John Tapp Racing

You’ll go a long way to find anybody more passionate about harness racing than forty year old trainer Troy Williams who’s enjoying a winning streak at the moment. He talks about the stable runners who are making it possible. Troy loves a trotter and talks about Affaire De Cover who won a major 2YO Trot last year in torrential rain, and didn’t put a foot wrong. He explains that the horse got his na...

Peter recalls the freakish accident in 2014 that brought his successful riding career to an end. The jockey wisely heeded the advice of neurosurgeons regarding his future. He quickly got a new career up and running. Peter confirms that he still rides regular trackwork, but closely monitors the area of his spinal injury. He talks of the handy horses who’ve helped to establish his training career. P...

Great to catch up with one of the elite jockeys of the 70’s and 80’s. Gary admits he didn’t want to come to Australia in 1974 when offered the ride on Battle Heights. He says the NZ jockeys premiership was his priority. The former ace rider talks of his venture in the hotel business after a career ending race fall. He talks of the injury toll from the fateful fall at Yarra Glen. Gary takes us back...

Great to catch up with one of country racing’s most popular trainers. Peter talks of the early starts necessary to get his horses worked before reporting for duty as a Telstra technician. He acknowledges the efforts of his ground staff and wife Jenny. Peter outlines the daily routine observed by himself and apprentice Jacob Golden. The pair ride twenty horses between them most mornings. He talks o...

It’s a big welcome to 75 year old Danny Frahm who was 64 years old when a race fall at Armidale  ended his remarkable career. He reflects on his longevity in the saddle and marvels at how well he’s come out of several serious accidents. He explains that for all the broken bones, he is remarkably free of arthritis. Danny explains that he twice sustained a broken neck, the first time at Gunnedah aro...

A pleasure to introduce 31 year old Kody Nestor whose riding career was halted by increasing weight in 2017. His rise in the training ranks has been beyond his expectations. Kody says he didn’t have a single horse to train when his licence was granted. He remembers a trip to central Queensland where he purchased a horse for $5,500- a horse he’d ridden in three races. Kody talks of his current team...

Great to catch up with expatriate Kiwi trainer John Sargent who joined the Randwick training ranks seven years ago. John begins by reviewing the Goulburn win by All Things in a famous set of colours. The trainer talks of Brandenburg who followed his win in “The Coast” with top performances in Brisbane. John talks of his low key start as a trainer at Woodville in NZ. He remembers the thrill of his...

Great to catch up with the mild mannered young jockey who burst onto racing’s big stage with his all the way win on Twilight Payment in the Melbourne Cup last year. Jye is currently resting up after having a plate removed from his left leg- a legacy of his fall at Bendigo four years ago. Jye talks of a recent stay in Brisbane where he won a stakes race and was placed in a couple of features.  The...

The champion jockey is still coming to terms with the fact that he’ll never ride again. Corey was happy to talk to us about the announcement of his retirement and the nightmare he’s lived through in the two years since his life changing accident at Eagle Farm. He talks of the day his specialist told him he desperately needed spinal fusion surgery. Corey talks of his horror when WorkCover told him...

It’s always nice to welcome a Tasmanian guest! This week we talk to journalist and commentator Peter Staples whose promotion of Tasmanian racing is unwavering. Peter talks of his role as Media Manager for Tasracing and the office from which he works overlooking Elwick racecourse. Peter talks of the massive refurbishment of the Elwick racecourse in 2019, and the teething problems that followed. He...

We present again a 2019 chat with Gordon Spinks, a high profile jockey of the 1960’s and 70’s. Gordon talks of the heart attack he suffered while driving from Longreach to Brisbane in 2019. He didn’t realise what had happened to him. The 73 year old says his heart issues aren’t over yet. The former outstanding jockey looks back on childhood days in Sydney, and the neighbour’s pony he couldn’t wait...

With apologies for a voice recovering from laryngitis, I’m delighted to welcome Deane Lester to the podcast. The highly respected form guru and broadcaster reveals how he deals with the demands of ten radio commitments a week. Dean explains that he rarely goes to the track but has the use of a home studio and all the benefits of modern technology. He takes us through the format of an average week...

To mark our 300th podcast episode we present a chat with record breaking jockey Robert Thompson who sits on 4447 Australian winners as this interview is posted. He’s still riding at  age 63, but has greatly reduced his workload. He talks of the huge benefits of the higher weight scale these days.  Rob talks of life on the farm at Cessnock and his love of cattle. The veteran jockey takes us back to...

We get ongoing requests from regulars with podcast suggestions.  Sometimes our correspondents are unaware their choice has already featured. One name to keep coming up, is that of Neville Begg who joined the podcast eighteen months ago and was warmly received. I spoke to Neville this week and found him in great fettle, just five months after his 90th birthday. He was flattered to learn that he’s g...

To describe Noel Callow as a “human headline” is probably a little over the top but he has certainly created a few in his time. As recently as last Saturday he was stood down by the Doctor following an incident in the barrier before the first race at the Gold Coast. Noel talks of his snap decision to move to the Gold Coast two months ago after being embroiled in a couple of controversies in Melbou...

A fascinating chat with a man whose recent induction into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame is testimony to his enormous contribution to the sport. Bob begins by revealing the extent of his battle with Covid 19 last year. He talks of his fascinating family background. On the maternal side he’s a member of the Lindsay family which gave so much to the arts in the early 20th century. His maternal gr...

The genial Warwick Farm trainer is currently getting over multiple strokes which followed surgery for ongoing heart arrhythmia. The lanky Irishman is slowly getting back into the routine at his Mulgoa property, and was happy to talk to us. Paul explains that the first stroke came when he was out in the horse truck. He reveals that his wife Martha was just getting over a broken leg when his health...

Great to catch up with a young jockey who’s crammed a lot into his 24 years. Regan talks about the impressive win by Ballistic Lover at Rosehill on Saturday May 15th. He reviews the impressive win by Brandenburg in the inaugural running of The Coast at Gosford on May 8th, and future plans for the gelding. Regan talks of his Queensland upbringing and the happy days riding ponies on the Ripley prope...

This is an inspirational chat with a remarkable Victorian trotting lady. Donna talks about the Victorian trotting industry’s support of the “Pacing For Pink” promotion which works in conjunction with the McGrath Foundation.  Donna, universally known as “Sissy” talks of her own personal battle with breast cancer in 2016. She looks back on her diagnosis, rehabilitation and the effects of the ordeal...

It’s always good to head out of town for a podcast chat and this week we go to Grafton to catch up with John Shelton. A multiple premiership winner in northern NSW, John made his mark on the big stage when he prepared Belflyer to win the inaugural Kosciuszko. John talks of his concerns on the day when the track was classified a Heavy 10. The Grafton trainer talks of the immediate impact of the occ...

Great to catch up with one of the most consistent performers among the Sydney riding ranks. Brenton talks of his lightning visit to Brisbane on the weekend which brought a Gr 2 winner. He reflects on his recent Gr 1 All Aged Stakes win on the Chris Waller trained Kolding. The young jockey remembers his introduction to racing by his bookmaker father Peter, and his early role model among the Melbour...

Brad talks about his very first trip to Perth in 1997 when he won an Apprentice’s Cup. He’s loved the place ever since. He talks of his very first Gr 1 win on Niconero for David Hayes. It just happened to be in Perth. He recalls a WA Derby win for the same stable. Brad talks of his deep racing background and the achievements of his father Keith who’s still riding trackwork in his mid 70’s. He talk...

Thoroughly enjoyed my first chat with Bill Mitchell since he left the training ranks in 2005. He begins by outlining his reasons for relocating to Melbourne in his final years as a trainer. Bill talks of his surprise decision to relinquish his licence and the establishment of his own bloodstock consultancy business. The multiple Group 1 winning trainer looks back on nine years as racing manager fo...

At last we catch up with one of the superstars of the Australian riding ranks. We launch straight into Glen’s memories of the freakish mare Makybe Diva who gave him three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories. He still gets goosebumps when he talks about the amazing staying mare. He talks of the 1998 Melbourne Cup when he hit the front on Champagne and thought he was home. Glen couldn’t believe it w...

Great to catch up with a young horseman who has already made his mark as a trainer and driver at the top level. Brad begins by pointing out the many advantages of being based at Goulburn. He reflects on the tutelage he received from his late grandfather Tom Hewitt, one of the most respected horsemen of his generation. Brad talks of the influence Tom had on his sons- David, Bernie and Mark, all hig...