The NRL’s top referee Ashley Klein has continued to officiate the code’s biggest games, despite having had a gambling problem that has cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But now it would seem that not even the backlash to revelations of Klein’s $400,000 gambling losses has been enough to keep him away from the track.

On Saturday, Klein went along to Royal Randwick Racecourse for what the Australian Turf Club branded “Missile Stakes Day”, the first day on the NSW racing calendar. Klein was accompanied trackside by his partner, Elly Howse, CBD hears, but was not seen placing any bets.

Still, we couldn’t help thinking that the appearance demonstrated a refreshingly obtuse lack of self awareness, even by the degenerate standards of this column.

Klein didn’t pick up when we tried calling on Monday. Howse, who was until recently policy director for NSW Racing Minister David Harris and now works for NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley, declined to comment.

As revealed by this masthead in June, Klein lost more than $400,000 betting on horse racing and greyhound racing with corporate bookmakers, before closing his accounts and placing himself on the national self-exclusion register, BetStop, in 2023.

Klein’s gambling was investigated in 2019 by the NRL, which cleared the referee with the chrome dome to continue refereeing at the top level when it was established that he had not punted on rugby league. But Klein continued to rack up gambling losses in the four years following the probe, up until he put himself on the self-exclusion register.

There is no suggestion that Klein has ever acted inappropriately in his on-field capacity, or that he has bet on rugby league.

But that didn’t stop the NRL’s highest-profile official facing calls to stand down from refereeing this year’s second State of Origin match on integrity grounds following the revelations, which also reportedly stunned officials across the game.

We’re sure they’ll be glad to know his enthusiasm for the track persists.

Eddie Lee’s vanishing act

It was only last week that this masthead revealed the creation of a phoney website masquerading as LWP Capital, the financial venture launched by the 21-year-old Edward Feng Zhao Lee.

The Lee Family Office told this masthead that the website was not owned, operated or authorised by LWP Capital or the Lee Family Office, and was “fraudulently” reproducing its business name and address without consent.

But it seems that isn’t the only thing young Eddie has had on his plate. Only days later, Lee quietly departed the board of his family-controlled Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club. Lee is the son of the beleaguered billionaire businessman Phillip Lee, and the younger brother of Labor Party donor and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent Point Piper dinner party host Felix Lee.

The first question we had, of course, was whether young Eddie jumped, ran or was pushed from the board. If the latter, was it his big brother or uncle who did it?

As it turns out, he’s stepping aside to make way for someone with a little more golfing prowess. A spokesperson for the club confirmed young Lee’s departure and the appointment of golf legend Graham Marsh.

Marsh, 82, was one of the course’s original architects and was apparently already doing a bit of work around the greens. But this is a whole new gig.

Marsh will get settled into the role at a time of mutiny among dozens of the club’s members, who have threatened legal action against management amid claims of oppressive conduct and excessive annual subscription fee rises they say are in breach of the constitution.

At least young Eddie has one less thing to worry about.

Flaming big party in Byron

Wellness entrepreneur Radek Sali has hit his half century with a two-day party in Byron Bay tagged “Radfest”, complete with an Aussie legend, a bunch of mates and a US singer who espouses not wearing shoes.

Sali was chief executive of vitamin brand Swisse and helped the company’s $2.1 billion sale to Biostime in 2015. Now operating his Light Warrior family office and the wellness brand Wanderlust, Sali marked his 50th with a festival-style party – tents, cowboy hats and beer cans featuring the birthday boy’s face – at the weekend.

Among the highlights was a private acoustic show by Jimmy Barnes, during which Sali joined the national treasure for a raucous rendition of Cold Chisel classic Flame Trees.

“My voice is gone,” Sali confided when CBD called to wish him all the best on Monday.

“The party was held over two days by the river on our farm. I was blessed to be able to share it with family and friends around me.”

Also keeping the party going was Michael Franti, an American singer, songwriter, musician, poet, activist, documentarian and rapper who owns a yoga, soul and rock’n’roll resort in Bali, and doesn’t like to wear shoes.

Barnes seems to be in his private show era. He also played at Seek co-founder Andrew Bassat’s 60th birthday at the Mornington Peninsula’s Jackalope hotel in March.