The Werribee Racing Club is searching for a new chief executive after Ross Kendell resigned last week, claiming that the club was at a crossroads.
Kendell had been the top man at the club for two years after previously running Werribee’s international horse quarantine centre.
He announced at the club’s annual meeting last week that he would be stepping down immediately to pursue personal interests.
“I’ve been involved in the racing industry for 24 years and I’ve enormously enjoyed the roles I’ve had,” Kendell told Star Weekly.
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“When I look back, the four most enjoyable years have been the ones I spent at the quarantine centre and the Werribee Racing Club.”
Kendell said he would eventually be leaving the racing industry altogether as he hoped to set up his own business.
“I’m trying to establish a business for myself and I really didn’t think it was fair to do that while I was still employed full time here,” he said.
“For the past four years I’ve been driving here every day from Greensborough, so I definitely won’t miss that drive. But for me it was all about the destination, not the journey.”
Kendell said three new committee members had been enlisted to help the club continue to grow, and an interim CEO would be announced shortly.
“The club is really at a crossroads now because there are a lot of ageing buildings and I think the club needs to work a lot closer with the Wyndham City Council, and the council needs to utilise the space that they have here,” he said.
“The community needs to embrace the club now and help to make sure that every race day is a success.”
