John Tapp Racing

John recalls the tragedy that dealt the cruellest of blows to the Ledger family- the Corowa race fall that claimed the life of twenty five year old son Adrian. The trainer acknowledges the tremendous work being done by the National Jockeys Trust to assist the families of jockeys killed or injured in the racing industry. John reflects on his acquisition of a nearby property he named in honour of hi...

In part 1 John talks about his decision to move the training operation from Yarrawonga to Wangaratta  when the travelling started to wear him down. He looks back on the establishment of his state of the art  complex on twenty acres behind the Wangaratta racecourse. John takes us back to childhood days at Mulwayla where his love affair with horses began. He looks back on his time in the show jumpin...

The popular caller and radio host talks about his recent retirement from the airwaves, and his intention to continue with another of his skills- the art of auctioneering.   Kim talks about his reaction to calling home a winner at Walcha recently at odds of $126.00- he remained composed even though he part owned the mare.   He talks of his love of riding and his first lesson at age 4.   Kim talks o...

Michael expresses his delight at winning his second consecutive Melbourne junior title.   The twenty one year old talks of the enormous influence racing had on his early life. It was the main topic of conversation in the family.   Michael recalls the moment he knew he wanted to be a jockey.   He talks of early experience with the Stockdale stable and subsequent apprenticeship to Stuart Webb. He di...

Saw a bloke called Dale Smith ride a few Brisbane winners over the last month and was curious about his background. It was obvious he’d had plenty of experience so I tracked him down for a podcast.    Dale and his partner Melissa Taylor made a snap decision to move to Queensland a couple of years ago. He talks about the reason for such an important move after two decades in Victoria.   He acknowle...

The young trainer looks back on his first Saturday night Menangle double recently.   He talks of his annual migration to sunny Queensland to escape the southern winter.  Dean looks at the four horse team he’s taken north this year.   The trainer pays tribute to Game Set Major, a horse he helped deliver at birth. He’s lost plenty of sleep over the gelding in recent times.   Dean goes back to childh...

Adrian begins with his assessment of a first starter he rode for Gerald Ryan at Kembla last week. He was pretty impressed.   The jockey talks of the massive amount of travelling he undertakes each week.   Despite a huge workload he tries to get to trackwork regularly. He explains why he chooses to take on this extra commitment.   Adrian takes us back to schooldays, his apprenticeship to his father...

Ron recalls the telegram he received from famous Irish trainer Paddy Prendergast offering him a stable retainer. He remembers his early months in Ireland and an Irish 2000 Guineas win on Kythnos to get the ball rolling. Ron looks back on a successful Royal Ascot week in 1960, and a surprise offer from one of England’s most high profile owners. He pays tribute to the loyalty of the  Duke Of Norfolk...

In Part 1 the former legendary jockey talks about the frustrations of Covid 19. He loves to drive himself around Melbourne but just lately never gets his car out of the garage. Ron talks about his present day racing interests. He delights in telling us about his frequent visits to the track. “ Hutchy” talks about his four children, daughters Susan and Sally, sons Peter and Raymond. Peter was a Gr...

Great to catch up with likeable Michael Rodd who talks of his recent return to Melbourne, where he’s enjoyed some of his greatest moments in racing. He says it’s been a battle to re- establish against some strong opposition. Michael hints at his likely plans for the future. He does confirm that he’d like to stay in Melbourne for the duration of the Spring carnival pending Covid 19 developments. Th...

Good to catch up with successful Queensland trainer Stuart Kendrick who made a life changing move from Mackay to the Sunny Coast in 2013.He currently has a 60 strong team. Stuart talks of the benefits of a 40 acre farm close to town where he’s able to give his horses a break from stable life. It’s something he always wanted to do. He talks of the involvement of family. Sons Nathan and Bayley are i...

In Part 2 Michael profiles two wonderful horses sent to Australia by Sheikh Hamdan. He reflects on his association with At Talaq- a Melbourne Cup winner who could sprint like an Everest horse. He remembers the brilliant but unsound Almaarad, one of his two Cox Plate winners. Michael reminisces about his role model, the late Roy Higgins. This is a lovely trip down memory lane with a jockey who was...

Despite having posted a podcast with Michael Clarke 15 months ago, we’re still getting inquiries about the whereabouts of the former top jockey. It’s our pleasure to give that podcast another run this week. Michael retired in 2002 , but actually spent the last few years of his career overseas.  He talks of his final years out of Australia. He talks of the emergence of his son Michael Poy as one of...

Shane looks back on his association with a very good horse called Prince Salieri, who gave him 2 Gr 1 wins. He said Prince Salieri raced in a tough era, but held his own against some outstanding horses. He talks of his fleeting association with champion Rough Habit. He had one ride for one unforgettable win on the legendary galloper. He can remember every step of the 1995 P.J.O’Shea Stakes- Rough...

In Part 1 the former champion jockey talks about life out of the saddle. He has spent almost 8 years with Racing Queensland, counselling and mentoring jockeys in need of a helping hand. Shane looks back on the days when he had to take short breaks from riding in order to retain his enthusiasm. He looks back on his childhood involvement with horses. His sister loved the more elegant riding discipli...

Sydney’s lone race caller reflects on a happy association with the Moss Vale Greyhound Club. They raced 40 Saturdays a year with morning and afternoon sessions. Darren looks back on his first job with 2KY( now Sky Sports Radio). He and the late Steve Cairns co hosted the Saturday night trotting and greyhound service.  It wasn’t long before he was calling Nowra dogs, and the trots at Bathurst and L...

Sky’s chief Sydney caller talks of the circumstances behind his return to Australia in 2014, after 16 years in Hong Kong. He talks of his first race call back in Sydney, and the budding top liner who happened to win it. Darren looks back on the unfavourable comment he received at the hands of tweeters in the first few months of his new career in Sydney.  The race caller’s return to Sydney coincide...

Josh recalls those frightening moments when he lost the strength in his left arm after passing the post on a winner at Warwick Farm in May. He talks of the extensive tests the following day which revealed a rare condition called Brachial Neuritis. The jockey explains that he’s not a good patient when injury keeps him out of the saddle for any length of time. Josh talks of the added problem created...

David talks of his association with owner/breeder John Camilleri and his cousin John Cordina who still has horses in the stable. Their association began with a bonny mare called Gallant Tess. The trainer remembers the ill conformed Centennial Park who belied his problems to win 8 races with 12 placings and $1 million in prize money. David recalls a Gr 1 win with a horse nobody wanted. Australian B...

In segment 1 David talks about his many moments of doubt when he arrived in Sydney in 2002. He didn’t have a single horse on his books, and stabling was almost impossible to find. He talks of the tough early years as he struggled to re establish with average horses. David takes us back to childhood days in South Africa and recalls the moment he fell in love with thoroughbreds. The respected horsem...

It’s a pleasure to catch up with a quiet achiever in South Australian racing. Todd Pannell talks about his best ever season in 2019/2020. He’s got the SA premiership all tied up, and with ordinary luck will win the metro title as well. Todd talks about the giant horse Behemoth who’s rarely far away in top grade races. The jockey says the gelding was desperately unlucky in the recent Goodwood Hcp....

This is a comprehensive look at the life of one of the brightest young men in the Australian riding ranks. Sam Clipperton talks firstly about the three riding zones created by RNSW to help combat the spread of Covid 19. He looks back on a last stride defeat in the recent Doncaster Hcp. He agrees a Gr 1 win would have had a positive impact on his career. He looks back on almost three years under co...

In this segment Craig talks about his sudden emergence as a TV star. He was one of a group of apprentice jockeys who auditioned for the principal role in a new Telecom TV commercial. He got the part. Craig remembers the very first time he sat on a horse at Tamworth. He was instantly hooked. He looks back on his apprenticeship to Rod Craig and the friendship which is stronger than ever today. Craig...

In the first segment Craig reflects on his decision to quit the saddle after returning from Singapore in 2005. He talks of his entry into the Randwick training ranks, and his current operation based in the Les Bridge training complex. Craig speaks of the plight of the smaller trainers who don’t have access to the spending power of wealthy owners when the yearling sales roll around. The former outs...

In this segment Maurice looks back on his exciting association with champion two year old colt Sir Dapper. After four straight wins he was beaten under unusual circumstances in the Todman Slipper Trial. He remembers his disappointment when he lost the Golden Slipper ride to Ron Quinton. Maurice reflects on the unexpected consolation that came his way not long after the Sir Dapper episode. His abil...