John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Racing historian Dennis Najim recently sent me audio recordings of some of Galilee’s memorable wins in Melbourne in the mid 1960’s. The NZ bred stayer dominated the Victorian Spring carnival of 1966 winning the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in dominant fashion.
The following autumn Galilee trounced his opposition in the Sydney Cup becoming the first horse to win the big treble in the same season- a distinction he still holds. The pigeon toed gelding with the suspect action was once described by jockey John Miller as an “express train”.
This tribute features race calls by legendary commentators Bill Collins, Bert Bryant and Ken Howard. Thanks to Dennis Najim and Supernova Sound we’re delighted to present a tribute to one of the best horses of his generation.
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
After a wonderfully successful decade training from his Murwillumbah base, Matt Dunn surprised a few people when he elected to open a metropolitan stable. The first negative was his ineligibility for the weekly TAB Highways which he’d dominated since their inception in 2015. Matt talks about the numbers in his Rosehill and Murwillumbah stables.
He acknowledges the contribution of Holly Julius who runs the northern operation. Matt talks of his frequent visits to the northern rivers.
The trainer talks of the easy access to many racetracks from the Murwillumbah stables. He lauds the vastly improved country prize money levels.
Matt trained under Gerald Ryan’s name for the first two years at Murwillumbah. He explains how the concept came about.
He admits he was sad to have to forfeit the right to run in the TAB Highways.
The talented trainer talks about a successful run enjoyed by the operation through the month of August.
Matt reflects on his childhood fascination with horses. He learned to ride at a Frenchs Forest riding school.
He looks back on a dual apprenticeship beginning at Warwick Farm and continuing at Port Macquarie.
Matt rode a respectable number of winners but is brutally honest when he rates his talents in the saddle.
He acknowledges a horse called Whiskey Decanter who played an important role in his early career. Matt rode the grey to a handful of wins before training him successfully.
Matt struggled to make ends meet as a bush trainer, and he actually walked away from racing. He returned to his family in Sydney and worked in his father’s earthmoving business.
He regenerated his training career on the Gold Coast and did well with average horses. This prompted Gerald Ryan to offer him the job of managing newly established Sydney stables. He spent eight years with the iconic trainer.
Matt reflects on one special horse he looked after during his time in the Ryan stables.
The young horseman got a massive shock when he told Gerald of his intentions to go it alone from a Murwillumbah base.
Matt talks of the young lady from Byron Bay who requested a job in the Murwillumbah stable. Keira is now his wife and business partner.
Dunn acknowledges some of his favourite horses beginning with Care To Think whose promising career was hindered by breathing issues.
He talks of a Country Championship Final win with Gracie Belle. He’s not allowed to contest the series nowadays.
Matt pays tribute to his good friend and bloodstock adviser Neil Jenkinson.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
I caught up with John Wade at the recent Jockeys Reunion and the idea of a podcast immediately sprang to mind. He’s not the kind of bloke to talk about his many achievements in the saddle, but happily I was able to pin him down. John is now in his early 70’s, lives on the Gold Coast and works full time for a Pathology Company. He tells us more about the job and the enormous number of miles he travels every week.
John talks of early days at Newcastle following in the footsteps of his late father Bill, who dominated the Newcastle and Hunter riding ranks for many years. Bill won 13 Newcastle premierships.
He recalls one thrilling Newcastle premiership which went right down to the wire.
John recalls the Gunnedah barrier trial accident which terminated Bill’s career.
He talks of the unorthodox way in which he learned to ride, and his subsequent indentureship to a legendary Newcastle trainer.
John looks back on the predictable early career highlights- first race ride, first winner and first metropolitan winner.
He talks about a tempting offer he received from a high profile Sydney trainer. The thought of leaving Newcastle never entered his head.
The former brilliant jockey reflects on his only ride in a Melbourne Cup.
He looks back on the beginning of his association with the late Max Lees- a partnership which would lead to a wonderful experience for both jockey and trainer.
John takes us back to his earliest connection with Luskin Star and the amazing journey that was to follow. Some of his anecdotes about the super colt will give you a tingle down the spine.
He recalls his disappointment when Luskin Star was sold to a conglomerate of businessmen who had earmarked him for a stud future. He admits it was a tough time in his life.
Luskin Star was clearly the best he rode, but there were several other handy horses he got to ride in races. He profiles a number of them beginning with Razor Sharp.
John reflects on a trip to Queensland for the winter carnival with Victorian trainer Noel Kelly. He talks of the pick up ride at Ipswich which would result in a career ending accident.
He looks back on multiple operations and years of rehabilitation.
The former outstanding jockey reflects on a short but successful training stint.
John talks of his family of five and seven grandchildren.
Those of us who saw his spectacular sequence of wins on Luskin Star cherish some special memories. Great to catch up with a former jockey whose career finished much too early.
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Enjoy nothing more than heading “bush” for our podcast chats. This week we go to Big River Country to catch up with Grafton trainer Dwayne Schmidt who operates a twenty horse operation from Grafton. After a successful training stint in Queensland, Dwayne headed back to NSW when the track problems at Eagle Farm persisted. He admits he was sorry to leave Brisbane.
Dwayne says he strongly considered Ballina as a training base before settling on Grafton.
He has some nice things to say about the promising Alf’s Magic.
Durnstein produced a stunning maiden win at Grafton during the July carnival. Dwayne talks about the potential of this promising son of Exosphere.
Dwayne takes us back to his riding career which began with an apprenticeship to Leslie Picken when Canterbury was still a training base.
He still finds it hard to believe he actually rode his first winner on the hallowed turf of Royal Randwick.
Dwayne remembers a two horse track gallop at Canterbury which gave him almost as much satisfaction as a race win.
He talks of his return to the mid north coast and a new job with trainer Glen Hodge. He looks back on a great winning trot. He remembers the day his new boss expressed dissatisfaction with one of his rides.
Dwayne recalls his sole win on champion bush galloper Stop A Punch.
He looks back on the decision to quit the saddle when his health was suddenly threatened by wasting and the use of diuretics.
Dwayne looks back on his final day of race riding at Taree in 1995. His last ride was a winner which triggered a wave of emotion.
He looks back on nine years of training in Port Macquarie from the Glen Hodge stable. Then came a surprise invitation to become a private trainer on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Dwayne admits he was very lucky to find stabling at Eagle Farm. He talks of some very talented horses to pass through his Brisbane stables.
He pays tribute to daughters Priscilla and Cassie who both enjoyed successful riding careers. Cassie is now training in her own right, while Priscilla has forged a new career with Sky Thoroughbred Central alongside veteran presenter Gary Kliese.
Dwayne talks of the riding talents of 14 year old son Blake.
He acknowledges the support of his wife Tahlia whose talents as a trackwork rider play a major part in the continuing success of his Grafton stable. He and Tahlia are the parents of three year old Darby who has taken to the saddle with great enthusiasm.
Dwayne has helped to develop the talents of a string of top country jockeys. One of them is currently making a name for himself in the Brisbane riding ranks.
Dwayne has no doubt Grafton will be his home base for the rest of his training career.
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Had Greg Radley not tried his hand as a radio presenter in Brisbane and Sydney he may still be calling races in the Hunter Valley where it all began thirty five years ago. His curiosity about other avenues of sports media saw him develop a special talent as a presenter and interviewer. Today he’s the polished professional who hosts several key Sky Thoroughbred Central programmes. We talk to Greg about his fascinating journey to the top of his profession. He describes his enduring love for his hometown of Newcastle.
Greg pays tribute to his father Terry, a former top sportswriter for the Newcastle Herald and other publications. He talks of Terry’s passion for harness racing and those fun filled nights at the old Newcastle Showground track.
He speaks fondly of mother Ann, brothers Michael and Tony and his only sister Clare.
Greg acknowledges the tremendous support he got from the late John McDermott in the early years. “Macca” became his tutor and close friend.
He tells a great story about the night the broadcast line failed at Newcastle trots. He called the race under amazing circumstances.
Greg looks back on a short stint as a track clocker at Newcastle.
He looks back on his association with the legendary form publication Trotguide which was a launching pad for several outstanding journalists.
Greg reflects on the shock phone call from the late Wayne Wilson offering him a job with Brisbane radio station 4BC. He talks of the experience that would change the course of his career.
This man got more surprise phone calls than most. He remembers the day he was contacted by the former NSW Premier who had moved on to manage 2KY.
Next change of career direction came when Ray Hadley made the move from 2UE to 2GB. Greg admits he was nervous about changing stations, but in hindsight wouldn’t change a thing.
Greg looks back on his return to 2KY and new opportunities. This was around the time he perfected voice impersonations of many media colleagues. He finished up turning it into a cabaret act.
He looks back on his move into satellite television in 2001 and the popular programmes with which he’s been involved.
Greg nominates his favourites among the hundreds of interviews he’s conducted on radio and television.
He looks back on the day Winx farewelled the race track. He was deeply moved by the pageantry of the occasion.
Greg talks about family life with wife Joanne, son Jake and stepson Ryan. He talks of the tragic loss of seventeen year old Drew, and makes special mention of his three grandchildren.
We close with Greg’s acknowledgement of the many talented people he’s worked with over his long career.
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
You can’t say Neil Paine has created a trend with his wardrobe of colourful outfits because nobody else has followed a similar path.
Unperturbed he’ll continue to set the pace in his role as race day manager for the Waterhouse/Bott yard. Neil joins us on the podcast to talk about his riding career and his current role. He explains the origins of the race day apparel.
Neil reflects on the Noumea race fall that ended his very successful riding career.
He looks back on a lengthy rehabilitation and the phone call from Gai Waterhouse which would decide his life after race riding.
Neil looks back on an association with the stable which began when Tommy Smith regularly provided him with rides. Gai continued to use Neil’s services following her father’s retirement.
He talks about his involvement with trackwork and his role when representing the stable at outside meetings.
The former jockey talks of the breach of Covid protocol which landed him in hot water on Golden Slipper day 2020.
Neil pays tribute to his father Reg, a former champion country jockey who has been his greatest inspiration.
He recalls a short stint in Brisbane under the tutelage of Colin and Pam O’Neill.
Neil talks of his apprenticeship at Randwick to former successful trainer Albert McKenna, who had produced two top junior riders previously.
Paine has never forgotten his first winning ride at a small Grenfell meeting, and the thrill of his first city win at Rosehill. He bent the rules in crossing from a wide gate.
He looks back on a fairy tale win on bush filly Kisses For Kathy in the 1984 Silver Slipper. He remembers the filly’s colourful trainer who met with a tragic accident a few years later.
Neil still rues his unlucky defeat in the 1985 Epsom. He says it was the one that got away.
He recalls an amazing win on a talented mare called Seeker’s Gold from the Max Crockett stable.
Memories of his first and only Gr 1 success remain vivid. He remembers his Orlando Classic victory for the Hayes stable.
Neil thought he had another Gr 1 in the bag when he hit the front on Dandy Andy in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It was not to be.
He looks back on another stakes win for David Hayes on Eastern Classic in the Hill Stakes.
The popular horseman looks back on the most bittersweet experience of his racing career. Adherence to riding instructions cost him a win in the Inglis Classic at Rosehill in 1991- a defeat which cost him the ride on Tierce who would go on to clean sweep the 2YO races through the autumn of that year.
Neil talks of his four children and the racing influence in the lives of his daughters Taylor, Sheridan, Shannon and son Blake.
He acknowledges a brother-in-law and nephew who have made their marks as jockeys.
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Great to catch up with trainer Nick Olive who looks like surviving yet another Canberra winter. Nick takes us back to the fateful day when his father took him and brother Tim to a Canberra race meeting. He says the die was cast on that very day.
The trainer talks of his recent Covid 19 isolation.
Nick agrees with some fellow ACT trainers who don’t wish to train anywhere else despite some concerning insurance issues under the ACT Government.
He talks of his manageable team of 20-25 horses.
Nick remembers childhood days when he’d help a local thoroughbred trainer before reporting for school.
He talks of subsequent learning stints with a leading Rosehill trainer, and a now famous thoroughbred stud.
Olive talks of a two year experience at the Orange Agricultural Institute- a promise he made to his parents.
Nick talks of his first serious job under the tutelage of respected trainer Ken Callaghan. He explains the circumstances surrounding an accident that frightened the daylights out of him. He says it could have been much worse.
The forty nine year old looks back on his next adventure- eight happy years with Barbara Joseph at Bombala. A former school friend was instrumental in Nick acquiring his first horse. Two wins at Canberra followed, and a new career was born.
Nick affectionately remembers the $6000 Scone graduate who brought him under attention as a serious horse trainer.
You can hear the admiration in Nick’s voice as he pays tribute to 12 time winner Voice Commander. He describes the stakes winner as a real warrior every time he went to the races.
The trainer reflects on his first city winner Neat Work.
Nick pays homage to some of his stable favourites.
We’ve left plenty of space for his tribute to Single Gaze, the $70,000 yearling who took him to racing’s biggest stage.
Nick takes us through Single Gaze’s early career right up to her exciting win in the Gr 1 Vinery Stud Stakes- his first at the elite level, and Kathy O’Hara’s second.
He looks back on the sickening Australian Oaks fall, and his mercy dash on foot up the Randwick straight. He feared the worst. You’ll be touched by Kathy O’Hara’s first words to Nick.
Olive talks of Single Gaze’s long road back to form in Queensland and Victoria. He still gets a tingle down the spine when he remembers the mare’s gallant second in the Caulfield Cup.
He looks back on a very pleasing final campaign and her sale to a famous Japanese stud. He was led to believe she would not race again. Imagine his shock when he got a phone call from another trainer.
Nick looks back on his multiple Canberra trainer’s premierships and one surprise state victory.
He acknowledges the support of several jockeys who’ve ridden winners for the stable.
The trainer gives teenage daughters Chloe and Jesse a special mention.
Nick signs off with one final tribute to his Dad who was directly responsible for his son’s obsession with racing.
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Received a surprise email from Harry Troy who says he’s a regular listener to our podcasts in Macau. It suddenly struck me that we hadn’t recorded a chat with this man. What a diversified life he’s had as a bookie’s clerk, jockey, publisher and long time Macau race caller.
We begin by looking back on the riding contract that first took him to Macau in 1997.
Harry looks back on his decision to quit the saddle when an opportunity came up to become a parade yard commentator for Macau Jockey Club television. Later he was appointed understudy to the resident race caller.
He looks back on his early race calling experience in the NSW western districts.
Harry talks of the first few weeks of his new race calling career. After a tentative beginning he settled into it quickly. He was in the chair for twenty years.
He pays tribute to the best horse he’s seen in Macau.
Harry begins his trip down memory lane by looking back on his early life as one of ten kids. His father was a bush bookmaker who worked at race meetings right through NSW and into Queensland. The kids went with him in an old red truck. Harry talks of the many bush schools he attended.
He remembers the day his father “Billy” invited him to record the bets at a country race meeting.
The former successful jockey talks of a troubled relationship with his father which saw him leave home to join a brother in Walgett. He looks back on a happy five years as a jackeroo at Kee Kee Station. During this period he became an amateur jockey, winning his first race at Enngonia on a horse called Blue Cargo.
Harry talks of his apprenticeship to Albert Hazlett in Walgett and the start of his professional career. He swaps a few tales from the era.
He looks back on the huge mileage he travelled to ride at remote race meetings, and his marriage to first wife Lyn. At this point he mentions his introduction to the hardware and building supplies business.
Harry reflects on multiple premiership wins including a national title in the 93/94 season. He talks of his battles with rival jockey Dennis Firth.
He looks back on his permanent move to the Hunter Valley and the birth of his three sons. He remembers the frustration of a race fall weeks before he was due to move his family into a new home. That was one of several nasty race falls in which Harry was involved.
He’s never forgotten the thrill of receiving a special award in 1994 for his contribution to NSW country racing.
The former jockey remembers the season he rode 122 NSW winners but missed out on the state premiership.
We get Harry reminiscing about some of his favourite horses, and his “one off” ride on a horse destined to gain infamy in Australian turf history.
He nominates a few jockeys for whom he had special admiration, with special mention of a recently departed riding legend.
Harry talks of his Macau marriage to second wife Anna and the two stepsons. Who came into his life.
The widely travelled Harry Troy winds up our interview by looking at his likely future. This man has crammed two lifetimes into one. He’s a great listen.
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
An overdue chat with an astute horse trainer and one of racing’s true characters. Lindsey took a giant step in 2019 when he opened a business at Warrnambool, but left his WA stables operating under the supervision of a trusted lieutenant. He talks of his delight in being able to combine the two operations to win more than 100 races in each of the last three seasons.
Lindsey talks of his use of heavy sand in the preparation of horses. He expresses his opinion on the theory that too much sand work can diminish a horse’s natural speed.
He describes the idyllic surroundings in which his horses train at Narrawong Beach near Port Fairy.
Lindsey brings us up to date on the progress of recent winners God Has Chosen,Triple Missile, Tuvalu, In The Boat and Corner Pocket.
He takes us back to his apprenticeship to Colin France at Rockingham (WA) and his brief riding career.
The trainer looks back on his move to Victoria and a job with successful trainer Tom Hughes Snr.
He talks of his time on the Gold Coast with Henry Davis, universally recognized as one of Australia’s best ever horse trainers. He remembers his connection with Getting Closer, one of racing’s most talked about “plunge” horses.
Lindsey piled on weight during his time in Queensland. He looks back on the gym sessions he attended on his return to Perth and his friendship with ace harness trainer Justin Warwick.
He still marvels at his good fortune in being able to purchase a tried horse who would kick start his training career. His success with Old Cobber brought him a number of horses from leviathan owner/breeder Bob Peters.
Lindsey pays tribute to the horses who’ve shaped his destiny. Old Money, Old Comrade, Plastered, Black Heart Bart, and Scales Of Justice get special mentions.
He talks of his five children whose ages range from 13 to 30. Lindsey says his wife Rebecca isn’t hands on with the horses, but loves a day at the races.
All the way through this interview Lindsey’s laconic manner and sense of humour are never far away. It’s a good yarn with a horse trainer who thinks outside the square.
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Great to catch up with a horseman whose name appears regularly among winning trainers at Southern Districts meetings, and occasionally in the city. Students believe Norm Gardner’s strike rate in recent years is a very healthy one. We talk to Norm about some of his recent winners, and the disadvantage of training horses in the bitter Canberra winters.
Norm talks of retired Canberra jockey Kevin Sweeney who knew it was cold when ice gathered on his eyebrows during trackwork.
The trainer talks of his stabling accommodation at Canberra’s Thoroughbred Park training complex, and his nearby 40 acre property known as Summerhill Thoroughbreds. Norm says wife Diane plays a major role in looking after the place.
We go back to Norm’s younger days in Wagga where his father Tom always had a horse or two around him- harness horses included.
Norm says he dreamed of becoming a jockey from the moment he began riding trackwork for local trainer Fred Shaydel. He was doomed to disappointment.
He says he did the next best thing by becoming a picnic rider. He couldn’t believe how easily he got a licence.
Norm talks of a happy five years on the circuit and a handful of special wins. He talks of the current improvement in picnic prize money.
The Canberra horseman talks of his plumbing apprenticeship and the dislike his mother harboured for racing. She wanted him to look for another career.
Finally he drifted into racing. He talks of the inglorious fate suffered by his first horse.
Norm talks of the filly he was able to lease who would kick start his training career. He’s never forgotten Sienna Storm.
He talks of his connection with the Cheung family who became his first outside owners, and a good horse who consolidated the friendship. Norm talks about an ongoing problem with the horse in question.
The astute trainer looks back on the special horses who slowly lifted his profile.
Gardner pays tribute to some outstanding regional jockeys who’ve ridden successfully for his stable.
Switching codes and Norm talks of his association with Canberra trots trainer Frank O’Sullivan. He raced two horses with Frank who won twenty three races between them.
Norm pays tribute to three daughters and five grand children.
He gives us an update on the whereabouts of his former apprentice Courtney Gravener who quit the saddle after a freakish mounting yard accident. Norm speaks of his current junior rider Rochelle Wedrat-Kroezen.
Norm acknowledges the support of loyal owner Reg Keene.
A nice chat with a talented Southern Districts horseman.