The Melbourne Cup is not the only vital race being staged at Flemington

October 25, 2026 — 6:39pm

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Ladies and gentlemen of the Flemington members’ stands, start your engines.

A coveted place at one of the most prestigious tables in this country’s sporting landscape is up for grabs – a seat on the Victoria Racing Club board – and the contest is shaping somewhere between a demolition derby and a boat race.

Nominations to join the board opened last week, and if trackside chatter is to be believed there will be some robust jostling, and behind-the-scenes campaigning, to get to the front of the queue.

At least one seat will be filled by a new face. Club chair Neil Wilson announced his resignation last month and will be stepping away from the role at the annual general meeting in December.

Profits prompt Wilson’s departure from VRC as he downplays talk of board rift

But adding spice to the mix is the fact that Wilson’s anointed successor, director Vin Cox, as well as club treasurer Glenn Carmody and fellow committee member Michael Saadie are all up for re-election. That’s four seats up for grabs.

This throws up some startling possibilities.

If more than one nomination is ratified, and there is behind-the-scenes talk of up to five interested parties, it will lead to an election that could change the composition of a long-stable VRC board.

The director with the most to lose, or gain, is Cox.

Firstly, he needs to be re-elected before accepting the chair’s role from Wilson at the coming AGM - a controversial succession plan decided by a secret ballot last month.

The Age quoted an inside source two weeks ago who claimed Cox was given the nod 6-5 – in a vote involving 11 directors – over vice-chairman Michael Ramsden.

Secondly, if Cox is re-elected, he then needs to quickly reaffirm numbers at the boardroom table to quell speculation of a coup.

In theory, a 6-5 vote in favour of Cox is easily reversed with at least one director being replaced.

But there are even wider ramifications than Cox’s potential rocky ascension to the throne, including the future direction........

© Brisbane Times