The carnival may have moved on from Flemington after a wildly successful Melbourne Cup Carnival, but the circus has certainly stuck around.
How else would you describe some of the antics surrounding the battle for board supremacy at Australia’s most famous racing club?
On the back of one of the best Cup Carnivals for at least a decade, racing is doing what it does best – ignore the urge to celebrate success and instead try to kill your enemies.
The saga surrounding VRC board member Neil Werrett did the rounds of those who like to gossip on Champions Day – were stables told they risked losing Werrett’s horses if they supported board hopeful John Kanga?
While there are still elements of the saga that don’t check out – matched by some denials from a few – there is enough in the apparent communications and an understanding around the removal of horses from trainers that backed Kanga to ask serious questions about what happens next.
More precisely, would the VRC take action.
The club, on Wednesday, made it clear Werrett’s intervention did not represent the club.
”This matter is not a VRC directive, nor was it discussed or contemplated by the VRC Board,” a spokesperson said.
Considering his service to the club, retiring chairman Neil Wilson deserves a better sending off.
Regardless, the saga took the drama to a new low point.
And that low point, we should add, has sunk even further over the past few days.
It appears that many will stop at nothing to discredit or gain advantage from those organising tickets or standing as candidates.
We’ve been fed ‘inside information’ on spouses, families, career aspirations, health and even in one case, an example of one cashed-up player in this saga who doesn’t like paying the bills.
There are also threats of some using friendly publications to air dirty laundry.
It’s as though some think they are running for Parliament House, not a Melbourne sporting club that hosts roughly 23 race meetings a year.
Rumours that Racing Victoria wanted to get involved are just that – rumours.
While it seems true that at least one powerful RV director let a few know they weren’t happy with the VRC situation, the racing administrator has zero appetite to get officially involved.
Whether everyone within RV is as equally uninterested in a change of regime at the VRC is another thing, however.
The saga involving Werrett will be an interesting watch too. If the allegations are true, does the board act? Will there be any consequences? Should there be?
A successful businessman who calls it as he sees it, he has also owned some ridiculously talented animals over the years, including one called Black Caviar.
Werrett, Betsy is told, has at times a tense relationship with some on the board. He is believed to have voted for Michael Ramsden to be the club’s new chair, which Vin Cox eventually won.
Some who are outraged by Werrett’s alleged intervention are also backing the one thing that always wins – self-interest.
If those who want change at board level seek to have Werrett somewhat answerable to what is alleged to have occurred this week, they might lose a crucial vote they hope could help Ramsden secure the chairmanship.
It’s all, as they say in the classics, a farce.
Meanwhile it seems a few seeking to join the board have either abandoned their campaigns or fallen foul of the nominations committee.
The emergence of Kanga has seen a few realise they have more chance of riding in the Cox Plate than beating him, so have fallen away.
One hopeful also apparently failed to complete their police check properly.
The Ramsden camp is still working on convincing Kanga to join their ticket, which he has apparently rejected.
There is a suggestion Kanga recently lunched with a key VRC board member ahead of last week’s racing.
Kanga wouldn’t comment. For a man who loves to talk [including referencing himself in the third person], he’s been awfully quiet.
Many at the VRC itself too are at a loss to how it found itself in this publicity vortex.
The board, however, meet last Friday ahead of Champions Day. Several denied it was a last-minute ‘emergency’ meeting, but what is clear is that there is bad blood. As we wrote last week, the adults in the saga are still seeking peace.
The main issue making the election so impossible to predict, according to one sharp political type whose lunches run longer than my workdays, is that the club’s recent Carnival successes might be papering over issues with its core members.
The same small number of members who take the time to vote.
When members paying their fees know the name of your catering contractor because of the quality and service, and compare the price of your schooners with those elsewhere, then you might have a problem.
Stories in the media last week highlighting the gaps between facilities of the club’s ‘elite’ and core membership base don’t help either.
The fact that Cox is Gold Coast-based, in a club controlled by old Melbourne connections and relationships, some see as an issue for the chairman-elect. I am not sure where Cox sleeps at night matters, nor am I convinced the above will move the needle too much.
The racing might have stopped and the international music acts might have gone home, but the Melbourne establishment continues to put on one hell of a show.
Robbie, racing and a very expensive act to follow
How amazing was the Melbourne Cup Carnival? How amazing are the bosses who are employed to put it on?
All you need to do is pick up some of the incredibly friendly media coverage across Victoria recently and they’ll tell you all about it.
VRC CEO Kylie Rogers has done so many friendly interviews with some of the club’s commercial media partners that her approval rating must be high enough to run for parliament.
It’s the kind of coverage money can’t buy…
The biggest issue facing Rogers is how do you top that week?
Unless she can somehow control the weather, then good luck!
And if the club can somehow outdo itself, then it won’t be cheap.
Let’s take Robbie Williams for instance. He was the pick of the mounting yard this Cup Carnival for his incredible pre-race display before performing to a packed crowd after the racing had concluded.
But he wasn’t doing it out of love, of course. Recent court dealings between the Australian Grand Prix and a touring company that hired Williams to perform in 2020 reveal the entertainer was due to receive $1.94 million.
It has been suggested that his fee for the VRC would have been lower, given it involved fewer contractual responsibilities, but it’s still a lot of money for a club still working its way out of debt.
DJ Fisher wouldn’t have been cheap either. I wouldn’t mind a bet each-way that the State Government kicked in too, which given racing’s contribution to the economy, makes sense.
The scenes across the week were undeniably incredible. So busy was the staging area for DJ Fisher on Champions Day, messages on the big screens were asking punters to avoid the area.
We had one old regular contributor of scandalous gossip complain that the punters on course for Champions Day ”looked too young to drink” and some were even drunk!
But with their proof-of-age wristbands on and smiles on their faces, many danced into the night.
The mix of ages on course was incredibly encouraging not only for the VRC, but the sport.
The club and its staff deserve every bit of recognition for a wildly successful week. I’ll drink to that.
Not racing’s ABC
The ABC were recently spotted up north, while doing their best to ring around former racing staff in a bid to dig up dirt.
Many contacted then immediately rang those who they were seeking the dirt on, of course.
Whispers one self-appointed industry ‘leader’ is giving them plenty of help.
Legends come in all sizes
We love this photo from the Instagram of Damien Oliver, who was inducted into the Western Australian Sports Hall of Champions.
Alongside him was racing’s Stephen Miller, JJ Miller, David Harrison and the slightly taller former Chicago Bulls champion Luc Longley.
Congratulations to all.
View this post on Instagram
Vale, Izzy Neale
The outpouring of grief for talented apprentice Izzy Neale is testament to not only her talents, but her warmth too.
We won’t pretend to provide any personal insights into Neale, who we’ve never met, but those we spoke to this week were quick to provide glowing references. Smart judges hard her marked for a career in the city.
But her passing is more than racing. A young woman has lost her life, doing a job she loves, leaving an adoring family behind.
The situation is nothing short of tragic, it illustrates the incredible dangers riders face and the outpouring of grief and support for her family is heartwarming.
Vale, Izzy.
View this post on Instagram
Devastating to hear of the passing of Izzy Neale. A beautiful young lady who was a pleasure to deal with and absolutely loved her horses. Condolences to her family and friends. 💔
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) November 10, 2026
Election sparks racing whispers
Victorians are due to vote shortly in the state election.
The polls indicating that with every ballot will come a baseball bat, which voters intend to beat the stuffing out of the Labor government.
Racing insiders expect current Racing Minister Anthony Carbines to retain the portfolio from the opposition benches [should he actually win his seat].
There seems to be an acceptance that with the change of government, will come with possible changes in racing administration too.
Word a peace deal of sorts has already been done that could see one figure ‘retire’.
