The Board of the Australian Turf Club (Ltd) has re-elected incumbent Chairman Michael Crismale to lead Sydney’s premier metropolitan thoroughbred racing club.
The new seven-member board, comprising four directors voted by Club Members and three independent directors appointed by Racing Minister Troy Grant, met for the first time on Monday, 2 February at Royal Randwick, where Mr Crismale was voted as Chairman for the next 12 months.
Current Vice-Chairman and independent director Laurie Macri was re-elected to the deputy position, also for a 12-month period.
Mr Crismale and Mr Macri welcomed three new directors to the ATC – Members appointee Julia Ritchie, along with independent directors Trish Egan and Matthew McGrath.
Steve Grant and Bill Evans – both elected by ATC Members at the Club’s AGM at Rosehill Gardens in November – are the remaining directors on the Board.
Mr Crismale thanked ATC Members for his re-election and his fellow board members for appointing him as Chairman.
“As a Club-appointed director I am very grateful for the continued support from Members, and I lead a Board which has a great deal of passion and energy for racing, as well as the business of the Club,’’ Mr Crismale said.
“The ATC is now entering a growth and investment stage and we are looking forward to making several announcements over the coming 12 months to return more benefits to our Members, customers and the NSW racing industry.
“In the short-term we are very excited to be hosting Sydney’s Autumn Racing Carnival, including the Golden Slipper Carnival at Rosehill Gardens and the second running of The Championships at Royal Randwick.’’
Mr Crismale also thanked outgoing directors Wilf Mula and John Camilleri for their diligent and dedicated work on the Board over the past four years.
“Wilf and John have both given great amounts of their time, and contributed a lot of hard work, to helping the ATC through a rebuilding phase,’’ Mr Crismale said.
“On behalf of the Board I thank them and wish them the very best for the future.’’