"From my experience of Hayden ... or "H" ... as he liked to be called ... he was probably too trusting of anyone."

Simon White has been a successful journo in newspapers and online … for many years … all around Australia.

He spent some of his journey in South Australia, working as the racing writer for the Adelaide Advertiser, and it was during his time there he got to meet … and become friends with, a particularly colourful horse racing identity.

Following a suggestion from an editor at the paper and since it was the 25th anniversary of the “Fine Cotton” affair … the infamous horse substitution ring-in, at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Queensland, Simon started to look for one of the key characters in this ‘affair’, Hayden Haitana. The trainer of Fine Cotton was now living in and around the fringes of Adelaide, and leading quite a mysterious life.

This story is one of genuine connection and friendship that ends with Simon being able to do for Hayden, something that no-one else was able to to in the previous 25 years…And that was to get him legally back onto a race course.

Enjoy this unique tale.