Andrew Castles has been appointed chief executive of the Waikato Racing Club replacing Ken Rutherford who is to assume the same role at Hawkesbury in NSW.

Castles' background includes 11 years as director of racing for the Auckland Racing Club, four years as secretary/manager of the Otaki-Maori Racing Club and most recently more than four years as chief executive for Hawke's Bay Racing.

He is also well known to the New Zealand racing public through his roles on Trackside TV and Radio Trackside.

"The WRC Board is delighted to announce that Andrew Castles will be joining the Te Rapa team," WRC chairman Karyn Fenton-Ellis said.

"He has a truly outstanding background in the racing industry, bringing unparalleled experience and knowledge to his new role at the club.

"In an environment of great change for the industry, as one of the country's largest clubs, the WRC is set to play a pivotal part in the future landscape of racing."

The club races 14 times a year and hosts two Group One races - the Whakanui Stud International Stakes and Waikato Draught Sprint.