A significant shift is occurring in NSW racing as Peter V’landys prepares to depart the industry to assume the role of executive chairman for the Australian Rugby League Commission.
V’landys confirmed this morning that he will step down from his position as Racing NSW chief executive once his current contract concludes on November 30.
Having served as Racing NSW’s CEO for 22 years, V’landys is widely anticipated to formally accept the offer to become the inaugural executive chairman of the ARC Commission.
The NSW racing landscape has witnessed profound and transformative changes throughout V’landys’ leadership.
Known for his assertive negotiation style, V’landys seldom shied away from confrontation and was unafraid to challenge established norms to achieve his objectives.
Under his guidance, the NSW racing industry has ascended to become a dominant force in both Australian and international racing, marked by substantial prizemoney enhancements and improved returns for industry stakeholders.
“Naturally, this is a very sad day for me. I have put my heart and soul into racing for 22 years,” V’landys stated.
“I have been fortunate to work with outstanding, loyal and hardworking Boards of Directors and staff.
“I was just a member of a dedicated team of professionals who were able to generate outstanding outcomes for Racing NSW.
“As a team, we went from a struggling jurisdiction to a world-leading jurisdiction.
“I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been in our team. I will miss them greatly and I wish the industry every success.”
Graeme Hinton, V’landys’ long-time deputy, is currently acting as interim Racing NSW chief executive and is considered a strong contender for the permanent role.
V’landys’ extensive list of accomplishments as Racing NSW chief executive is remarkable, securing his legacy. He never apologised for his resolute commitment to prioritising the NSW racing industry and its participants, a strategy that at times proved contentious.
A press release from Racing NSW this morning, confirming V’landys’ departure from the sport at the conclusion of the spring carnival, highlighted his role as the primary driver behind “unprecedented growth in wagering revenues, which has led to unparalleled returns to owners and participants in the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry”.
V’landys has overseen the procurement of $3.5 billion in new funding, establishing recurring annual revenues of $375 million.
These revenue streams are designed to secure the industry’s future, bolstered by over $250 million set aside in provisions to ensure sustained distribution levels and club viability.
Racing NSW Chair Dr Saranne Cooke remarked that V’landys’ contributions to racing are unparalleled.
“Peter V’landys has been, without doubt, the most effective and successful administrator in the history of Australian sport,” Dr Cooke said.
“His contribution cannot simply be measured by the extraordinary growth of racing in NSW during his tenure. Peter has fundamentally changed the trajectory of racing in this country and made NSW one of the world’s leading racing jurisdictions.
“He has fought relentlessly for participants, challenged long-established conventions, created new revenue streams and consistently ensured that racing was protected during two decades of challenges.”
The Racing NSW press release also detailed V’landys’ key achievements, including: the introduction and defence of race fields legislation, generating $2 billion in revenues; successfully campaigning for wagering tax parity, yielding $600 million; negotiating a share of the Point of Consumption Tax, bringing in $400 million; and the sale of Trackside to Tabcorp, funding the Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand at Royal Randwick and enabling further infrastructure developments.
Furthermore, he maximised returns for owners and participants, increasing total returns from $110 million in 2004 to $407 million in 2025, a 270% rise, making NSW returns $110 million higher annually than any other state.
Minimum prizemoney levels saw significant increases, with Saturday Metropolitan prizemoney rising from $45,000 to $160,000 by 2026, and Country TAB prizemoney from $5,000 to $27,000, supplemented by boosted races.
The creation of The Everest, now the world’s richest race on turf, has significantly boosted Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival profile and attracts a younger demographic, with its 10th year set for a record sell-out.
Additional major race innovations include The Golden Eagle, The Big Dance, The Kosciuszko, The Hunter, and The Gong, designed to elevate Country and Provincial racing.
The Country Championships Series and Provincial-Midway Championships Series were established to offer aspirational races for all sectors, featuring substantial prizemoney for qualifying races and finals.
Major enhancements for Country racing include The Highway races at Metropolitan meetings, offering $120,000 per race for Country-trained horses.
The midway race concept was introduced to support smaller stables, with weekly $100,000 races and The Four Pillars feature event.
A Stablehands Bonus payment was created, distributing 2% of prizemoney to stable staff, a unique reward in Australian racing.
Racing NSW also established a leading global equine welfare program, including deductions from prizemoney for welfare initiatives and a prohibition on sending retired Thoroughbreds to abattoirs, supported by traceability programs and the Equimillion event.
There are exciting betting opportunities available for upcoming races, with top Australian betting sites offering competitive odds.
