Prison it's often said, is for the rehabilitation of those poor souls who have, from time to time, strayed from the path of righteousness. For others, it's a chance for honing one's nefarious skills, but for yet third group, it's a chance to show the world just how easy it is, to rise to the level of one's own incompetence. Early in the 80s, in the Brisbane "bighouse", a ducker and diver by the name of John Gillespie, with the help of a fellow guest Pat Haitana, boldly nutted out a plan to stiff the gambling world of as much as $30,000,000. After being told of the grand vision, Haitana informed his mate of a brother he had, who trained a small team on the central coast of New South Wales, in a town called Coffs Harbour. Pat assured him that Hayden would be up to the job. So on release, Gillespie set to unfolding his scheme. First off, being short of folding stuff, he contacted a Sydney gent, who just happened to be a member if the dark underbelly of society, and secured a stake. The gent, being himself, indebted to other heavies, badly needed a quick return. Now cashed up, Gillespie searched about and brought himself an aging neddy called Dashing Solitaire for $20,000, who in his younger days, had collected a G2 win. He was immediately packed off to Coffs. Next he needed a dud. It wasn't long before he came across an aged galloper who was a dead spit of his G2 horse. $2,000 later, he owned Fine Cotton. It was decided, that in the interests of driving up the offered price on substitution day, that Fine Cotton should have a few well beaten runs. First up, on 1 August 1984, at Bundamba, a track about 40ks west of the Brisbane CBD, the horse badly shook up the conspirators, when he nearly brought them unstuck. He charged out of the stalls and led them a merry dance into the straight. To their relief, Fine Cotton stopped as if shot in the run to the post.There would be nothing left to chance for his second run. Before his next start again at Bundamba, 5 days later, on the morning of the race, the horse was flogged until he couldn't go another yard. He was never sighted in running that afternoon. For his third and final lead up race, he stepped out 2 days later at Doomben. After a rousing session or two on the training track, again the horse ran a shocker. With the preliminaries now out of the way, the sting was set for the following week, again at Doomben. But fate was about to rear up and deal them a blinding, well aimed kick to the nether regions. Fielding a phone call in Brisbane, they were told that Dashing Solitaire had been spooked by a mob of kangaroos, and had taken flight. In a frenzy, the horse had races into a barbed wire fence, badly gashing one of his fore legs. He was well and truly out of the game. Crushed by their misfortune, the lads retired to the pub to console themselves. With the final goal so close, they were reluctant to call it quits. One of them thought that maybe they could pull their chestnuts from the fire, if they sent old Fine Cotton out to do the job himself. With the help of a massive dose of elephant juice, maybe he could just get home. It was judged that it was too risky. Even fired up, Fine Cotton probably wouldn't measure up. So it was with great reluctance that a call was made to the "banker" in Sydney. After informing the underworld identity (who would later be murdered in a suspected drug deal gone wrong) of the events, the lads were told in no uncertain terms, that the sub was to go ahead.With the memories of another trainer who'd had all his limbs broken, his skull beaten in and his remains found in the boot of his burnt out car, after supposedly backing out of a ring-in at the last moment, still fresh in the air, they were left with no choice. Gillespie then remembered another G2 horse who was on the market, Bold Personality. After a quick chat, the galloper was bought with a dud cheque. Problem was, Fine Cotton was dark brown with white rear socks, this one was a bay. A dye job was needed. On race eve Haitana then sent a mate off to collect the animal. When the ring-in arrived after a 6 hour trip, Haitana was shocked to see that the horse was badly distressed and dehydrated. Not being able to call in a vet, he decided to drench the horse himself, which ended with the horse bleeding badly from the nostrils. His head was tied to the roof in an effort to stem the flow. It was then that they applied a women's hair dye to change his colour. And thus he spent the night. Next morning, they were horrified. The horse has somehow turned bright red. Desperately they tried washing the rinse out, but it only left him a dappled, off colour. They then painted his feet with house paint, which quickly ran. The hose was used again. With the world crashing around his ears, Haitana gave up on the dye and paint. He bandaged the hind legs and hoped the stewards would not ask too many delicate questions. He felt trapped and was sure that they'd be uncovered as soon as they set foot on the track. He'd tried to back out, but minders kept him in tow. So it was into the float and off to the races for both Fine Cotton and Bold Personality. Haitana, wanted both there, just in case he needed to make a quick switch at the last moment. Once on the course, a whole new atmosphere overtook the lads. The whisper was out and about. Something was about to happen. So wide spread was the word, that prison warders were there in numbers to back the horse, as were the boys from the Fraud Squad, who were also there to make a quick buck. The word has spread like wild fire. Money came from the Pacific Nations, New Guinea and interstate. Sydney was awash with enough cash to force the price down from 20-1 into 6-4. And this was in a betting ring where a $1,000,000 bet wasn't uncommon. In Brisbane Fine Cotton was backed from 33-1 into a price of 7-2.As the jockey was legged up, it was said the fellow riders gave him the knowing nod. Bookmakers in Sydney smelled a rat, and some voiced their concerns. The word ring-in was mentioned, but nothing was mentioned to the powers that be, just in case the horse lost. Some bookies were quickly off their stands to jump on board the plunge. By the time the field had made it's way around to the starting stalls, the whisper had become a roar. But oddly, still nothing from the Stewards. They jumped away. The ring-in began only moderately, but quickly picked up his pace. The rider was surprised at how well the horse worked his way into the race. By the time the field reached the corner, it was a race in two. The early favourite, Harbour Gold, who had drifted from fractional odds to 5-1, held the inside running, with the ring-in locked on his outside. Down the entire straight they battled. First one then the other swapping the lead, until in the shadows of the post, the ring-in stuck his head out and nailed the win. The margin, a short, half head. Bookmakers were up in arms by the time the horses returned to the saddling enclosure. The crowd at the fence started to chant. One gent in particular, loudly raised the word RING-IN. All hell broke loose. A reporter who'd got the early word, went to the betting supervisor, and told him that Fine Cotton was in fact Bold Personality. He in turn went straight to the Stewards. The wheels had begun to fall off big time. Within minutes of Fine Cotton being declared the winner, the Stewards advised over the PA system that all bets should be held. They then called for Hayden Haitana to come to the office. But Haitana was having nothing of it. He took to the toe and hot footed it off the course and went to ground. He was found in South Australia a couple of weeks later. Half an hour later, the Stewards decided that Fine Cotton was to be relieved of the win and Harbour Gold promoted to first. They also decreed that all bets were to stand. Huge sums from all over the country would stay in the bookies pockets. There has to be a moral in there somewhere!
Sorry about that. Just a few thoughts. "to rise to the level of one's own incompetence. -(one cannot rise to a such a level.)' Is a poorly phrased version of the Peter Principle. So with your permission, I'll ask for a "OK, I'll let you off this time." "40ks (km?)" It might be technically incorrect, but it's just an everyday usage of the term in Oz. So I'll again ask for the above. "2 (two)" Laziness on my part. It's not something I normally do, but I'm more than happy to plead guilty. " It was judged that it was too risky." Guilty. "With the memories of another trainer who'd had all his limbs broken, his skull beaten in and his remains found in the boot of his burnt out car, after supposedly backing out of a ring-in at the last moment, still fresh in the air, they were left with no choice. Could this sentence be structured better? Yes, but it suffices, so it's fine. "it was a race in two (two whats? - do you mean a two-horse race?). I willing broke the rules here. In trying to give it a more authentic racing feel, I used an age old racing term. "The margin, a short, half head." (this is not a sentence) I'm happy to put up my hand ask ask why it's not a sentence? "All hell broke loose. (again, not a proper sentence)" Can an idiom be used as a sentence? "He took to the toe (his toes?) " Again an old Australian saying. I'm in no way taking the piss. Any help is gratefully accepted.
" There has to be a moral in there somewhere " Yes , the moral is Queenslanders are dodgy , terrible drivers and their grammatical construction leaves a lot to be desired
it was irony...err , thats right , irony , thats what it was ; see queenslanders , dodgy , terrible drivers , poor grammer and no grasp of irony
its always the horses with you. anyway , I see you`ve had the sense to politely ignore trevors attempts to glean information about yourself ; very wise.........are you sure youre really from queensland
Yeah mate, Sunshine Coast it is. I don't know Trev from a bar of soap, he is probably a good bloke, but an arm's length is always a good thing.
so michael barrymore says.......that might not mean anything to your good self I guess , you`d have to know the whole script about him from back in the u.k ; anyway , Im heading up in your general direction on monday ; taking the kids to seaworld/movieworld AGAIN ! looks like we`re in for some serious weather though...not that they`ll let me cancel it for that , what do kids care.
Just checked out Michael Barrymore. It all looks a little suss doesn't it? I didn't notice that you were over here Rogue. I hope the rain clears for you and the family. It's a wonder the kids didn't want to go to Dream World. My wife loves the place, and she's not too far off putting five decades behind her. lol.
dream world was about a month ago......my life would be simpler if I moved up to robina or somewhere...well less driving anyway ; sea worlds my favourite and thats where we`re going ; dont you be putting ideas into their heads about dreamworld again !!!!!
