V'landys Denies Misconduct and Smear Campaign
NSW Racing CEO Peter V'landys has vehemently denied allegations of misconduct and a smear campaign against him during a parliamentary inquiry into the proposed sale of Rosehill Racecourse. He stated that NSW Racing has no intention of keeping the money from the sale and wants independent oversight to ensure it's used for racing infrastructure.
The inquiry heard conflicting opinions on the value of the proposed development, which would see 25,000 new homes built on the historic Parramatta track. V'landys presented internal modeling suggesting the site could be worth $23 billion if sold over three and a half decades, while ATC board director Timothy Hale expressed skepticism about the $5 billion valuation.
V'landys accused some within the racing industry of using the inquiry to launch a smear campaign against him, claiming an email circulated encouraging people to make submissions attacking his character regardless of their truthfulness. He emphasized that NSW Racing only supports the sale if a replacement track is built or Warwick Farm is deemed suitable for upgrades.
Concerns remain about the suitability of alternative sites for Group One racing and the potential environmental impact on endangered frogs at the proposed Brick Pit location. The inquiry will continue in September to further investigate these issues and the proposed sale of Rosehill Racecourse.