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“We thank him for his service and wish him all the very best for the future.
“The committee’s appointment of Cameron Fisher as chairman ensures strong leadership and continuity as we head into the Caulfield Cup carnival.”
This masthead reported last month that 24 memberships linked to Kanga and his family were purchased by a single credit card in the lead-up to the MRC’s bitter boardroom battle last year, when he seized control of the $1 billion sporting club.
The MRC denied the block of memberships affected the outcome of the club’s September elections and said they did not breach any rules.
Seven MRC directors have left the club since Kanga began his leadership tilt: former chairman Matt Cain, former vice chairman Nick Hassett, former treasurer Jill Monk, Mark Pratt, Brooke Dawson, Scott Davidson and Barbara Saunders.
The executive team was also stripped bare. MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby resigned in August last year when it became clear the make-up of the board would change.
He was followed out the door by six other executives and, later, the new CEO Tom Reilly, who was sacked on the King’s Birthday weekend in June this year.
Two sources with knowledge of the situation, who wished to remain anonymous because they did not speak on behalf of the MRC, said Reilly had raised concerns with MRC leadership about probity and club governance. Saunders resigned on learning that Reilly would lose his job.
“I resigned because I had concerns about the lack of governance at the club and the removal of Tom Reilly from his position as CEO because, in my opinion, he was performing the role very well,” Saunders said at the time.
Kanga, who joined the board in a casual vacancy in 2023, created a group called Save Our MRC in August last year and swept to power on three key platforms: saving Sandown Racecourse from development, blocking plans to build a new $230 million grandstand at Caulfield, and returning a new mounting yard precinct back to its original position in front of the members’ stand.
The MRC lost $17.3 million over the past financial year, despite its 15 poker machine venues returning a $46 million profit, and its debt blew out by $24 million to $178 million.
The club expects to clear its debt if Mount Scopus College exercises an option to buy 7.5 hectares of land beside Caulfield Racecourse for $195 million.
After assuming the chair, which is an honorary position, Kanga became an instant hit with members.
He abolished the Caulfield Masterplan, saved Sandown Racecourse, returned the mounting yard to its original position, and scrapped the proposed grandstand.
Kanga also introduced cheap drinks, a discounted end-of-year membership and shouted the racecourse free beer and wine after cult hero Pride Of Jenni won her comeback race.
Declan Bates atop Pride of Jenni before last year’s Cox Plate.Credit: Getty Images
He won over trainers by opening up Caulfield’s new inner track for much-needed trials, and was popular among jockeys for handing out free race-day skivvies that advertised his finance company, Metropolitan Capital.
He is often seen walking the track and mingling with Caulfield members on race days, buying groups of people drinks and willingly handing out his phone number. He is also constantly engaged with the racing public on social media.
Kanga led the club’s push for new members. The MRC said this was openly discussed and supported at committee meetings dating back to October 2023.
“From the time I joined the board more than two years ago, I have been on the record stating that I wanted to personally recruit at least 1000 new members to the club, with a particular focus on introducing more young people to racing,” Kanga told The Age late last month.
“We continue to be successful in attracting new members.”
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