Cox Plate given it will be at Flemington in 2026, demand is expected to be huge for members passes.
But it will look different for Victoria Racing Club members on Cox Plate day than usual days at Flemington.
The VRC communicated again on Wednesday that members need to pre-book [at no cost] in order to access the enclosure – and that they won’t be able to just scan in on the day.
It seems to be a message that many are still unaware of, we suggest those wanting to see the big day, to get in early.
The VRC are expecting huge crowds for the day, with fingers crossed the weather gods are kind.
Who wants to be the next Racing Australia CEO?
Racing Australia is currently advertising for a Chief Operating Officer.
The kicker? You could be the boss in about a year. The role is currently held by Paul Eriksson.
According to the job advertisement whoever lands the COO job will be ‘’ considered as a potential successor when the CEO role is expected to become vacant due to retirement in approximately 12 months.’’
Guess who, they might sue
Which racing person has had their lawyers busy, threatening a few who overstepped the mark in reporting on their situation?
