New Chief Operating Officer appointed at Albion Park Harness Racing Club – ‘The Creek’

Experienced racing administrator Ken Rutherford has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Albion Park Harness Racing Club – ‘The Creek.’

New Zealand-born, Rutherford comes to Brisbane on the back of an 18-month stint as Head of Wagering Operations & Sales of Racing and Sports.

Rutherford is long on racing administration, having previously held positions as Chief Executive Officer of the Hawkesbury Race Club and New Zealand’s Waikato Racing Club.

Internationally experienced, Rutherford is a great fit for Australia’s go-ahead metropolitan Harness Club, with a background across sport governance roles, racing administration, media and wagering.

A former international Kiwi cricketer, Rutherford also coached the Irish national cricket team at the start of the century, after a stellar decade-long career as part of New Zealand’s national cricket team.

Honoured with a New Zealand Order of Merit, Rutherford said he is delighted to join the APHRC after the Club’s highly successful recent Constellations winter carnival.

“The Inter Dominion Championship (ID23) is less than four months away and I am looking forward to working with Racing Queensland and other Industry bodies to provide a spectacular event for the city and state” he said.

“The relocation of the Club and development of a new world class Harness Racing facility at Norwell will be a big focus over the next few years, so there’s plenty to keep me occupied.”

“We can’t wait for Ken to start hitting sixes again, and his experience and knowledge will be a great asset both to the Club and broader harness racing code in Queensland”, APHRC Chairman Brad Steele said.

Rutherford begins with the APHRC in early September 2023.