Executive General Manager – Racing

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing runs Ellerslie Racecourse and Pukekohe Park, with a vision of creating a sustainable and vibrant future for NZ thoroughbred racing. Racing sits alongside events, property and an investment portfolio, which gives ATR the balance sheet to invest in its racing rather than simply maintain it.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Executive Leadership Team, the Executive General Manager of Racing is accountable for the racing programme and racing operations across both venues. You will lead a hands-on team of around 20 across track, gardens, racing operations, wagering operations and health and safety, while personally driving the industry relationships that the role depends on.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the development and delivery of ATR’s racing strategy across Ellerslie and Pukekohe Park.
• Influence the regional and national racing calendar through active engagement with NZTR, Entain and the Cluster Clubs, lifting field quality and participation.
• Oversee the planning, preparation and delivery of every race meeting across both venues.
• Lead track, grounds and infrastructure programmes, including the capital work that protects and improves ATR’s racing surfaces.
• Use racing, wagering and performance data to shape programming, scheduling and commercial decisions.
• Own the Racing function’s operating and capital budgets and its annual business planning.
• Provide executive oversight of health and safety, connecting the operational H&S function with the Executive Leadership Team and the Board.
• Lead and develop the racing, track and grounds teams, and report to the Board and its Racing Committee.

About you:

• Operational leadership experience with accountability for team performance, ideally gained in racing or a closely aligned sector.
• Strong understanding of thoroughbred racing and its participants, or a clear affinity with the sport and the agility to pick it up quickly.
• A leadership style that adapts to the people in front of you, and that takes you out to your team and to track work at Cambridge and Matamata
• Outstanding relationship-building skills, with the standing to engage across diverse stakeholder groups.
• A track record in complex, time-critical delivery where the calendar does not move.
• Analytical capability and confidence with data, which does much of the work in race programming.