Welcome to the Racing Reform Group
Welcome to the site of the Racing Reform Group NSW. Our aim is to ensure there is meaningful reform in the Thoroughbred industry in NSW, so it remains sustainable for generations.
We believe we can do this through engaging with the Hazzard Review, which is looking into the legislation that establishes Racing NSW, by explaining to politicians the need for change, and, most importantly, by engaging with those who care most about racing in NSW.
Our Steering Committee brings together a group of people with great experience and knowledge, as well as the passion to improve racing and its administration.
Please join this important cause by doing three things:
- Sign our petition to expand the terms of the Hazzard review to include funding and the relationship between Racing NSW and the state government
- Sign up to our mailing list
- If you haven’t already, consider making a submission to the Hazzard review. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday November 24.
Secretary the Racing Reform Group NSW
The Thoroughbred
Industry in NSW
The Thoroughbred industry in NSW is a world leader: it supports more than 28,000 full time jobs, our races are followed globally and our major breeding sector, based in the Hunter Valley, produces many of the world’s best racehorses.
But it is also in need of reform if it is to be sustainable for generations to come.
Under the current governance structure, the regulator, Racing NSW, has become very powerful. In the past decade its reported assets have soared from $221 million to $603 million. On top of this, it also has some $252 million of funds allocated in provisions for capital expenditure, club sustainability, welfare, prizemoney and race fields.
There are also concerns with the lack of accountability at Racing NSW and questions about the structure of the organisation.
This situation is very different to the vision laid out by Ian Temby, when he drafted the roadmap for an independent regulator to run racing in 1995. He called for a regulatory body that would oversee the integrity of the sport, without the conflicts brought by also controlling all the sports commercial levers.
Fortunately, the state government has recently set up a review of the legislation that established Racing NSW, which will be carried out by former Health Minister, the Hon. Brad Hazzard.
While the RRG is supportive of this review, the terms of reference specifically rule out consideration of racing’s funding and the relationship between Racing NSW and the State Government.
We believe these two topics have to be taken into consideration when evaluating the Thoroughbred Act and the role of Racing NSW. As such, we are petitioning to have the terms of reference altered. Please support that Parliamentary petition by clicking here (the names of signatories are not publicly published).
Steering Committee
Brian Nutt (Secretary)
Brian is the owner of Attunga Stud in the Hunter Valley. He is a former vice-president of the Scone Race Club and his two daughters both work in the industry.
Julia Ritchie
Julia has been a director of both the Australian Jockey Club (ATC) and Sydney's merged club, the Australian Turf Club (ATC). She is a prominent owner and breeder and has won many Group One races in Sydney. Besides her breeding interests, she also runs several pretraining and agistment farms serving the metropolitan and provincial sectors.
Helen Sinclair
Helen managed two prominent country race clubs in NSW, Scone and Muswellbrook, for more than 20 years. In the past decade she has also gained experience across the state, working as a consultant for many race clubs and advising them on their business models.
Arthur Mitchell
Arthur is the joint owner of Yarraman Park Stud, which stands the champion sire I Am Invincible. He has been involved in the Thoroughbred industry his entire life and has served on a number of industry boards and associations.
Will Johnson
Will is a prominent bloodstock agent and is active at sales across Australia as well as Europe and North America. He has bought many Group One winners and his clients include some of the biggest investors in global bloodstock.
David Walter
David is a partner of a leading international law firm, based in Sydney, leading their restructuring and wider finance practice. He has enjoyed significant success as a racehorse owner, with horses such as Winning Rupert, Phobetor, Daisies and Missybeel.
Jason Abrahams
As well as having a successful financial planning business, Jason runs the syndication company Champion Thoroughbreds. Champion have owned a number of Group One winners across Australia.
Join the Movement
Every voice counts. Whether you are a club member, a trainer, an owner, punter, employee or simply a fan of racing, you can make a difference by staying informed and connected.
Join our mailing list to receive updates, learn how to make submissions to the Hazard Review, and access resources to contact your local Member of Parliament.
Together we can ensure that racing in NSW remains a sport guided by integrity, not influence.
Contact us at: admin@reformnswracing.org
