TV News Report - Fine Cotton/Waterhouse, (Channel 7, 1985)

The Fine Cotton affair was a scandal that rocked Australian horse racing in 1984. It involved the substitution of a lesser-performing horse, Bold Personality, with a more talented look-alike, Fine Cotton, in an attempt to manipulate the outcome of a race at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.
Fine Cotton, a horse with a history of poor performance, was substituted with Bold Personality, a more successful horse, in an effort to deceive officials and bettors. The scheme involved illegally dyeing the horse's coat and altering its markings to resemble those of Fine Cotton.
The plan ultimately failed, as race officials and punters quickly noticed the discrepancies. The scandal resulted in fines, suspensions, and bans for several individuals involved in the scheme, including trainers, jockeys, and bookmakers.
The Fine Cotton affair remains one of the most infamous incidents in Australian horse racing history, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of attempting to manipulate the sport for financial gain.