DATE WITH ROYALTY

Q

What interesting characters have you come across while chairman of the GCTC?

A

When I first became chairman I went to a Melbourne Cup and I met Prince Charles and Camilla. That was pretty cool. Not many people can say they have met royalty. They came up into our room and had a chat. You meet all the Prime Ministers and politicians. At Derby Day I was in the (Flemington) birdcage and then you come back here to Magic Millions and meet some more.

Q

What is it like in the backrooms of board meetings at the GCTC?

A

I went to my first AGM and met everyone. We jumped in the elevated to go upstairs for a vote and as soon as the doors close it was on for young and old. They were all nice outside and then everyone piled in. We only went two levels but they had to work out who was going to be the chairman, deputy and treasurer and where their votes were going. It was an instant eye opener for me as to what happens behind closed doors and the politics of it all. I learnt a lot in that first meeting. It was the only opportunity for people to lobby for votes before they sit down formerly. There was a fierce dusty up that nearly came to blows.

Q

Tell me about the day you were lined up in front of the stewards in some strife?

A

I wasn’t on the board at the time but we got hauled in by the stewards one day. One of my horses was running at the Gold Coast and it got knocked over and it flew home. One of the co-owners in the stands was kicking the tripod of one of the cameramen. We had to go into a stewards inquiry. That was nerve-racking.