Champion driver Greg Bennett remains on outer 13 years after his role in Green Light scandal

Once regarded among Australia’s premier horse races, trotting’s showcase event is beginning to resemble a footnote on the bustling national sporting calendar.

This year’s edition, taking place at Menangle in the south-west outskirts of Sydney, is a sad reminder of the code’s falling status, bereft of stars and seemingly out of kilter with its working-class ethos of giving every battler a second crack of the whip.

It’s not unreasonable to assume most Australians don’t have a clue that the $500,000 grand final Inter Dominion is scheduled for next weekend, or that the third and final round of heats took place on Saturday to determine which horses get a start.

It didn’t help that some of the best standardbreds in the country were not competing, including the country’s top pacer, last year’s winner Leap To Fame.

Nor does it help that some of the best drivers were missing too, including Greg Bennett, once the code’s poster boy, who has been banned for 13 years, and remains ostracised for his response to the investigation into the Green Light scandal from 2011.

It’s the worst-kept secret in trotting circles that some trainers and drivers involved in the sting got away scot-free while the handful who were implicated had the book thrown at them.

Bennett was among the latter.

He has always maintained he was never involved in the corrupt activity, in which two stewards were charged with accepting bribes from licensed participants in return for assurances that certain horses would not be drug tested.

Charged by police, Bennett was found not guilty of six criminal charges when he appeared before a jury at the NSW District Court in 2013 but two years later, he was disqualified for seven years by HRNSW for allegedly hindering their investigation by not answering all the questions that were put to him.

After failing to have his ban overturned, Bennett completed his backdated suspension in 2018 so naturally expected to resume his stalled career, during which he had previously established himself as one the best drivers in the country, winning the NSW premiership 12 times between 1997 and 2011.

The brightest star in a family with a lifelong association in harness racing, Bennett drove more than 2500 victories during his heyday, clocking up a state record 233 in 2005-06, while also saluting the judge in some of the biggest races in the game.

But each of his subsequent applications to have his licence returned have all been rejected.

In his most recent appeal, in July this year, the now 58-year-old Bennett even acknowledged that he hadn’t been as forthcoming as he could have been in his previous trips to the appeals board and vowed to co-operate in any way they wanted.

“On reflection I now understand my stance within the process of investigation of the Green Light scandal was unnecessarily defensive and was potentially obstructive,” he wrote in his latest submission.

“I was distressed and upset at what I saw as an injustice of myself being brought into the serious scandal related to Harness Racing NSW. I was not involved and was innocent of any participation in this. I was excessively focused on my own feelings and failed to see the bigger picture.”

HRNSW has received a number of signed written references in support of Bennett’s application for a return while this masthead has spoken to numerous industry participants who all agree it’s time he was allowed back.

One multiple Group 1-winning trainer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Enough is enough. Whether he did it or not, it doesn’t matter anymore because he’s already served his penalty and more.”

Others who were linked to the green-lights scandal have already been allowed back, including trainer Dean Atkinson, who was banned for 10 years after pleading guilty to three charges of corruption under Australian Harness Racing rule 241.

Driver Cameron Fitzpatrick, who also confessed to three charges, returned to the track in July after getting his licence approved.

Bennett’s treatment goes against the Australian racing industry’s long tradition of giving second chances to anyone who has served lengthy bans.

It’s well documented that bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse is back taking bets after getting a life ban over the Fine Cotton affair.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Chris Munce, who served 2½ years in jail in Hong Kong and Silverwater for trading race tips for bets, had his NSW racing licence reinstated.

One of the most divisive suspension reversals involved another Melbourne Cup-winning rider, Mel Schumacher.

One of the star riders of his era, Schumacher was banned for life after being caught on camera reaching over and pulling the leg of a rival rider in the finishing stages of the 1961 AJC Derby at Randwick.

The officials misread the room as the racing community sided with Schumacher, believing the stipes had overreacted, and his ban was later reduced to 5½ years.

Bennett has already been in exile for 13 years – almost double the penalty he was given – but HRNSW is standing firm on its decision not to allow him back.

“In relation to the previous refusals of Mr Bennett’s licence application by HRNSW, he has availed himself of the available avenue of appeal and in 2019 & 2021 the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal dismissed those appeals,” said Michael Prentice, the chairman of the licensing committee.

“Mr Bennett’s most recent licence application was not considered by the HRNSW Licensing Committee as he was unable to demonstrate a change in his circumstances that would warrant consideration of his licence application. Following a further appeal from Mr Bennett, the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal determined that it had no jurisdiction to hear and determine Mr Bennett’s appeal.”

But not everyone within HRNSW agrees with the hard line approach.

Bennett’s case has been hotly debated by various board members and executives over the year and some support the notion of giving him a fresh chance, particularly given the emotional turmoil the ban has had on him and his young family’s wellbeing.

A single father working part-time jobs to make ends meet, Bennett provided an insight into the personal anguish he has experienced during his disqualification, when he submitted his 2021 appeal, which was also rejected.

Despite feeling a sense of injustice, he’s remained one of the sport’s few remaining true believers, and still loves the sport that’s abandoned him.

That’s why he was among the faithful at Menangle for Saturday’s last round of heats, where the runners include Jimartee, a seven-year-old gelding that was bred and is partly owned by his mother Lorraine.

The Inter Dominion is one of the few big races missing from Bennett’s driving CV and he would have loved nothing more than to have been in the sulky trying to win the race for his mum, but had to make do with sitting in the stands though Prentice did at least offer a slimmer of hope that door hasn’t been closed forever.

“HRNSW has always given due consideration to Mr Bennett and his circumstances, together with the decisions of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal,” he said.