Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Gillon McLachlan might have turned up a chance to govern Victorian racing, but the former AFL boss continues to wield an influence over the industry’s future.
McLachlan’s Tabcorp has just signed a new long-term, multimillion-dollar media rights deal with Racing Victoria that will guarantee Sky Racing coverage in TAB outlets and on Foxtel.
Tabcorp has signed a new broadcast deal with Racing Victoria that will show races throughout the world.Credit: Getty Images
The arrangement will give Tabcorp’s broadcasting arm, Sky Racing, exclusive international distribution rights as well as exclusive distribution rights on linear channels.
The deal means Sky Racing will continue to beam Victorian races into more than 3700 TAB retail venues, more than one million homes via Foxtel, as well as broadcasting the gallops on its TAB app.
Sky Racing will also televise more than 150,000 Victorian races each year into more than 60 countries worldwide, and distribute the content to its growing domestic digital business, which includes Sportsbet, Dabble, TABTouch, Bet365, Betr and BetMakers.
Specific financial details of the new deal were not released by Tabcorp or Racing Victoria.
“Our international business is continuing to grow and the opportunity to seek new markets to showcase Victoria is something we are very focused on,” Tabcorp chief commercial and media officer Jarrod Villani said.
“We’re also evolving the look and feel of Sky. The way we present racing is changing and so is our content.”
Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison said the partnership ensured Victorian racing continued to reach the widest possible audience.
“Importantly, the agreement secures the prominence of Victorian thoroughbred racing on Sky, both on domestic channels and in global markets,” he said.
McLachlan joined Tabcorp as CEO in August 2024.
TAB advertises with this masthead during the spring racing carnival.
O’Brien property on the market
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien has announced he is selling his 13th Beach training facility near Barwon Heads as he looks to downsize his business.
O’Brien sent a message to his owners this week, saying, “we believe the time is right to refine our structures and sharpen our focus”. He expects to cut back from 140 horses in work to 80.
“Moving forward, our training footprint will be streamlined to our on-course stables at Flemington and Geelong,” O’Brien said.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Closer To Free wins a lead-up race for Saturday’s $2m Blue Diamond.Credit: Getty Images
O’Brien trained 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare at the 64 hectare Bellarine Peninsula site, which includes a 2000-metre grass track, an all-weather sand track, a 1600m heavy sand track, 16 spelling paddocks and a barn with 46 boxes.
Despite the sale, O’Brien will continue to target big group 1 races. He will saddle up speedy two-year-old Closer To Free in Saturday’s $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The Street Boss colt has been in his stable for just three weeks. O’Brien bought him off country trainer Adrian Corboy on behalf of owner Sean Buckley for more than $500,000 at the end of January following a slashing trial at Caulfield.
Valley seeks new project director
Moonee Valley Racing Club has suffered a minor hiccup just four months into its $220 million redevelopment works, following the resignation of the club’s project director Anthony Brown.
Brown has given notice after eight years at the club to take up a development role at Regis Aged Care under former Moonee Valley head of property Georgia Willis.
But Moonee Valley CEO Michael Browell said searching for Brown’s replacement would not hold up the 21-month project.
“The track works with Symal are progressing brilliantly well,” Browell said. “They’re on program, they’re on budget, so there’s no concern with that.
“And we’re probably about four weeks off making a major announcement around the grandstand.”
Moonee Valley closed down its racecourse after the running of the 2025 Cox Plate and is not expected to re-open until August 2027. The old track has been ripped up, and the grandstands are being demolished.
RV bolsters its board
Racing Victoria is operating with eight board members for the first time in almost three years following the appointment of new directors Peita Duncan and Jonathan Hardwick earlier this month.
One seat on the board has sat vacant since former chairman Brian Kruger stepped down in June 2023.
The position had been earmarked for Gillon McLachlan in 2024 before the former AFL chief took on the role of CEO at Tabcorp.
Sharon McCrohan created another vacancy when she resigned late last year to join the AFL.
Duncan is the former chair of Greyhound Racing Victoria, and has been credited with delivering “major animal welfare and integrity reforms”.
Hardwick is the owner and managing director of the HFH Auto Group, and has had a long-standing involvement in Victorian thoroughbred racing and breeding. He has raced horses with Danny O’Brien.
Both were appointed by Racing Minister Anthony Carbines.
