News

Racing Hall of Fame's future stuck in limbo

7th Jun 2011

Herald Sun - Adrian Dunn - Monday, 6 June 2011

AUSTRALIAN Racing's Hall of Fame is in disarray - without a chairman, a home or an event planned for this year.

Media commentator Bryan Martin, chairman of the ARHOF since 2001, has been asked to resign, as Racing Victoria hopes the concept will be adopted by the Australian Racing Board.

Whatever the outcome of Thursday's ARB meeting, there will be no inductions to the Hall of Fame this year - the first time the event hasn't been held since its inception in 2000.

The ARHOF had been held in conjunction with the Australian Racehorse of the Year until recently, but that won't be happening this year.

RVL senior executive Bernard Saundry acknowledged there was nothing wrong with the current format, but said it was felt the ARHOF needed to be run nationally with the function rotating to each state.

Saundry said it was hoped that if the ARB endorsed RVL's proposal, the ARHOF would be held during the Australian Racing Conference next March.

An extremely disappointed Martin said attempts by the selection committee of 11 to hold meetings to decide on the latest inductees have stalled.

The committee includes representatives from each state.

He queried why such a successful and meaningful part of the industry had been dismantled, and asked if it would happen in any other sport.

"My fear is that it will now just wither on the vine.

"It must have a home in Melbourne or it will die. It can't just float out there without any passion," Martin said.

"Think of all those wonderful memories when Bart (Cummings), Scobie (Breasley), Roy (Higgins), George Moore, Gai (Waterhouse), Edgar Britt and 'Ollie' (Damien Oliver) walked down the red carpet. Does it stop now? Do we stop recognising our greats?"

Martin unsuccessfully approached VRC chairman Rod Fitzroy to see if the club would pick up the concept.

Saundry said the ARB could decide to enlist the support of Martin and the existing ARHOF members.

"The last thing we want to see is it to go backwards. If it did go backwards, we would take it back."