Group 1 Trainer Fighting For Shot At Redemption

AS a greyhound trainer Mark Azzopardi had the world at his feet.

Fast dogs, public adulation and a string of big race victories had the now 42-year-old universally regarded as one of the sport's brightest young training prospects.

But that all came crashing down in 2016 when Azzopardi's life spiralled completely out of control.

His training career playing second fiddle to fuelling a rapidly growing drug addiction.

Midway through that year, Azzopardi hit rock bottom when two of his greyhounds returned positive swabs to cocaine and caffeine as a result of his reckless lifestyle.

Relationships with family and friends were fracturing and he was in the depths of depression.

Having effectively disengaged from all aspects of his life, Azzopardi, with the help of family, fled overseas to Ireland and then Malta in search of much needed help and a fresh start.

Grappling numerous demons, Azzopardi failed to engage with Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) on his positive swab charges, with his failure to do so turning a likely three-year disqualification into a 23-year disqualification by stewards.

Fast forward six years and the world now looks vastly different for Azzopardi.

Living in Grafton, the Group 1 winning trainer remains in a relationship with Nina McEvilly, is gainfully employed, and most importantly has overcome a drug addiction that at one stage was on the cusp of delivering the worst of endings.

"It's one day at a time but with the help and support of Nina, family and friends I've come out the other side," Azzopardi said.

"I'm in a really good place now but it hasn't been easy.

"Looking back at how I was living my life to how things are now – it couldn't be any more different.

"I'm just lucky I turned things around when I did. Because it could have been worse."

For Azzopardi's redemption story to be truly complete he needs to take care of some unfinished business.

That's a return to an industry he's been involved in his whole life, one that gave him so much, and one he understands he took for granted.

But a pathway back took a cruel blow last week when the NSW Racing Tribunal rejected Azzopardi's appeal for his 23-year disqualification to be revisited given the exceptional circumstances.

Central to the dismissal was the suggestion that there was insufficient evidence to conclude why Azzopardi didn't lodge an appeal during February 2018 and May 2020 when he had returned from overseas and clean from drugs.

"At that time my only focus was keeping myself right, not returning to greyhounds – it was the furthest thing from my mind," Azzopardi said.

"I'm absolutely heartbroken by the decision last week.

"For the past two years I've been jumping through every hoop possible with GWIC (Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission) in a bid to get my licence in some form back.

"I've said I'll do whatever is necessary and start at the bottom even with an attendant‘s licence. I'm just after a chance to prove myself.

"To think I still have another 17 years to serve. As I said, it's just heartbreaking. I don't know what else to say."

Because Azzopardi's disqualification was determined by GRNSW before GWIC was brought to life, the now regulatory body has little wriggle room to overturn the previous decision.

But in a ray of light, GWIC has indicated they wouldn't stand in the way of a return, and even support it, should GRNSW find a way forward to review the staggering 23-year disqualification.

"I've been out of the sport now for six years and realised how important it is to me," Azzopardi added.

"They say you don't realise something until it's gone and that's 100 per cent the case with this industry.

"I can't go back in time and right my mistakes but what I can do is prove moving forward that I was worthy of a second chance.

"If it's given to me I'll take it with both hands. I promise."