RACING RORTS: MEET the mediocre gallopers replaced with sure-fire winners, dodgy ring-ins, shocking short-cuts and biggest fixes ever to hit the track.

A DISGUISE of white paint, peroxide and brown hair dye was not enough to mask the true markings of Fine Cotton's ring-in.

DOOMED amateur scam, or devious double-sting?

For years racing's most infamous affair, the Fine Cotton scandal, was also seen as its most hapless.

A clumsy disguise of white paint, peroxide and brown hair dye was employed to mask the true markings of Bold Personality as it edged out Harbour Gold at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm in August of 1984.

Masquerading as the much slower Fine Cotton, the horse had started at 33-1, but a late plunge saw it come in to 7-2 as word of the switch spread.

After the race it took stewards only moments to satisfy themselves it was not Fine Cotton, and disqualified the horse within 40 minutes of the race ending.

Its trainer, Hayden Haitana, fled the track and went on the run, sparking a manhunt across several states.

He gave an interview to 60 Minutes while in hiding, claiming there had been death threats and standover tactics that left him fearing for his safety.

The mastermind of the botched plan, conman John Gillespie, had recruited Haitana after meeting the trainer’s brother Pat in prison.

PICTURES: The Fine Cotton affair

Gillespie bought a horse named Dashing Soltaire to be Fine Cotton’s ring-in, and had Haitana train both.

But Dashing Soltaire injured itself and another substitute had to be found.

Bold Personality was quickly purchased, but looked nothing like Fine Cotton so the shoddy disguise was applied.

But Gillespie has since made the claim that it was no bungle - but a brilliant swindle that netted millions for the syndicate backing it.

media_camera Disgraced bookie Robbie Waterhouse, pictured in 1998 when he was given permission to be allowed back on track, after he was banned for 14 years for his part in the Fine Cotton ring-in racehorse scandal. Picture: Matthew Munro

Gillespie told the Herald Sun in 2010 that the real plan was to back Harbour Gold - whose odds had gone out just as Fine Cotton's had shortened when rumours of the ring-in were deliberately spread.

Harbour Gold was ultimately named the winner, and Gillespie claimed the plan earned its conspirators $12 million - including his own winnings of $1.8 million.

READ MORE: Gillespie says he won $1.8m on Fine Cotton's race

Later Gillespie's amazing claims were ridiculed by former Sydney race stewards chairman John Schreck, who investigated the NSW link in the Fine Cotton Affair.

"Truly, Dick Francis could not think up something like that," Mr Schreck told Brisbane's Courier Mail.

Gillespie, Haitana and several others were charged.

But Gillespie skipped bail in June 1985 and was later discovered crouching in a cupboard in his sister's house in Victoria.

He eventually pleaded guilty over the conspiracy and was jailed for four years.

media_camera Fine Cotton with John Gillespie, who claims he walked away with $1.8m as a result of the racing fix. Picture: Newsltd library

Haintana was also jailed and both were warned off racetracks for life.

The syndicate’s alleged money-man, Sydney gangster and bookie Michael Sayers, was murdered in 1985.

The scandal embroiled members of the high-profile Waterhouse family, with bookmakers Robbie and Bill banned from racetracks for some years.

Both have always denied prior knowledge of the substitution.

And now, explore some more of our favourite racing scams.

30s GALLOPER: Erbie, racing's 'ring-in' king ran under several names

THIRTIES galloper Erbie enjoyed a memorable career, but not for his impressive official record of 23 wins.

SHOCKING CHEATS: The battery horse scandal

THUNDERING Legion's performance had been labelled "unimpressive" in his previous three races before a handicap at Morphettville, South Australia in 1955. But things were about to take a shocking turn ...

PLODDER BOLTED: A regal and royal switch

ROYAL School's last four runs had seen it finish no higher than third-last, so few would have backed it to romp home by more than three lengths in the Muntham Handicap in 1972.

ENGLISH SWITCH: Francasal 'ring-in' racing plot

THEY may have looked alike, but Francasal had nothing on speedy two-year-old colt Santa Amaro, sparking a racehorse switch of the century.

Originally published as The scams that stopped the nation