The Tamworth Jockey Club has announced its new general manager and track manager.
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On Monday, TJC administrator David Jewell confirmed the appointments of Michael Buckley as general manager and Mitch Robinson who will take charge of the club's track and training operation.
Both the new appointments have gained considerable industry knowledge and skills after working at the Newcastle Jockey Club for the past five years.
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Buckley becomes the fourth general manager at TJC in less than four years and takes over from Wayne Wood who resigned in January.
Buckley, 31, held the position of industry liaison and racing supervisor at the Newcastle Jockey Club.
He was part of their management team responsible for a busy programme of racing at both Newcastle and Cessnock including working on major events such as the inaugural $1 million The Hunter in 2019.
Buckley has worked closely with Racing NSW and the Newcastle trainers overseeing the operation of the biggest provincial racing and training centre in NSW.
Jewell said Buckley is an extremely hard working and enthusiastic young racing administrator who is highly motivated and ready to take the next step in his career here at Tamworth.
Originally from South Australia, Buckley has actively pursued his passion to work in the thoroughbred racing industry since leaving university.
The 31-year-old spent two years with David Jolly and then another two years with Tony McEvoy, working as their respective travelling foreman and assisting with stable administration and communication with owners.
Buckley at one stage took out his own trainers' licence with a view to building up his own team of racehorses before changing direction after gaining the position of racing manager at the Newcastle Jockey Club in 2016.
Meanwhile, new track manager Robinson has come through the Racing NSW Sports Turf Management certification system where he was one of the leading apprentices in the state.
Having completed his apprenticeship training in 2020, he has continued to work at Newcastle managing the day-to-day staff responsible for looking after two main grass tracks and the training surfaces.
Robinson believes he is ready to take on the challenge of running his own racecourse and is excited about the opportunity to take charge here at Tamworth given the quality of the track, the planned upgrades in training facilities, busy racing programme and strong group of local trainers.
Both Robinson and Buckley are in the process of relocating to Tamworth and will be around for this Friday's Tamworth Cup.
Jewell said while it was not planned, it was a bonus for the club to have both Buckley and Robinson appointed to key roles at Tamworth given they have been working together at Newcastle for the past five years.
Jewell said they already know most of the trainers and officials involved in Tamworth and both have had a very good grounding and know what it takes to run an important racetrack.
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