According to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, Racing NSW is accusing Tabcorp of breaches of contract, including an alleged lack of promotion for some of the state’s major horse races.
A directions hearing has been listed for the NSW Supreme Court on February 8.
Tabcorp also sponsors a suite of other major NSW races including the group 1 Epsom and recently re-named Chipping Norton Stakes, and is also poised to lend its name to the Golden Slipper, after Longines told the Australian Turf Club last year the watch brand would not renew the sponsorship.
Sources told The Weekend Australian that Mr Rytenskild, who was sacked on Thursday, made the crass statement late last year about Annette Kimmitt, the chief executive of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission in front of some company executives.
It is understood the comment was leaked to the regulator amid growing disquiet within Tabcorp’s management team over the performance of Mr Rytenskild.
The regulator then approached Tabcorp’s board over the allegation with the gambling giant appointing lawyers to investigate the claim late last year.
We’ve now seen in two states that the barrier for the removal of the licence appears to be almost unreachable. You’ve got to wonder if this is in part an acceptance that unless there is an intention to remove the licence and not re-award it, the alternative operators may not present as a better option.
The financial returns to the state are too great to exit allowing casinos to operate, so we end up in a situation where we have to accept some pretty reprehensible corporate behavour that Government’s have distanced themselves from making difficult decisions on by punting it to an ‘Independent’ agency
We’ll be back here discussing the same issue in the future because no one in power is willing to make a slightly difficult decision. It doesn’t seem to matter which major party is in power either, both seem to be fine with talking a big game but not following it with real action
