Peter V'landys

In mid-2007, the racing industry was brought to a standstill as a result of an outbreak of equine influenza. New South Wales was the worst affected state with all racing cancelled and the movement of all horses prohibited indefinitely.

V'landys assumed responsibility for the overall co-ordination of the industry's response to this crisis, and developed and implemented contingency plans to counter the effects of the outbreak, including negotiating a $235 million rescue package.

He also lobbied NSW ministers for the provision of further financial assistance which resulted in the provision of a $7.5 million grants scheme and the establishment of a special mortgage deferment scheme and a further one-off grant to help promote the industry following the resumption of normal racing activities.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/turf-thoroughbreds/racing-nsw-chief-peter-vlandys-is-poised-for-big-fight-with-nsw-treasury/story-fnajufri-1226315910856 |title=Racing NSW chief Peter V'landys is poised for the big fight with NSW Treasury |date=2 April 2012 |last=Cormick |first=Brendan |work=The Australian}}

Following the government's announcement that the World Youth Day 2008 would be held in Sydney and centred at Randwick Racecourse, V'landys coordinated the industry's planning for the use of the racecourse and the disruption which would be caused to the racing industry. This included negotiating a $40 million compensation package for the racing industry.

V'landys in 2008 was responsible for enforcing corporate bookmakers and other wagering operators to pay racing for the use of its product. Up until then the bookmakers paid very little and determined themselves how much to pay.

After first looking at enforcing copyright led V’landys to Race Field legislation.

The bookmakers challenged Racing NSW all the way to the high court.

The High Court found in favour of Racing NSW in a unanimous decision.

The win meant racing would earn over a billion dollars in the next ten years.

It also meant that sport could also charge the Bookmakers for the use of its product making millions of dollars for sport.

.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/racings-100m-windfall-after-court-ruling-20120330-1w22x.html |title=Racing's $100m windfall after court ruling |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 March 2012 |last=Young |first=Craig |access-date=27 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/archive/national-old/better-betting-deal-is-a-big-win-for-all-sport/story-e6freuzr-1226314944905 |title=Better betting Deal is a big win for all sport |last=Tabakov |first=Nick |date=31 March 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=27 May 2013}}{{cite news |last=Presnell |first=Max |url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/vlandys-leads-way-others-must-follow-20120330-1w3lt.html |title=V'landys leads way, others must follow |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 March 2012 |access-date=27 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/let-the-money-flow/story-fn67r1j3-1226315064092 |title=Let the money flow |last=Thomas |first=Ray |date=31 March 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph (Australia) |access-date=27 May 2013}}{{cite news |last=Payne |first=Clinton |url=http://www.racenet.com.au/news/78742/V%E2%80%99landys-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%98the-bloke-that-saved-the-industry%E2%80%99 |title=V'landys – 'the bloke that saved the industry' |publisher=Racenet.com.au |date=30 March 2013|access-date=27 May 2013}}

In 2010 V'Landys negotiated the sale to Tabcorp of the Racing NSW future revenues from the Trackside computer racing game. This sale realised $150 million and allowed the development of new spectator facilities at the Randwick Racecourse.{{cite news |last=Carson |first=Vanda |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/tabcorp-to-pay-150m-for-facelift-at-randwick-20101006-167x0.html |title=TabCorp to pay $150m for facelift at Randwick |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=27 May 2013}}

In 2013 he was ranked with John Messara as the 40th of Sydney's most influential people{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/image-gallery/ad65cd48ebc6e6d8bf3364e41d04837e |title=Sydney's 50 most powerful people |date=3 March 2013 |work=The Sunday Telegraph (Australia) |access-date=11 October 2018}} and The Australian ranked him 22nd of the top 50 people in Australian sport.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/top50/2013/sport |title=Top 50 Sports People |date=5 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505061603/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/top50/2013/sport |archive-date=5 May 2013 |work=The Australian |access-date=11 October 2018 |url-status=live }}

In 2019, the Sydney Daily Telegraph ranked V'Landys 6th from among a list of 100 of Sydney's most powerful and influential people.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-sydney-power-100-the-100-most-powerful-people-in-sydney-10081/news-story/c7891fd43ab7e7c70d9dd3f597490ac4&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium |title=Sydney's 100 most powerful people. |date=28 February 2019 |work=dailytelegraph.com.au |access-date=28 February 2019}}

V'Landys was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Australia Day Honours for service to horse racing.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/peter-vlandys-awarded-member-of-the-order-for-services-to-racing-dedicates-the-honour-to-his-parents/story-fni0cx12-1226810631502 |title=Peter V'landys, awarded Member of the Order for services to racing, dedicates the honour to his parents |last=Lehmann |first=John |date=23 January 2014 |work=The Sunday Telegraph (Australia) |access-date=31 January 2014}}{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1148997 |date=26 January 2014 |recipient=Mr Peter Nicholas V'landys |award=Member of the Order of Australia |access-date=9 June 2020}}

In February 2017, V'Landys devised a new race called the Everest, which was to be conducted over 1200 metres and carry prize money of $10 million, making it the richest race in Australia and in the world on turf. The inaugural Everest race was run at Randwick Racecourse on 14 October 2017. It attracted a record crowd to Randwick Racecourse as well as record betting on an NSW race.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-everest-bold-and-brash-race-put-sydney-back-on-the-map/news-story/f560d1f362978f147e849d052d9ae794 |title=The Everest: 'Bold and brash' race put Sydney back on the map |date=16 October 2017 |work=The Daily Telegraph (Australia) |access-date=23 October 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/speed-thrill-everest-moves-on-next-generation-audience/news-story/2b623c85455a3ab914f0459d7d3cc566 |title=Speed thrill Everest moves on next generation audience |last=Thomas |first=Ray |date=15 October 2017 |work=The Daily Telegraph (Australia) |access-date=23 October 2017}}

In conjunction with the second running of the Everest, V'Landys also devised and implemented another new and unique race, The Kosciusko, which was specifically directed towards country trained horses and carried prizemoney of $1.3 million making it the world's richest country race.

Prior to the 2018 event, the race attracted criticism{{cite news |url=https://www.9news.com.au/2018/10/09/15/07/opera-house-everest-projection-brand-critic-racing-nsw-berejiklian |title=Opera House brand guru delivers Everest-sized slap in face to Racing NSW |last=Saunokonoko |first=Mark |date=9 October 2018 |work=Nine News |access-date=9 October 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-opera-house-action-to-deflect-everest-light-show-20181008-p508f2.html |title=Sydney Opera House 'action' to deflect Everest light show |last=Pitt |first=Helen |date=9 October 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |access-date=9 October 2018}} from the Australian public and media after organisers of the event successfully lobbied for the sails of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sydney Opera House to be used as an advertisement for the race. Public backlash and protests against this proposal and government support of it were held at the Opera House along with submission of a petition with over 300,000 signatures collected in less than a week in October 2018, but the pre-race event went ahead in a modified format.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/opera-house-light-display-dividing-sydney-will-last-just-six-minutes/news-story/8d48d4150caa93893a1ea7a898f7b05e |title=How the Everest Opera House showdown will play out |date=9 October 2018 |work=news.com.au |access-date=9 October 2018}}

In June 2022, V’landys was a guest of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle before Day 2 of the Royal Ascot Carnival. V’landys, who was seated next to Her Majesty, said that they spoke about a wide range of topics from racing to politics with Her Majesty revealing that her love for thoroughbred racing originated from when, as a 16-year-old, she accompanied her father, King George VI, to a race meeting where she patted the winner and said the horse felt “like velvet”. V’landys was then part of the Royal Procession Carriages at Royal Ascot then spending the day in the Royal Box.{{Cite web |title='I was nervous, I must admit': V'landys' lunch with the Queen |url=https://www.racenet.com.au/news/racing-nsw-chief-peter-vlandys-rides-in-royal-procession-at-royal-ascot-after-having-lunch-with-the-queen-20220615-3/be0bf46614cb91087d7a236e80bea7d4 |access-date=2024-06-07 |language=en-AU}}

Following a two-year special investigation into the horse racing industry, Australian investigative journalist Caro Meldrum-Hanna interviewed V'landys in his role as chief executive of Racing NSW. The special investigation report aired on 17 October 2019 on the ABC's 7.30 Report, hosted by Leigh Sales. The whistleblowing special investigation was titled, 'The dark side of the horse racing industry - A special investigation into the horse racing industry reveals what really goes on when racehorses' lives end in knackeries and abattoirs.'{{Citation|title=The dark side of the horse racing industry|date=2019-10-17|url=https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/the-dark-side-of-the-horse-racing-industry/11614022|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-05-02}}

In response to the ABC airing the special report, there was wide criticism from media and public outrage with the racing industry and Racing NSW. The Guardian reported, 'Footage showed horses being beaten, kicked and shocked with electric prods while they lay dying in abattoirs, and raised questions about the racing industry's claims about its rehoming program for racehorses.'{{Cite news|last1=McGowan|first1=Michael|last2=agencies|date=2019-10-18|title=Prosecutions 'should occur' after footage reveals racehorse slaughter and cruelty|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/18/prosecutions-footage-racehorse-cruelty-slaughter|access-date=2020-05-02|issn=0261-3077}}

The Age, reported, 'The ABC's 7.30 program uncovered alleged acts of animal cruelty on a mass scale, with allegations hundreds of Australian racehorses are being sent to be killed for their meat. This is despite the racing industry in most states, including Racing Victoria, promoting programs dedicated to supporting retired thoroughbred racehorses.' {{cite web|title=Spotlight on horse racing's dark side is well overdue|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/spotlight-on-horse-racing-s-dark-side-is-well-overdue-20191018-p5321y.html|last=View|first=The Age's|date=2019-10-18|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02}} "There's a massive question mark over the regulator and the problems with self-regulation come into play yet again," Professor McGreevy said. V'landys said he was "unaware" of any NSW racehorses being sent to an abattoir or knackery, including slaughterhouses in NSW and interstate.{{cite web|title=Hundreds of racehorses sent to slaughterhouses in contravention of racing rules - ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-17/racehorses-sent-slaughterhouses-contravention-racing-rules/11611688|date=2019-10-17|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-05-02}}

In response to the 7:30 Report segment, V'landys sued the ABC for defamation. His lawsuit was dismissed in 2021 by Federal Court Justice Michael Wigney.{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/racing-boss-peter-vlandys-loses-defamation-case-against-abc/news-story/0ecaa381a84609ec39892d7e9fd64262

|website=news.com.au |first=Lane |last=Sainty

|title=Racing boss Peter V'landys loses defamation case against ABC |date=14 May 2021 |access-date=13 Sep 2024}} V'landys appealed but in 2023, whilst the Federal Court upheld Justice Wigney's decision, ordering V’landys to pay the ABC's legal costs, it also found that the ABC treated V'landys "very shabbily" and that it was "not high quality journalism or fair treatment of him".{{Cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=2023-05-26 |title=Peter V'landys loses ABC defamation case appeal, but court says racehorse slaughter report treated him 'shabbily' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/26/peter-vlandys-defamation-case-abc-racing-nsw-boss-loses-appeal-racehorse-slaughter-report |access-date=2023-07-12 |issn=0261-3077}}

On 13 March 2018, V'Landys was appointed as an independent board member of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) which also conducts the National Rugby League Competition (NRL). His appointment received the unanimous support of the 16 clubs that participate in that competition.  On 30 October 2019, V'Landys assumed the role of Chairman of the ARLC and NRL replacing the outgoing chairman, Peter Beattie.  Shortly after his appointment as chairman, he successfully re-negotiated the Code's broadcast arrangements with Channel 9 and Foxtel and was instrumental in the resumption of the NRL season on 28 May 2020, after it was suspended following round two as a result of the COVID pandemic. This involved negotiating successfully with the NSW, Queensland, Victorian and New Zealand Governments, the NRL Clubs, the Code's broadcast partners and the NRL Players Association plus the implementation of strict protocols and bio-security measures for players and spectators.{{cite web|title=Subscribe to The Australian {{!}} Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fvlandys-locks-in-2bn-tv-deal%2Fnews-story%2Fd34dbac54c45c91481d911ed2cbe758e&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=d0c9492e72dc29021ef00c2f59410a4f-1601938823|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.theaustralian.com.au}}{{cite web|title=Subscribe to The Australian {{!}} Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fvlandys-saves-the-game-that-saved-him%2Fnews-story%2F3c677439882927da125e0eb94503cd8f&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=24c0856aae2fd9a8cc8bffece5bfcfde-1601939205|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.theaustralian.com.au}}

Subsequently, when the NRL competition was again threatened by the Delta variant of the Coronavirus in mid-2021, V’landys along with NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo and the NRL Commission made a call to relocate the nine Sydney-based clubs, as well as the Knights and Raiders to Queensland and play the remaining 2021 season matches in that State thereby again securing the financial stability of the NRL.{{cite web|date=2020-05-21|title=How Peter V'landys saved rugby league from COVID-19 crisis and financial ruin|url=https://warren.rabbitohs.net/t/how-peter-v-landys-saved-rugby-league-from-covid-19-crisis-and-financial-ruin/8404|access-date=2021-10-25|website=The Warren|language=en-GB}}{{cite web|last=Lutton|first=Sarah Keoghan, Adrian Proszenko, Phil|date=2021-10-03|title='Ecstatic': NRL grand final in Brisbane given green light after no new cases|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/positive-signs-for-nrl-grand-final-as-queensland-covid-19-numbers-remain-low-20211002-p58wmr.html|access-date=2021-10-25|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

In October 2023, V'landys attended a State Dinner at the White House as a guest of Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, meeting President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and promoting the plans to hold the NRL season launch in Las Vegas commencing from 2024.{{Cite web |last=Chammas |first=Michael |date=2023-10-26 |title=Inside Peter V'landys' night with Albo and Joe Biden at the White House |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/inside-peter-v-landys-night-with-albo-and-joe-biden-at-the-white-house-20231026-p5efcu.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

V'landys was the driving force behind the proposal for the NRL season launch to occur in Las Vegas to gain a foothold in the sports wagering market in the USA. On 2 March 2024, the NRL launched its season with a double header featuring Souths v Manly and Roosters v Broncos at Allegiant Stadium, where the Super Bowl was played a few weeks prior. The launch was heralded as a success attended by over 40,000 people with record viewing audiences back in Australia on Fox and Channel 9.{{Cite web |last=Shields |first=Bevan |date=2024-03-04 |title=Kudos to the NRL, V'landys and Abdo for having the guts to try something big |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/kudos-to-the-nrl-v-landys-and-abdo-for-having-the-guts-to-try-something-big-20240303-p5f9bo.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

V'landys was one of three children and described his family as "very poor". He said "My parents sometimes had to go without food to feed the three kids. Dad worked 18-hour days in the Wollongong steelworks...Mum worked 12-hour shifts in a cafe."

V'landys grew up in Wollongong where he attended Keira Boys High School before graduating in 1984 from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in accountancy.{{cite web |url=http://www.uow.edu.au/alumni/alumnistories/UOW097305.html |title=Alumni Profiles – Commerce |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518072923/https://www.uow.edu.au/alumni/alumnistories/UOW097305.html |archive-date=18 May 2015 |website=University of Wollongong |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/running-hard-on-the-peoples-diet-20120622-20tun.html |title=Running hard on the people's diet |last=Presnell |first=Max |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 June 2012 |access-date=27 May 2013}}{{cite web |author=Kytherian Newsletter Sydney |url=http://www.kythera-family.net/index.php?nav=3-10&did=22219 |title=Detailed Biography |publisher=kythera-family.net |date=14 April 2014 |access-date=14 April 2014}} Whilst at university, he worked as a glass collector and cellarman at the Unanderra Hotel to support himself.{{cite news |author=Quekett, Malcolm|agency= |title=Three-minute biography: Why NRL and racing boss Peter V'landys is Australia's 'Mr Sport' |url=https://thenightly.com.au/sport/nrl/three-minute-biography-peter-vlandys-is-australias-mr-sport-c-13520888 |quote= |newspaper=The Nightly |date=2024-03-09 |access-date=2024-08-29 }}

He is of Greek heritage from Kythira; the spelling "V'landys" is an alternative spelling of his original Greek surname "Vlandis", first used by one of his high school teachers.

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.racingnsw.com.au/ Racing NSW website]

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Category:Australian chief executives

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