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Club farewells Peter Stubbs

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Club farewells Peter Stubbs

Written By: Don Mackay Media and Communications, Racing And Sports.  Image courtesty of Canberra Times.

One of the great champions of thoroughbred racing retires on Tuesday (16 October) after decades of service to the industry.

Peter Stubbs has served as CEO at the Canberra Racing Club in December 2006 after eight years as deputy CEO responsible for racing and corporate bookmaker operations.

Peter was born to racing, and brought a unique ground-up experience to his administration roles.

‘A Bushy From Hay’

Peter was a bushy from the open plains of Hay of far western New South Wales. His passion for horses was flamed when, as an eight year old, he won a Shetland pony, “Smokey”, in a Moulamein Football Club raffle.

Peter’s parents assisted him through pony club, where I was zone 12 champion rider when a junior, and later to horse shows and horse racing.

“When Peter was 15, Hay trainer Pop Cooper suggested I forget about the jumping and try riding track work,” Peter recalls.

“I started the very next day riding a prospective show jumper named Win End, who unbeknown to me, had been left in the stable by Hay station manager Jack Carver, to assist my learning.

“I rode track work for the love of it seven days a week for the next four years.”

Peter’s first ride as an amateur jockey was aboard Win End in a Balranald Corinthian. He was a Maiden up against Open class gallopers and finished accordingly.

“My amateur jockey riding career was limited by height, weight and ability, but I did manage a win from about 10 race rides,” Peter said.

Peter’s family was heavily involved in racing in Hay.

“My father had become Honorary Secretary of the Hay Jockey Club and later Vice President. In fact, it was a family affair, with Mum taking the nominations over the telephone for the race meetings.

“These were the days of the big sheep stations and many had Station sires and big brood mare bands, all now a thing of the past.

“Hay had four professional meetings and a huge two day picnic meeting. Today it has one professional meeting, an example of the evolution of farming and racing.

“My brother Ron trained as a hobby in Hay and moved to Albury in 1982 becoming a successful trainer. After a 20-year hiatus he has returned to racing prompted by his daughter Abbey, now a competent track rider, and his youngest son Nick, the Assistant Track Manager at Ballarat.”

‘Stable hand to racing administrator’

Peter moved to Melbourne to commence the next stage of his racing journey.

“In the early 1970s, I spent some time working with leading Melbourne trainer Angus Armanasco, who had fantastically-bred horses; many owned by the famous Stanley Wooton,” Peter said.

“I can still name nearly every horse in the stable. 

“Angus won the Golden Slipper with Full on Aces and the first Blue Diamond with Tolerance, and three in all. Some of his best horses were Tolerance, Full on Aces, Biscay, Bletchingly, Zeditave and Crewman.”

It was in Canberra that Peter got his grounding in the administrative aspects of thoroughbred racing.

He worked part time on weekends with the South East Racing Association in various raceday roles, including Deputy Steward, Starter, Swab Steward and Betting Supervisor.

Later, Peter and is wife Edie purchased a hotel in Corowa and Peter became a committeeman at the Corowa Race Club.

A seven year stint as CEO of the Albury Racing Club followed, before Peter returned to Canberra as Deputy CEO of the Canberra Racing Club, before being appointed CEO eight years later.

Peter’s experience was brought to bare at the national level between 2006 to 2015, when he was executive director of the Australian Racing Board; now Racing Australia.

“I worked with some brilliant administrators, including former ARB Chairman Michael Duffy, who had been Attorney General in the Hawke-Keating Governments, former ARB Chairman John Messara, the current Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys, former ARB CEO Andrew Harding now with HKJC and the renowned Bob Charley, a former AJC and TRB Chairman who I met through his association with the ARB Hall of Fame Awards which we ran in Canberra in 2014.”

For the past five years Peter has been on the Board of Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, the last three as President, and he will to continue to assist “this great organisation”.

  ‘The Foundations of Success’

There were two pillars to Peter’s success as a racing administrator.

He not only brought a deep grass-roots knowledge and understanding of thoroughbred racing, but it was topped by his outstanding people skills; his ability to listen, to communicate, to nurture, to relate to others on a personal or professional level. 

This is evidenced by the productive relationships he formed with Club committee’s and chairs he has worked with over the years; always keeping them fully informed on the often contentious matters on which they were deliberating.

“I have never subscribed to the theory that Committees are hard to work for.”

Staff stability has been another hallmark of Peter’s reign as CEO at Canberra.

“The key personnel have been with me for many years, in fact, most for my entire 12 years as CEO,” Peter said.

“I hope this is a result of a strong culture we have established. They have been incredible, and breaking this working-bond will be the greatest regret of my retirement.   

“We have also had some wonderful Club sponsors, many of whom have been with us throughout my time as CEO, and I will always be grateful for their support.”

Peter has deep respect for the racing industry participants.

“The commitment of trainers and jockeys is extraordinary, as is the commitment and contribution of race horse owners; an endeavour that does not always bring success.

“And, let us not forget of course the members, punters, bookmakers, stewards, racing media, the farriers, vets, stable hands and patrons, without who we would not have a racing industry.”

‘Peter’s Legacy’

The list of achievements during Peter Stubbs’ tenure as CEO of the Canberra Racing Club is as long as it impressive.  Not the least was the building-up of substantial cash reserves that produced profits to pay off its redevelopment loan and the subsequent retirement of all debt.

Not the least was the building-up of substantial cash reserves that produced profits to pay off its redevelopment loan and the subsequent retirement of all debt.

Peter enters retirement with an exciting strategic plan on the committee table that looks to dovetail into the benefits of the soon to be completed Canberra Metro light-rail which borders the race course.

“I leave with sadness, but can only envisage exciting times ahead for Thoroughbred Park and the Canberra Racing Club, and racing in Canberra.”

 

 

 

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