Racing: 5 charged in harness scandal

Two more arrests have been made in relation to corruption allegations in the NSW harness racing industry with a total of five men now charged over the scandal.

Three men were charged on Thursday with a further two charged yesterday after detectives from Task Force Tairora executed search warrants on properties near Goulburn and Camden.

Police seized items and arrested a 26-year-old man from the Camden area and charged him with three counts of corruptly giving or offering a benefit. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Penrith court on December 15.

A 47-year-old man from the Goulburn area was also charged with three counts of corruptly giving or offering a benefit. He was also granted conditional bail to appear at Picton Local Court on December 20.

The harness industry was rocked in August when two stewards resigned amid allegations some stewards were not ordering swabs from certain horses in certain races and the knowledge of other participants of the practice.

Harness Racing NSW set up its own investigation which is running parallel to the police inquiry.

A statement from the governing body yesterday said licensed participants Cameron Fitzpatrick and Dean Atkinson had been stood down indefinitely under Australian Harness Racing Rule 183 as part of the investigation.

NSW premier reinsman Greg Bennett was stood down on Thursday under the same racing rule.

The latest arrests have come on the eve of NSW harness racing's showcase event, the Miracle Mile at Menangle.

- AAP