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Punters would have happily taken a Ka Ying Rising–style price about the Australian Turf Club being placed into administration by Racing NSW for several months after the show-cause notice was issued.
But the protest siren has now sounded, with ATC directors attempting to obtain an injunction against Racing NSW’s action in the Supreme Court on Monday.
So who is really at risk here?
Like any good prizefight, words have been exchanged in the lead-up, but the main event will play out in court.
The ATC directors have little to lose after being sacked when the club was placed into administration on Monday. Following last Thursday’s annual general meeting, they believe they have the support of the membership to keep the club out of administration.
Racing NSW, meanwhile, is confident in its powers. It has an undefeated champion in Peter V’landys, who may have hit the canvas a couple of times lately but has always got back up swinging to score victories.
READ: Australian Turf Club board sacked, club put into administration
However, with the Hazzard inquiry into the Thoroughbred Racing Act running in the background, it would be a significant gamble if Racing NSW were to be beaten in court.
Racing NSW was established to separate regulatory powers from the principal race club, yet in 2025 the industry appears to have come full circle. Racing NSW now controls Sydney’s race club and how it functions.
How does that sit with the very purpose for which it was created?
Racing NSW has raised concerns about the ATC’s corporate governance and financial position, which ultimately led to the club being placed into administration following several meetings during the show-cause process.
It took a similar stance in 2015 when the ATC’s investment in TVN turned sour, arguing it was acting to safeguard the industry. That episode resulted in the negotiation of a long-term contract with Sky, delivering the club around $28 million annually, brokered by then Racing NSW chair John Messara and ATC chair Laurie Macri.
As the regulator, Racing NSW is responsible for the health of the industry. But does placing the country’s biggest race club into administration represent necessary intervention, or regulatory overreach?
For the punter, little will change at Randwick on Saturday. Longer term, the hope is that the process strengthens the club’s position.
An administrator will be appointed, alongside a committee to oversee the club, also selected by Racing NSW. That group is expected to include at least some members of the sacked board, with the broader membership canvassed for suitably qualified candidates.
Still, the situation is messy, and many questions remain unanswered.
The only guaranteed winners appear to be the lawyers, who will enjoy a little extra for Christmas over the coming weeks.
READ: Australian Turf Club launches urgent court action
