Mark Richard Bayliss: Racing club manager and former Collingwood player to fight horse insemination fraud

A former Collingwood player and Albany Racing Club boss will fight accusations he gained a $3300 benefit by fraud for horse insemination and tried to gain a benefit by fraud in the form of a $42,000 grant. Mark Richard Bayliss, 58, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to gaining a benefit by fraud and attempting to gain a benefit for another by fraud. Mr Bayliss is accused of gaining a $3300 benefit by fraud for horse insemination alleged to have occurred between September 1 and September 13, 2020. He is also accused of attempting to gain a benefit by fraud in the form of a $42,000 grant for the Albany Racing Club on January 11, 2022. Appearing by audio link, Mr Bayliss’ defence lawyer Mark Andrews requested a trial allocation date and said that having not yet received disclosure from the prosecution, he could not determine how much time they would need for a trial. Mr Andrews said Mr Bayliss would make some concessions but would not specify them before receiving disclosure. Mr Bayliss’ charges were adjourned to November 5 for a trial allocation date, and his bail was extended. The horse racing enthusiast has been general manager at Albany Racing Club since 2019 when he stepped into an interim role, which became permanent in 2020, after a stint as chairman of the Bunbury Turf Club. A passionate sportsman, the ex-South Fremantle forward made his AFL debut for Collingwood in 1989 and played four games over two years but missed selection for the drought-breaking 1990 premiership. Known for his tough man persona, the young footballer once jumped the fence at Leederville Oval to confront a heckler in 1988 and was suspended for striking Footscray’s Mark Athorn in his first reserves game for Collingwood a year later. He went on to become a car dealer in Bunbury and has held various coaching and administrative positions in several football clubs across the South West and Great Southern.