Gloucester Park CEO Retires

Retiring Gloucester Park CEO, Rob Bovell (left) receiving the HRA Distinguished Service Award from GPHR President, John Burt. Photo by William Crabb.

After a lifetime’s service to the WA harness industry, with 23 years as the CEO of Gloucester Park, Rob Bovell has announced his retirement.

GPHR President, John Burt, praised Rob’s many achievements during a long and distinguished career.

“Rob is highly regarded in the industry and in 2008 he was recognised for his many years of hard work, dedication and integrity, when honoured with a Harness Racing Australia Distinguished National Service Award.

“Rob’s career started a long while before that, when he joined the WATA as a junior clerk in the front office, back in 1969.  His determination to succeed saw him studying part-time until he gained a Bachelor of Business Degree with an Accounting Major, and in 1976 he was promoted to Office and Computer Operations Manager. 

“In 1979 Rob joined the Fremantle Trotting Club as its Secretary Manager, a position he held for the next ten years.  He then returned to the WATA and a short while later was appointed its CEO.”

John Burt continued “Rob was an outstanding employee who cared greatly about the success of the harness racing industry.  He fought many campaigns to ensure harness racing received the recognition it deserved and a fair share of the TAB distribution percentage.

“Rob can be justifiably proud that he always steered Gloucester Park in the right direction. The Committee, staff and members of Gloucester Park Harness Racing are sad that Rob has decided to retire, but we wish him and his family all the very best for the future, and hope he will join us at Gloucester Park as often as possible.”

Upon his retirement, the Inter Dominion Event Committee unanimously voted to award Mr Bovell the Brian Hancock Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service to the Inter Dominion.

“This is a fitting tribute to a man who has raised the standards of Inter Dominions for all others to aspire to. There can be little doubt that the highlights of his career were the three outstanding Inter Dominion Championships, in 1996, 2004, and last year’s fantastic 2012 V75 Inter Dominion, that he was responsible for during his time as CEO.” praised Mr Burt. 

In announcing Rob Bovell’s replacement, Mr Burt revealed the GPHR Committee was unanimous in its decision to appoint Michael Radley to the position of CEO, commenting that “Michael has performed admirably in Rob’s absence and the Committee had no hesitation in appointing him to the top position.  We are confident he will continue to ensure the success of Gloucester Park into the future.”

Before joining GPHR in early 2011, Michael Radley was Business Development Manager with the NSW National Coursing Association and prior to that spent 10 years with Sky Racing.