Racing man's mystery exit from $1m job

Lianne Bayliss and Chris Bayliss

The highly paid chief executive of the state-run NZ Racing Board has quit with eight days' notice, leaving the board without a replacement and the public without a reason for his departure.

The resignation of former banking executive Chris Bayliss, 47, was announced yesterday, less than two years after he started the job.

The role of running the body, which oversees racing and betting, had an annual pay packet of more than $1 million.

Harness Racing Trainers and Drivers Association president John Lischner said he was "very sorry to see him go".

"I thought he was making a difference," Mr Lischner said.

Board chairwoman Glenda Hughes issued a statement saying Mr Bayliss was leaving in eight working days after "achieving much during his two-year tenure at NZRB".

When contacted, Ms Hughes said: "The statement is all I intend to say."