Last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning owner Sandy McGregor has been elected the new chairman of the Australian Jumping Racing Association.

McGregor, who races the Cup victor Prince of Penzance in partnership and part-owned retired champion jumpers Some Are Bent and Black Is Bent, replaces Warrnambool breeder and previously successful trainer Marg Lucas.

Mrs Lucas, who has held the Chair for the past four years, has a broad understanding of the multi-facets of equine endeavours having evented, showjumped and was one of the first females to have a license to train horses.

She held the Chair of the Warrnambool Racing Club for 10 years and will remain on the committee.

Extended business commitments have ended the seven-year service of Vice-Chairman Chris Morgan and he will be succeeded by Nick Rule.

Rule, who runs a highly successful paint retailing and wholesaling business in southwest Victoria, developed a keenness for jumps racing in his hometown of Warrnambool, where he also serves on the race club committee.

AJRA executive director Inez Musgrove said Mrs Lucas and Mr Morgan have been driving forces behind establishing world’s best practice and improving the safety of the sport.

“Marg intended to serve only two years on the committee following her role as Chair of the Warrnambool Racing Club, but is so passionate about jumps racing that she has an ongoing commitment towards seeing the sport progress in Victoria and South Australia,” Ms Musgrove said.

“We are also indebted to Chris, who joined us in1999 and has been a major influence in reinvigorating the sport and helping to implement our improved safety policy and present openly accurate accountability of all aspects of jumps racing.

“We are delighted that both Sandy and Nick have taken on these roles to continue the good work of many in helping to develop a viable future for the jumps fraternity.”