John Tapp Racing

Introducing a nice chat with one of Australia’s most consistent jockeys. Andrew Gibbons works hard, travels far and wide and rides winners on a regular basis.  Andrew talks of the freakish fall at Newcastle in July which saw him miss the first three months of the current season. He outlines the injuries incurred and the long road back to race riding. Andrew pays tribute to his twenty year old son...

Great to catch up with a lady whose continued success is bringing her under notice as a very serious horse trainer. Theresa Bateup announced her presence with a metro double on Gong day. She talks about a great winning trot in the month of November. Theresa talks of the horses who made her first metropolitan double a reality. She looks back on an amazing success rate with horses purchased cheaply...

Had a phone call recently from former top jockey Gordon Spinks to tell me that Bruce Compton was in retirement with wife Marina on a Moreton Bay island in Queensland. A quick phone call and we had Bruce locked in for a chat. We check out where he’s living and what he’s doing in retirement. Bruce begins by talking about the final years of his riding career in northern NSW,  and a couple of business...

This is the first podcast we’ve conducted with a non racing participant, but the man in question rates among Australia’s best horsemen. Scott Brodie begins by explaining his role as manager of the Prestige Equestrian Training Centre at Helensburgh. He outlines the facilities available on the property. Scott talks of the riding instruction component of the operation, and the therapy he supervises f...

The CEO of the state’s controlling body talks about the 2021 edition of the Interdominion series, to be held over four exciting nights at three top class racetracks. He answers criticism of the decision to conduct two rounds of heats on regional tracks. John talks of his upbringing in a legendary western districts trotting family. He talks of Ruby Vale Stud at Alectown, a famous breeding farm esta...

It’s always a delight to chat with Darren Gauci who won a million friends during his magnificent riding career. He begins by looking back on his twilight years in the saddle when opportunities were diminishing. Darren will long remember the send off he was accorded at Caulfield in Feb 2017. He responded in the best possible way by riding a winner. Emotions ran high through the day. He talks of his...

Great to catch up with a 31 year old jockey who’s nudging 1000 career wins. Ben was sitting in his car at the Armidale racecourse when we tracked him down for this interview. He begins by singing the praises of a promising mare he rode at Grafton recently. He makes mention of a recent addition to the Port Macquarie training ranks. He’s already forged an association with Paul Shailer, a former Chri...

Great to catch up with a doyen of western districts racing! Gayna recalls the thrill of her first training win with Scarlet Vixen at Orange in 1985. She paid $1400 for the filly at an Inglis sale. She talks of her marriage to Frank Williams and a sudden move to Grafton in 2010. She may still be there had Frank not been offered a job at Gulgong. Gayna talks about seven successful years of training...

Great to chat with a man who co-founded Hyperion Thoroughbreds, one of the very earliest racehorse syndication companies in Australia. We find out what Allan’s been doing since a crippling recession brought Hyperion’s operation to a halt in 1990. Allan takes us back to his childhood in Gravesend near Warialda when radio was a way of life to country people. He fell in love with the theatre of racin...

Delighted to catch up with a bloke who boasts a racing pedigree to match that of any thoroughbred blueblood. Alan Gollogly is the son of the former successful Queensland jockey of the same name, and the grandson of Fred Best who won 17 Brisbane trainer’s premierships. Throw in his uncle, champion jockey Noel Best for good measure. “Jock” talks of his current role as official track clocker for top...

Thanks to a devoted Melbourne racing historian we were able to access fifty year old recordings of race wins by Dual Choice. Listening to the calls I was reminded of the talents of this flying daughter of Showdown. A quick spot of research, a scripting of the Dual Choice story and some good work from Supernova Sound and we had ourselves a podcast- a podcast for old timers like me, and those who li...

Keagan is counting down the minutes to a specialist appointment on November 10th when he hopes to gain a clearance to ride again. He talks about the seemingly harmless tumble at Hawkesbury that left him with multiple injuries.  He reflects on a wonderful season that brought him more than a century of winners and a provincial premiership.  Keagan talks of his South African childhood and induction i...

Kylie Gavenlock’s early life revolved around her devotion to horses and her love for the NSW Central Coast. Now at age 57 Kylie is still based at Gosford, and is in her fourth decade as a professional trainer. She begins by talking about the Gosford Race Club’s plans for expansion as a training centre. Kylie talks of the 75 acre property at nearby Somersby which gives her horses the “best of both...

TAB punters who fancy a flutter on NSW southern meetings are familiar with the riding of Brendan Ward. The Victorian born jockey had 700 winners on his CV when he moved to Canberra twenty years ago. He’s since added another 820. Brendan talks about his involvement in Canberra trackwork. He talks of the endless travelling country jockeys have to endure in the modern age. Brendan talks of his lifelo...

I’ll never forget the day Sky Channel boss Graham McNeice told me he was bringing a young race caller from Queensland to join the Sky team. Russell Leonard was only seventeen, very talented but very intimidated by the big city. The youngster loved the experience but couldn’t adapt to life in a city like Sydney. We catch up with 50 year old Russell Leonard three decades after homesickness sent him...

It’s a delight to introduce a young man whose serious health problems haven’t diminished his resolve to become a serious professional jockey. Harry begins by talking about the wide area he covers in the pursuit of winners. He talks of a two year stay in Bendigo and the homesickness that took him back to Swan Hill. Harry talks about the 10 hectare property near Swan Hill where he lives with partner...

Many good judges believe Mister Rea is the best 2 year old pacer seen out this season. The no nonsense colt is unbeaten in six runs. We catch up with his trainer Ray Walker.  Ray has bred many of his best horses over the years including Mister Rea. He says the colt’s dam was a very fast mare. He says the grand dam was even better but plagued with problems. Ray talks of Mister Rea’s manners and fau...

Racing fans have been pleased to see Glyn Schofield’s presence at three recent barrier trial sessions at Rosehill. Until his resumption in late August the veteran jockey hadn’t been seen since Boxing Day of last year. He reveals that a painful problem with his right arm required extensive surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation. Glyn takes us back to early childhood in his native England and the job...

We caught Anthony at the end of a good week. He’d ridden a double on the Gold Coast the day before, and a winner at Eagle Farm the previous Wednesday. As Incentivise’s original rider he was a keen observer when the rising star won Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. He watched on a TV monitor in the mounting yard at Aquis Park. Anthony gives his impressions of the Makybe Diva win and then...

Great to catch up with respected Scone trainer Rod Northam who’s hoping a slot holder might come along for his Kosciuszko hopeful Spiranac. Rod has high praise for the Scone training precinct. He takes us back to childhood days on a Singleton dairy farm where he taught himself to ride. Rod talks of the genetic influence provided by his father and grandfather. The experienced horseman looks back on...

Twenty five years ago I described Paul Ambrosoli as the best greyhound commentator in the world. To date nobody has taken me to task. I’m delighted to welcome him to the podcast. The legendary caller begins by paying tribute to his late wife Pat. Paul acknowledges the achievements of his granddaughter Claire Lever now married to jockey Chad Lever and making her way in the tough grind of racehorse...

Great to catch up with a little bloke of Italian descent who began his career with the late Ray Guy at Rosehill 35 years ago. Five years ago he was still living in Sydney and travelling to the western districts most weeks. In 2016 he moved to Mudgee and is now one of the most in demand jockeys on the western line. He looks back on the reasons for the move. Anthony explains the origins of the nickn...

Great to catch up with trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith who recently pulled up stakes and relocated from Hawkesbury to sunny Coffs Harbour. He explains why he settled on the north coast. Noel talks of his new association with “Stable Of Stars”, a syndication company which offers horses for lease rather than sale. The trainer explains the concept. The trainer pays tribute to wife Emma who has ridden the...

Michael was in the broadcast box at Los Alamitos when we caught up with him recently. We begin by talking about his Aussie accent, unchanged after more than thirty years in the USA. He talks of his appointment as track announcer at the Los Alamitos track in California in the wake of his shock dismissal by the owners of Santa Anita. Michael takes us through the dual breed format of Los Alamitos pro...

Great to catch up with Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Bellamy who grew up among the Hawkesbury race crowd but moved to the north coast with his family as a 17 year old. All he ever wanted to do was train racehorses. He talks of early days in the Hawkesbury Valley. Brett talks of his 35 years as a commercial trainer and the facilities available at the Coffs Harbour track. He mentions the famous Boambe...