John Tapp Racing

Great to catch up with John Morrisey, one of the most astute trainers of his generation. John talks about the move from Canberra to the Gold Coast which came as a surprise to many. The former trainer talks of his time at the well known Capricorn Park training property near Yass. John takes us back to his childhood on the Northern Rivers and his father’s Ramornie Hcp win with Flecked Marble. He loo...

It’s unlikely there’s a busier jockey in Australia currently than Hunter Valley based Mikayla Weir. As this podcast is posted Mikayla has had 32 race rides on 8 different race tracks in 10 days. Just for practice she rode in 11 barrier trials at Scone last Wednesday.  In an interview recorded on Good Friday she takes us through that horrendous schedule. The young jockey logs enormous mileage to ho...

I’ve had several requests over a period of time to organise a podcast with former high profile bookie Bruce McHugh. We actually did just that in August of 2019, but in those early days of the website many missed it. In the 1980’s this was the time of year when Bruce and Kerry Packer would go toe to toe at the big Randwick carnival. It’s an appropriate time to repost that podcast. Bruce talks of hi...

Great to catch up with one of Sydney’s most popular jockeys. Tim talks of his recent Coolmore Classic win on Queensland mare Krone- his 16th Gr 1 success. Tim looks at his tremendous record with fillies and mares. He says he really hadn’t thought about it too much. The jockey looks back on his country upbringing and his first apprenticeship to Peter Clancy in the Riverina. Tim talks about the tran...

A timely podcast with John Messara as the Inglis Easter Sale approaches. John expresses his sadness that this sale will see the auctioning of the last yearlings by his iconic stallion Redoute’s Choice. John talks of three year old filly Miravalle whose recent success in the Kembla Classic gave Redoute’s Choice his 178th stakes winner. He talks of Arrowfield’s presence at the Inglis Easter Sale, an...

I first interviewed Bev Buckingham at her Latrobe home in Tasmania during her rehabilitation from injuries received in the Hobart race fall that ended her career in 1998.  I saw her again on three occasions over the next few years, but lost touch thereafter. When I spotted a photo of Bev on Twitter recently I launched a successful search for her phone number and thankfully she agreed to this podca...

Jon Grisedale tried to quit the saddle when he suffered a complicated leg break at Kembla Grange in 2013. He actually announced his retirement but couldn’t resist the urge to start riding trackwork again.  Eight years down the track he’s enjoying his job more than ever. He begins by acknowledging the long priced winner he rode on the Gold Coast on Saturday for veteran trainer Lennie Wheeler. Jon e...

Now in her final season as an apprentice 27 year old Jessica is totally focused on maintaining her current lead over Todd Pannell on the SA premiership ladder. She transferred from Melbourne to Adelaide in the hope she might pick up a few more rides. She has to pinch herself to realise she’s Adelaide’s top jockey halfway through the season. Jess says she’d received a few offers from Michael Hickmo...

Great to catch up with Bart Sinclair OAM who retired from his role as Racing Editor of the Brisbane Courier Mail in 2012, after four decades of trusted racing journalism. The Racing Queensland Hall of Fame Inductee begins by outlining his current role with the Brisbane Racing Club. Bart pays tribute to his father and namesake Bart Sinclair Snr who had great success as a jockey and trainer. Young B...

Danny’s family and friends were surprised in 2017 when the popular jockey quit the saddle with 2000 wins under his belt. They were even more surprised recently when he announced a comeback. He talks of his reasons for returning to the saddle, and reviews his first day back at Kranji on Saturday. He explains that he’s been riding trackwork and in barrier trials during his four year hiatus, enabling...

Great to talk to Tony Erhart who could be the only 73 year old in Australia who’s still riding regular trackwork on a metropolitan racecourse. He says he’s never enjoyed it more. He talks of his unexpected heart bypass surgery in 2014. He didn’t see it coming! A year after his major surgery, Tony went close to becoming the oldest winning rider on a Queensland metropolitan track  when he was beaten...

Great to catch up with one of Australian racing’s most respected figures. Sandy speaks to us from Gunnong- Jugrawah, the family property near Gundagai where all of the Tait champions first saw the light of day. Please note this interview was recorded on Sunday Feb 7th prior to Cherry Tortoni racing in the C.S.Hayes at Flemington in which he finished fourth. Sandy begins by summarising the career t...

Great to catch up with a man who’s been a household name in the Queensland training ranks. He begins by dismissing the popular belief that he’s close to retirement. Rex talks of his love for the Darling Downs and the reasons he’s never wanted to train elsewhere. He looks back on a rural childhood and his three earliest pursuits- dairying, the raising of beef cattle and the harvesting of grain. The...

Hard to believe it’s coming up 13 years since Greg Childs brought down the curtain on a career that brought him a special place among the top riders of his generation. He begins by outlining his current role as a manufacturer and distributor of equine safety vests. Greg takes us back to his apprenticeship at Hawera on the North Island, and pays tribute to the first top horse he got to ride. He als...

Great to catch up with 83 year old Les Bridge who has maintained an amazing winning strike rate throughout his long career. Les found an unattended TV monitor to watch the running of the TAB Everest by himself. He talks of the circumstances that brought Classique Legend into his stable and the short but spectacular racing career of the horse he rates the best he’s ever trained. Les says he knew he...

There was plenty of excitement at the Inglis Classic sale a few years ago, when a new vendor sold a sale topping grey colt by Not A Single Doubt. That colt has since won 6 races including last year’s TAB Everest. That seller Linda Monds is much better known today. Linda talks of the apprehension she and husband Laurence felt when they took on the well established breeders. She talks of her origina...

Great to catch up with a trailblazer of the early Sydney female training ranks. Helen talks about her move from Warwick Farm to the Gold Coast in 1997- a decision she has never regretted. She talks of the loyal new owners who supported the stable when she arrived in Queensland, and three new acquisitions from the Gold Coast Sale. The talented horsewoman highlights two outstanding horses she’s had...

Great to catch up with 78 year old Leon Fox now in retirement in his hometown of Inverell. Leon trained horses for 20 years following a stellar riding career which saw him dubbed the “George Moore of the bush”. Leon begins by paying tribute to his father Les Fox to whom he was apprenticed. He talks of his ordinary effort on the occasion of his first race ride, and the thrill of his first win in a...

It’s great to catch up with Tommy Berry who’s currently in second place on both the NSW and metropolitan jockeys premierships. Tom talks about the fierce competition in the Sydney riding ranks. He outlines his very busy trackwork format. Tom talks about his apprenticeship to his father and chief tutor Kevin Berry.  The champion young jockey looks back on a frightening accident which could have tur...

It’s now twelve years since Norm Lang put away the harness and hopples for the last time. The game of bowls now commands his full attention. The eighty five year old has vivid memories of his exciting journey with Steel Jaw- the $5000 horse he took from a maiden pace to a NZ Cup in a very short time. He covers the whole Steel Jaw story, and for trots fans it’s riveting listening. Norm takes us bac...

Great to catch up with the man who co-founded OTI Racing and Bloodstock in 1999 with high profile sportsman and TV personality Simon O’Donnell. He talks of his early life in Melbourne and the pacer who triggered his fascination with horses. Terry looks back on the creation of his company Pacers Australia which syndicated two horses destined for greatness. The duo won three Miracle Miles and many G...

Pat says this may well be his final interview. I doubt that strongly, but either way it’s a tribute to a man who endeared himself to the Sydney racing world for almost 6 decades. He reviews an emotional day at Newcastle on Dec 5th when he saddled his final runner. He talks of the heartfelt tribute paid to him by the ATC at a Randwick meeting the following week. Pat talks about his long time role a...

Great to catch up with one of Australia’s ever increasing number of female jockeys. The lady with a name that catches the eye, is 37 years old and could be the nation’s oldest apprentice. Kath Bell-Pitomac talks about the gruelling travelling she undertakes to ride at meetings all over the state. Kath reminisces about her nomadic childhood. She talks of early days in South Australia, Victoria, and...

An overdue chat with one of Australia’s best known trainers. Clarry discloses his reasons for selling Victory Lodge- the landmark stables from which he produced a stunning 39 Gr 1 winners. He admits it was quite a wrench when the reality sunk in. He talks of his relocation with fifteen horses to the nearby stables of his son Marc. He hints at the possibility of an official partnership down the tra...

This is a laid back chat with one of the real characters of NSW country racing. Rod begins by outlining his reasons for handing over his Nyngan training operation to son Brett at the end of the 2019/2020 season. He explains why he’s currently in Dubbo looking after a big team of horses for fellow trainer Clint Lundholm. Rodney takes us on a sentimental journey beginning with his family’s move from...