Former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan looks set to return to a position of prominence and is hotly tipped to become the new chairman of Racing Victoria.
McLachlan, a passionate horse racing fan, is reportedly Racing Victoria’s top candidate for the position and Victoria Racing Minister Anthony Carbines’ “preferred candidate”.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gillon McLachlan in box seat for Racing Victoria role.
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RV has had an acting chair in the role since last July and the announcement of the new chair is expected shortly with plans said to be “advanced”.
Former RV chairman, Brian Kruger, stepped down from the role at the end of June last year and deputy chair, Mike Hirst, has been acting in the role since.
Rumours surfaced last year that McLachlan — whose great-grandfather was the owner 1931 Melbourne Cup winner White Nose — was a possible candidate for the position.
But McLachlan’s planned exit from the AFL did not go quite according to plan.
With several issues arising at the end of 2022 and the need to finalise an AFL licence for a new team in Tasmania, McLachlan’s departure date blew out and he stayed on in the role for nearly the entire 2023 season.
It has now been reported that McLachlan has beaten a field of 10 other candidates for the position.
Hirst’s term on the board is set to end before June 30.
And the board’s the longest serving director, Greg Nichols, is also leaving his position.
Racing Victoria has been under pressure from its powerful stakeholders to change at board level for some time.
At the end of last year, Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association chairman Jonathan Munz called for the dismissal of RV’s chief executive Andrew Jones.
Munz also said the RV board “needs a major refresh too”.
It has been reported that McLachlan has not — at the time of writing — formally accepted the position.
Victoria’s Racing Minister Anthony Carbines is yet to comment on the matter.
If McLachlan takes on the position, he will resume his rivalry with NRL chairman, Peter V’landys, who also doubles as Racing NSW’s CEO.
At the moment there is no love lost between those two racing bodies.
7NEWS.com.au has contacted McLachlan for comment.
