Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys is accusing racehorse news website owner Vicky Leonard of publishing an allegedly defamatory article in “retaliation” after he refused to support not-for-profit racing initiatives she was involved in.
The claim was outlined in the NSW Supreme Court, where V’landys is suing Leonard, the owner and managing director of The Thoroughbred Report, over a November 2025 article questioning his leadership and calling for limits on CEO tenure.
In his statement of claim, V’landys alleges the article was published in response to his refusal “to permit Racing NSW funds to be paid, directly or indirectly, into commercial structures owned and controlled by Leonard, or into community-driven initiatives in respect of which the destination of monies received was not transparent.”
He also claims that, as Racing NSW CEO, he raised concerns about transparency in how funds raised by not-for-profits were being spent, alleging that of about $60,000 raised through National Thoroughbred Week, roughly $55,000 was paid to Leonard’s marketing company Kick Collective for services including website, advertising, social media and event management.
The dispute centres on an article that questioned whether racing CEOs should have term limits and whether V’landys was effectively managing both his Racing NSW role and his position as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman. It also made claims about falling horse field sizes, wagering share and infrastructure investment.
V’landys disputes those assertions, stating there was only a “slight” fall in average field sizes from 10.10 horses in 2011 to 9.35 in 2025, alongside an increase of nine race meetings and 214 races, which he says created “more opportunity to participants to compete for prizemoney”.
He also rejects claims about NSW wagering performance and infrastructure spending, describing the reporting as “misleading”.
He further alleges the article implied his continued tenure had become an industry “liability” and says Leonard would have known the claims were inaccurate with proper research or by contacting him.
It is understood Leonard and The Thoroughbred Report are defending the case on the basis of fair comment and honest opinion. She has previously said the article was “a measured, data-driven analysis of CEO tenure” and denied it was defamatory.
At a recent hearing, a consent order required Leonard to withdraw subpoenas described by V’landys’ legal team as “outrageous”, which had sought access to extensive personal records, including medical documents spanning two decades.
His barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, also labelled the subpoenas “outrageous” and “wholly irrelevant to the case”.
The matter is due to return to court in August.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
