It’s the list nobody asked for. But we’ve done it anyway.
Betsy is publishing its top ten power lists for both NSW and Victoria, detailing the key powerbrokers in racing and their key relationships.
Some on these lists will be household names – there are others that punters will have never heard of.
But they are all crucial players in an industry worth billions of dollars.
The list is not designed to highlight those in positions of power or roles that give them prominence, it’s created to have a look at those who actually have an impact, with the ability to shape crucial decisions on how racing in Australia is run, and crucially, how punters are treated as a result.
Paul Tatnell kicks off Betsy’s Victorian list today with number 10.
10. CIARON MAHER
Such is the enormity of the super stables in 2025, a few trainers can make or break certain races, even carnivals.
The trainers [usually] decide where and when horses run.
If they prefer one state – most likely due to the cash on offer – suddenly some feature races look weak.
On Everest and Caulfield Cup day in 2024, the Maher stable collected close to $15 million after taking out both features. Not a bad day’s work.
Maher stands in this Victorian power list mostly because he has been based in the state for the majority of his career, with major stables in Ballarat and Cranbourne.
Speculation is rife that he may move out of sunny Ballarat as he takes a more prominent base in Sydney, recently acquiring 57 boxes at Leilani Lodge.
He has spoken about the lure of Sydney racing – in short, the prize money at times can be more lucrative.
Maher’s incredible success of 56 Group 1 wins and nearly $260 million in prizemoney is astonishing considering he is only 44.
In Victoria, he has been at the forefront of new training techniques, utilising data and sports science in horse racing.
He is an impressive media performer, generous with his time and a passionate industry member.
When it came to the future of jumps racing, many put the influence of Maher, Gai Waterhouse and a few others as the key reason Racing Victoria chose not to scrap it, despite Racing Victoria losing millions of dollars running it.
Maher is known to seek influence on key decision makers quietly if he believes in the cause, rarely being dragged into the spotlight or conflict.
Rumoured to have been drafted onto the board of the Australian Trainers Association, Maher will need to find more time in what is already a hectic schedule. Since his co-trainer David Eustace left for Hong Kong, Maher is a one man show, and unlike other trainers, he has reported into a board and CEO.
While the business has had some recent upheaval, Maher heads Victoria’s most powerful training operation. His love for a beer and larrikin reputation masks a reality – he is a talented, hardworking and powerful racing identity whose horse numbers alone make him incredibly influential.
ptatnell@betsy.com.au
