Racing Victoria has sensationally backflipped on its decision to appoint Dr Glenn Robertson-Smith as its new chief vet just one day after announcing he would be starting in the role.
The embarrassing U-turn came on Tuesday after Racing Victoria was made aware that Robertson-Smith had been charged by police in 2018 for making threatening phone calls to a Melbourne Racing Club executive.
Racing Victoria released a statement on Tuesday night, saying it would not be “proceeding with the appointment of Dr Glenn Robertson-Smith as its next chief veterinary officer”.
“Based on information confirmed today we have decided we won’t be proceeding with the appointment,” RV chief executive Aaron Morrison said.
“Further, I have initiated a review of our internal processes to ensure that they are as rigorous as possible.”
Robertson-Smith was contacted for comment.
Robertson-Smith was to have started at Racing Victoria on August 10, replacing Dr Grace Forbes who quit her post in December last year following allegations she had been bullied in the workplace.
RV’s head of integrity, Jamie Stier, welcomed Robertson-Smith’s appointment on Monday.
“Glenn is returning to Australia from his current role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and will be well known to many within the industry given his extensive veterinary background in Victoria,” Stier said in a Racing Victoria press release.
But by Tuesday, Stier and Morrison were working vigorously to reverse the decision.
The chief veterinary officer performs a vital role, overseeing the crucial Melbourne Cup safety protocols, leading the industry’s anti-doping program and staffing 530 yearly race meetings with vets, vet nurses and swabbing officials.
Racing Victoria also announced the appointment of Dr Stephanie Chapman as deputy chief veterinary officer on Monday.
Chapman will start on July 13, and will almost immediately begin screening international horses that are targeting this year’s spring racing carnival and Melbourne Cup.
Stier said on Monday the dual appointment of Robertson-Smith and Chapman “would provide great leadership to our hard-working veterinary services team who play a vital role in supporting and protecting the welfare of horses and compliance with the rules every day”.
RV sent an email to staff on Tuesday night, seen by this masthead, that said, “Today we were provided with information about admissions made in a Magistrates Court matter that means that Dr Robertson-Smith’s appointment does not align with our values … this is an unfortunate situation, and we will be conducting a review of our internal processes to ensure that they are appropriate and as rigorous as possible.
“In the meantime, discussions will progress on the appointment of another chief veterinary officer.”
Forbes reached an out-of-court settlement with Racing Victoria in December after an ugly, months-long spat in which Forbes had lodged applications with the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Court.
In her application to the commission for an order to stop bullying, Forbes alleged she had been pressured by Racing Victoria to become more flexible and allow international horses at “high risk of injury” to run in the Melbourne Cup.
Her legal counsel, barrister Nicholas Harrington, told the Fair Work Commission his client had been “damaged” by the conduct of Racing Victoria.
Racing Victoria and Morrison strongly denied the claims.
Forbes headed the program that introduced strict safety protocols for the Melbourne Cup in 2021 – a fundamental shift that stopped horses suffering catastrophic injuries and dying in the race.
Robertson-Smith was seen as a highly regarded replacement.
A vet for more than 40 years, he operated out of Caulfield and Cranbourne racecourses, and lectured in surgery at the University.
He is a fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Equine Surgery, with advanced postgraduate training in Australia and the United States.
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