Chief Stipe Posted 18 hours ago Posted 18 hours ago Racing NSW puts Australian Turf Club into administration The Australian Turf Club is set to have a Racing NSW-appointed administrator put in charge with the racing regulator stepping in after raising financial and governance concerns earlier this year.https://bitofayarn.com By Bren O'Brien ● Racing Industry ● December 15, 2025 ATC chair Tim Hale has led the fight against the club being put into administration. (Photo: Bronwen Healy – The Image is Everything) The Australian Turf Club has has an administrator appointed by the state’s racing regulator Racing NSW. The directors of the ATC were informed on Monday, having been handed a show-cause notice by Racing NSW in September. Racing NSW issued a statement confirming the ATC had been unsuccessful in fending off administration.https://bitofayarn.com “Racing NSW today announced the appointment of an Administrator to conduct the affairs of the Australian Turf Club (ATC),” it read. Advertisement “This decision follows an extensive and exhaustive Show Cause process, together with multiple formal joint meetings between the Boards of Racing NSW and the ATC. “These steps were undertaken to ensure the ATC was afforded every reasonable, and indeed ample, opportunity to address the serious concerns raised.” The statement said the ATC board was “repeatedly invited to provide detailed submissions, present its proposed strategy to improve the Club’s financial performance, its future solvency and respond comprehensively to concerns regarding corporate https://bitofayarn.comgovernance”. “Specifically, the ATC board was unable to demonstrate it could develop and implement a strategy to improve the commercial performance of the club, or rectify the serious financial issues. Further, the corporate governance concerns had not been appropriately addressed,” it said. Racing NSW has confirmed it has appointed a professional administrator who will report to a committee, which is being established. The identity of that administrator has not yet been announced. “This committee will be constituted of the necessary expertise and may include a mix appointed from current ATC board members, ATC members using a best practice skills matrix and other suitable persons,” it said. “This committee and administrator will replace the functions of the Board of the ATC. The day-to-day operations will continue to be managed by the ATC’s executive team and there will be no impact on the conduct of race meetings or events at ATC venues.” “This administration period will provide an opportunity for the ATC to improve its financial performance, address the serious financial issues and develop a robust and best practice long term strategy for the club, using the best possible skills and expertise.”https://bitofayarn.com Advertisement The initial show-cause notice in September came in the same week as the departure of chief executive Matt Galanos and the resignation of two of the club’s directors, Ben Bayot and Natalie Hewson. Subsequent to the inital Racing NSW notice in September, ATC chair Tim Hale issued a response, which claimed the show-cause related to perceived governance and financial matters extending back many years. “It does not impact our racing program, our operations, or the experiences we deliver for you as members,” he said.https://bitofayarn.com “The ATC does not accept several of the points raised by Racing NSW and will respond in detail in due course.” After the deadline for the response to the show cause notice was extended, the ATC directors, chair Hale, deputy Caroline Searcy, Annette English and David McGrath, as well as interim chief executive Steve McMahon, have met Racing NSW twice in the past three weeks to discuss the show cause notice. The most recent meeting was last Friday. Two NSW provincial and two country race clubs have previously been asked to show-cause as to why they shouldn’t have an administrator put in place to run the clubs due to financial and/or governance concerns.https://bitofayarn.com Wyong (2014), Hawkesbury (2021), Queanbeyan (2014) and Tamworth (2021) race clubs were all placed into administration by Racing NSW after being issued with show-cause notices over the past 12 years. Quote
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