Breeding & Racing Magazine

Presnell Slams Choice Of Pearce Over Kenny

Leading turf columnist Max Presnell has thundered his disapproval of the appointment of less experienced Australian Jockey Club chief executive Darren Pearce to the CEO slot for the newly-merged AJC-STC club, ahead of long-time Sydney Turf Club chief executive Michael Kenny. Presnell declared in The Sydney Morning Herald: “Appointing Darren Pearce over Michael Kennedy as the chief executive of the coming merged Sydney racing club is, in my view, like using a 3kg apprentice in a cup race when an accomplished Gr1 jockey is available.” Presnell continued: “The new mob, headed by John Cornish, the ukulele-playing former Liverpool real estate agent, is hardly being distinguished by good judgement. Kenny has had decades of racing administration experience with the Sydney Turf Club, including 10 difficult years as chief executive accumulating specialist knowledge that money just can’t buy. Undoubtedly he ranks up with Dale Monteith, who holds the reins at the Victoria Racing Club, as Australia’s best racing administrators. In my half-century around racing officials, encompassing the brilliant, the common & downright drongos, Kenny rates highly. More recently he has had to grub to keep the STC balance sheets in some semblance of order during which time the Australian Jockey Club has been in chaos. The STC built success on developing its own people, while the AJC has strayed in more recent times to flash & expensive imports. Those with STC affiliations on the new outfit have let down Kenny. People I’ve come across who have worked with him have nothing but the highest praise for the man & his ability. Being involved in a decision like that I’d stand down, storm out & tell the others what to do with their merged club.”