Blackballing affair leaves racing club big legal bill

The Stratford Racing Club has spent more than $65,000 on legal fees in the past financial year.

The figure was released in the club's annual report that has been sent out to members ahead of its annual meeting on Sunday.

The latest legal bill, which is believed to have been spent mostly on defending its members who were prosecuted by the Judicial Control Authority, takes the amount spent on legal fees since 2004 to $300,944.

Past presidents Murray Blue and Len Caskey were banned from holding office-bearing posts for three years in April after they were found guilty of illegally blackballing prospective members. Jim Gilbert, Wayne Hart and Brian Needham received two-year bans for their part.

New president Bryan Forbes, who took over from Gilbert after he was banned from holding the post, reported a net surplus of $14,648, which he said was a credible result.

The number of members now registered with the club has swelled to 173 in the past year.