VRC chairman to stand down after Melbourne Cup carnival, and his replacement has already been picked

The chairman of the prestigious Victoria Racing Club will quit the role after next month’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Neil Wilson, who joined the board in 2012 and also served as the club’s chief executive, will hand over to Vin Cox at the VRC’s annual general meeting in December.

The surprise announcement comes at the start of the spring and means November’s Cup carnival at Flemington will be Wilson’s last in a leadership position.

The VRC, which runs Flemington and the Melbourne Cup, is one of the three big racing clubs in Melbourne alongside the Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley.

“It has been a privilege to serve the Victoria Racing Club for the past 14 years, including as CEO and chairman over the past decade,” Wilson said in a statement on Thursday morning.

“I will be forever grateful to those at the VRC who have supported me and had the conviction to believe in our direction at times when it mattered most. This is a very special organisation, and it is important to preserve the VRC’s unique blend of history and tradition while embracing opportunity and progress.”