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ATA back MRC change | RACING.COM

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The Australian Trainers’ Association has thrown its support behind a move for change at the Melbourne Racing Club.

ATA chief executive Stephen Bell said on Thursday there were matters of “significant importance” the members felt they needed to support, including the change back to the former mounting yard at Caulfield, the scrapping of plans for a new grandstand and the retaining of racing at Sandown.

Bell told Racing.com that while the ATA usually keeps itself apart from club boardroom issues, it felt these issues, which are at the forefront of residing MRC committee member John Kanga’s Save Our MRC agenda, needed to be addressed immediately.

“The Save Our MRC group concerns align with those held by the ATA and its member base,” Bell said.

“When we asked for members’ thoughts, it was these three issues that kept on coming up and we felt we had to act.”

Earlier this week, newly-elected committee members of the Australian Trainers’ Association J D Hayes and Sam Freedman were vocal in their support of reverting back to Caulfield’s former mounting yard.

The Victorian Jockey’s Association has not matched the ATA’s move despite criticism of the mounting yard by champion riders Blake Shinn and Mark Zahra and claims from from VJA committee member Harry Coffey that the new mounting yard is unsafe as jockeys are forced to mount their horses on a sloping surface.

A week ago, Kanga called for a spill of the board over the issues. A date is yet to be confirmed for the Special General Meeting.

Racing.com contacted MRC CEO Josh Blanksby for comment.

The Melbourne Racing Club executive committee said in a statement: “Our club is built on a member-led culture and a successful governance model that guarantees every member has an equal voice and the opportunity to exercise it each year at our AGM.

“Members vote to elect Committee members to represent their interests, and each year provides a fresh opportunity to vote for new candidates standing for election."