John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Regular Sky Racing watchers are familiar with the striking cerise and white racing colours of legendary WA owner/breeder Bob Peters. Those colours are seen in the winner’s circle at Ascot and Belmont on a regular basis. Bob’s strike rate in major WA races has been extraordinary. He shares with us his journey from the tiny wheatbelt town of Dalwallinu to his current ranking as the world’s 4th most successful racehorse owner. In the podcast Bob gets all of his bad news out of the way first.
He talks of his early education and the expectations of a strict dad. Horses were in his thoughts from an early age. During a University stint he drove a horse drawn milk cart at night.
Bob talks of his eagerness to “earn” a quid from an early age. He looks back on a job installing bores in the wheatbelt region.
He looks back on his fascination with the “car game” and a friendship with David Golding who recognized potential in young Peters. Golding made Bob a tempting offer but the young man was keen to go it alone.
Bob remembers his involvement with the WA Hunt Club. It’s a thing of the past now, but he’s never forgotten his journey in the old world sport.
The legendary racing man reflects on 18 years in racing administration. He wore many hats during his time with the WA Turf Club.
Bob talks of his first foray into racehorse ownership and remembers the famous names who were dominating the local racing scene at the time.
He talks of several properties he developed for horse breeding in the early years and his acquisition of “Yalebra”. Today this 650 acre ‘horse heaven” at Keysbrook is Bob’s chief interest.
Bob admits his horse numbers grow too high on occasions. Just last year he put two prized mares on the market.
The maestro pays tribute to the racehorses, stallions and broodmares who’ve shaped his destiny on the turf.
He acknowledges the trainers who’ve helped him to dizzy heights as an owner/breeder, and the remarkable jockey who has worn the cerise and white silks more than any other.
Bob tells the wonderful story of wife Sandra talking him into running a three year old in the Perth Cup some years ago. Sandra had the last laugh.
The veteran racing aficionado pays tribute to daughters Robyn and Melissa, to three grandchildren and one great grandson.
It’s a laid back yarn with a man who has reaped the benefits of hard work, professionalism and a wonderful instinct for making the correct call more often than not.
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Great to catch up with Bathurst based harness horseman Mat Rue who at age 32 is already nearing 1000 career driving wins. He begins by acknowledging the brilliant win by his favourite Fouroeight in the recent Shirley Turnbull Memorial.
Mat talks of his admiration for Fouroeight who shattered his pelvis as a 3YO. Mat says the gelding’s attitude to racing is astonishing.
He talks of a handful of special horses who saved his sanity during Fouroeight’s long absence.
Mat looks back on his early life at Canowindra and his obsession with standardbreds from an early age. He pays tribute to his father Ken and uncle Greg Rue- both top horsemen.
The young trainer remembers the horse who triggered his driving career.
Mat looks back on his early education with top trainer Bernie Hewitt, and the support he received from the Kevin Hurst stable.
He reflects on the job offer from Luke McCarthy which would lead him to undreamed of success including a Miracle Mile triumph.
Mat looks back on a quick trip to America with his partner Gemma Hewitt. He landed a job with expat Aussie Noel Daly which led him to 29 race drives- no winners but tremendous experience.
Back in Australia Mat returned to the Bernie Hewitt stable. This time he was permitted to train a small team of his own.
He reflects on his marriage to Gemma who became the stable trainer while Mat enjoyed great success as a freelance driver.
Rue pays tribute to two people whose expertise and loyalty enables him to run a successful training operation from the Bathurst Showground.
Mat talks of partner Madi Young who works another job, but helps out when time permits.
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Great to catch up with top Victorian lightweight jockey Dean Yendall who’s feeling a little sorry for himself at the moment. Dean talks about the frustrations of endless weeks in a neck brace. He’s grateful no surgery was required.
Dean reflects on the Terang fall that put him out of business just before Xmas. He says his mount Saintly Rose had the race won when she went sideways.
He talks of his choice of lifestyle at rural Horsham in Victoria’s Wimmera district.
Dean looks back on his apprenticeship to Ken Sweeney at historic Jerilderie in the Riverina.
He’s never forgotten his first win on Leinster at Narrandera more than 30 years ago. He recalls his transfer to Kilmore trainer Peter Gray.
Dean reflects on his first city win at Oakbank in 1994.
He looks back on early years when he tried to carve a niche for himself in many different parts of the country. He speaks fondly of a man who became his mentor and best friend.
The lightweight jockey pays tribute to several trainers who gave him valuable support.
Dean still can’t believe he rode his first Gr 1 winner in Sydney. He fondly remembers Yankee Rose.
Just three weeks after his Randwick triumph Dean struck again at Gr 1 level during the Melbourne Cup carnival. He pays tribute to I Am A Star.
The popular jockey remembers his two rides on crack sprinter Santa Ana Lane. One of them gave him another Gr 1!
Dean acknowledges two other Gr 1 triumphs- his second Myer Classic and an Oakleigh Plate.
The jockey talks of his Gr 1 Memsie Stakes win on Scales Of Justice for astute trainer Lindsey Smith.
Yendall’s ability to ride light has earned him several Melbourne Cup rides. He talks of his closest finisher.
Dean pays tribute to his wife jockey Christine Puls and his 8 year old daughter Mia.
He talks of Christine’s best win to date -a Gr 3 Hobart Cup on Our Dashing Dane.
He reflects on the wonderful tribute paid to Christine by the Victorian racing industry in 2019.
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Ian begins by looking back on his emotion- charged final day of calling at Gosford in 2009.
He recalls his final metropolitan race call at Randwick just five days earlier.
The former ace broadcaster talks about the post racing life of retired callers like Bryan Martin and Greg Miles.
Ian talks of school days at Sydney Grammar, and the difficulties associated with having the same name as a previous Australian cricket captain.
He looks back on his introduction to race broadcasts when laid up with rheumatic fever as a child.
When the time came to enter the workforce, most expected young Ian to join his father’s tailoring business. Instead he started off with the Stamina Clothing Company.
Ian remembers a Richmond Greyhound Racing Club advertisement which led him into the race calling field.
He looks back on the days of the huge Granville Showground trotting gymkhanas where several callers gained their starts. Ian kicked off in the bushes at the back of the track.
He’s never forgotten his very first paid job as a race caller.
Ian speaks fondly of his radio years at Harold Park Paceway, and the wonderful horsemen who dominated in the era.
He reflects on 2KY’s entry into the Sydney race broadcasting market. He went to work for the station when they were in opposition to 2GB, 2UE and the ABC. Six years later the TAB bought the station outright. Things moved quickly thereafter.
Ian remembers his entry into Sydney television through a very popular Sunday racing segment called “Punters Post Mortem”.
He takes us through the great horses he got to call, with special mention of Kingston Town.
Ian recollects the drama of the colossal Getting Closer betting plunge at Canterbury in 1982.
He reviews famous racing incidents like the races won by 500/1 “pops” in the 1980’s. Both horses were ridden by the same jockey.
This is a lovely stroll down memory lane with one of the best race broadcasters to grace the airwaves in Australia.
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
In keeping with our nostalgia format over the holiday break, here comes one of our favourite podcasts from 2019 with much loved Sydney media icon Graham McNeice. At the time this interview was recorded, Shadow had just finished his latest documentary The Masters Apprentice- the career of legendary jockey mentor Theo Green. He says the doco had been twenty years in the making.
Graham explains how a copy of The Masters Apprentice can be accessed from the website.
The man’s famous nickname The Shadow is universally known around the industry. Not everybody knows how he got the tag. Graham explains.
He looks back on his early life as one of six children growing up in the inner city suburb of Croydon Park where his father Syd had a butcher’s shop. Syd hoped Graham would follow in his footsteps.
Syd and Marion operated another flourishing little business within the confines of the shop.
Graham talks about his father’s friendship with Frank Kennedy who was a prominent figure in the Sydney fight game. Frank later began calling greyhound racing for 2KA Katoomba and took young McNeice under his wing. That led Frank to a job calling the dogs for 2UE and Graham tagged along.
Before long Graham was appointed full time understudy to 2UE race caller Des Hoysted. He’d call a race or two at the midweek gallops, and fill in whenever Des was unavailable.
Shadow still dines out on a funny story involving his trip to the 1973 Bong Bong Cup. He talks of his involvement with the popular Ch 7 Sunday program Punters Post Mortem.
He remembers with deep sadness the loss of his great friend and mentor Frank Kennedy in the mid 1970’s.
Shadow looks back on his days as course commentator at the Harold Park dogs. He pays a special tribute to champion sprinter Roman Earl.
He takes us back to the beginning of his long association with Channel 10. He started as a part time producer, but that quickly led to a more permanent role.
The veteran was one of the pioneers of satellite sports television in Australia. He was the founding Executive Producer at Club Super Station. He looks back on a breakaway bid by the Kembla Grange race club to go exclusively with the satellite channel.
Graham looks back on the beginning of Skychannel under the ownership of Alan Bond. The burgeoning company had a low key beginning in Perth, but McNeice played a part in having the operation moved to Sydney. He looks back on a nine year hosting role on Sky when the races were beamed into pubs and clubs only.
Shadow reflects on the history making day in 1998 when the races were broadcast into homes for the very first time. He looks back fondly on a twelve year stint as host of the popular Sunday morning programme Racing Retro.
He speaks fondly of the many sports documentaries produced by his company Shadow Productions. He makes special mention of a few favourites.
If you missed this podcast in 2019, here’s your chance to catch up. It’s a lovely stroll down memory lane with one of Australia’s great storytellers.
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
The former outstanding Randwick trainer talks about his introduction to horses at an Oatley riding school, and his interest in becoming an apprentice jockey.
Bob recalls that his interview with Tommy Smith was arranged by his father’s friend Arthur Davies, better known as Channel 9’s Clarence The Clocker.
He looks back on 40 winners as an apprentice- most trained by his master, and all on metropolitan tracks. He acknowledges other great horsemen who helped him along the way.
Bob spent 17 years at Tulloch Lodge but left following a dispute with T.J.Smith. He explains the circumstances.
He reflects on a modest start as a trainer with one horse and a rented box on the corner of Barker and Botany Streets at Randwick. The lady who owned the stable waived the rent when Bob agreed to train her horse.
Bob remembers his association with an owner who purchased a tried horse from a Rosehill stable. The horse was Tudor Charger who became the trainer’s very first winner, and at Royal Randwick of all places.
It’s great to hear the distinguished horseman profile the galaxy of stars he got to train in a solo career embracing close to four decades. It’s not hard to pick his personal favourites.
Bob talks of the talented apprentices he had in the stable during his training days. He acknowledges the great jockeys to ride for the stable with special mention of Shane Dye.
He had a fascination with cars from an early age. That interest led him to an association with vintage cars which continues to this day. Bob highlights some of the “collectors items” to pass through his hands over the years.
Bob’s training career didn’t end the way he would have liked. He was none too pleased when the Australian Turf Club informed him of an impending relocation from his High St stables. He looks back on the dispute which hastened his retirement.
Bob concludes the podcast on a sentimental note. He takes us back to the Tulloch Lodge days when he got to ride some legendary horses in afternoon exercise. He drops a couple of famous names.
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
The former trailblazing jockey talks of her childhood involvement with horses in the Brisbane suburb of Ascot.
Pam remembers how she bristled when trying to lead a racehorse onto Eagle Farm racecourse before having to hand it over to a male.
She recalls her first battle- the right to ride trackwork. Eventually she got the authorities to agree to the staging of ladies races only.
Pam talks of the historic Gold Coast meeting when she became the first woman to compete against men. There were a few red faces when she booted home three winners.
She remembers her bitter disappointment when Kiwi Linda Jones was granted permission to ride at Doomben. At the time Pam was restricted to outside tracks.
The former jockey recalls the amazing invitation she received to ride in Japan.
Pam talks of the cancer scare she endured on returning from Japan.
She reminisces about some of her favourite horses with special mention of Supersnack. She was shattered to lose the ride on the brilliant sprinter Breakfast Creek.
Pam looks at her life as a mother and grandmother.
She pays tribute to late husband Colin O’Neill, a former top jockey and successful trainer.
Since the interview was recorded, Pam has added yet another accolade to her list of credits. The race formerly known as the Glenlogan Park Stakes and Queensland Sapphire Stakes, is now known as the Pam O’Neill Stakes. Nobody deserves the honour more. She’s also acquired one more honorary administrative post- Acting President of the Queensland Jockeys Association. Pammy you brought it all on yourself.
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Peter begins by talking about the Central Coast stationary business he started with wife Donna after quitting the saddle in 2005. They’ve opened the doors again after the endless covid closure.
Peter talks of his love for the NSW central coast where he learned to ride on a local dairy farm.
He remembers the school teacher who encouraged him to consider an apprenticeship as a jockey.
Peter recalls his first trip to Sydney and the homesickness that sent him scurrying home after two days.
He talks of his apprenticeship to Alan Bailey and the unforgettable early wins that would launch his career.
The former popular jockey acknowledges some of his favourite horses from those early years.
He pays tribute to the Randwick trainer who gave him great support, and put him on the giant horse he rates as the best he’s ever ridden.
Peter looks back on a brief metropolitan stint after completing his apprenticeship.
He looks back on an exciting trip to the UK where he rode a couple of winners and formed a friendship with a true racing icon.
Peter reminisces about his first association with the legendary Lester Piggot and the “catch up” years later on a private Central Coast training property.
He talks of the inevitable race falls and a record number of broken collarbones.
Peter talks of his amazing ability to ride at a featherweight, and the number of big race rides he received from Tommy Smith because of that light weight.
He acknowledges the trainers with whom he had successful partnerships. He rates an expatriate NZ trainer as the best he saw.
The jockey made a switch to Queensland late in his career. He rode many winners in a five year stay, and got to ride a top class sprinter.
Peter concludes with memories of his final day at Wyong and the shock suspension he incurred.
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
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 Dylan who ranks among Australia’s most promising apprentices. He says he actually discouraged Dylan from becoming a jockey but gave up when the lad persisted.
He talks of Dylan’s amazing first season and his Gr 3 winner on Hunter day.
Back to Andrew Gibbons who remembers his obsession with sport. One of his chosen pursuits was a most unlikely one.
The jockey talks about the pony who taught him the fundamentals of riding and his lucky break in gaining an apprenticeship with a good trainer and mentor. Andrew pays tribute to the former jockey who took an interest in his progress.
He remembers the excitement of riding his first winner in 1994.
Andrew reflects on his transfer to the big smoke and an apprenticeship to Rosehill trainer Bryan Guy. He remembers one special horse he got to ride for his master.
The popular jockey looks back on a move back to Newcastle at the completion of his indentureship and support from trainers like the late Max Lees.
Gibbons talks of his many rides on country tracks with special mention of his happy hunting ground at Grafton. He’s won three important races on the northern rivers track.
He talks of his ability to ride at a lighter weight than the majority of jockeys. He says it has already gained him rides in Gr 1 races and hoped there will be more in the future. He talks of some elite horses he’s ridden on the training track.
Andrew says he’s been relatively injury free but remembers one freakish accident at Cessnock which left him with nasty injuries to his right foot.
He talks of his intention to ride work for more trainers at different tracks.
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
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 at the Inglis Scone sale.
Theresa reviews a brilliant Sapphire Coast win by Inglis On Line purchase Crackalacka. The trainer admits she wasn’t expecting such an impressive display.
The emerging training talent talks of her training base at Kembla Grange, her loyal staff and clients.
Theresa takes us back to childhood days on the family farm at Stockinbingal and her earliest involvement with horses. She affectionately recalls Saturday afternoons with her mother who worked as an operator with the Cootamundra TAB.
The trainer recalls her growing fascination with racing and the shrine she created at home for champion racehorses.
She has never forgotten the school work experience stint with the AJC at Randwick. After this she was completely hooked.
Theresa remembers the school scholarship which led her to a Bachelor Of Commerce Degree at Wollongong University. The close proximity to Kembla Grange motivated her to ride trackwork for several local trainers.
The trainer looks back on the fateful day she attended an Inglis Tried Stock sale and came away with a $200.00 purchase.
Theresa profiles the special horses who’ve helped launch her career.
She acknowledges the efforts of several jockeys with whom she’s had a winning association.
Theresa pays a special tribute to her partner, former jockey Michael Ahearn. She says Michael’s assessment of trackwork is of great value to the stable.
She explains the background utterances of four year old son Zac who had no idea his mother was doing a podcast. Elder son Cooper also gets a special mention. It’s a good yarn with a charming lady who’s gaining prominence in a very tough business.