John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
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.
Pete looks back on the severe setback he suffered early in his training career when a major owner moved horses to other trainers. A fellow trainer came to the rescue.
He speaks of the great compliment afforded him by a fellow trainer who asked him to become the regular trackwork rider of one of Australia’s most celebrated horses.
Peter reviews his riding career beginning with an apprenticeship in Benalla (Vic) and the valuable tutoring he received from a senior jockey.
He looks back on his very first win in a stayer’s event at Tatura. He says it wasn’t a pretty ride.
Peter remembers a horse called Simple As That who gave his career a significant boost in the mid nineties. He won a string of races on the grey and was placed in a Gr 1 event.
The trainer talks of his love of sedan racing and the VL Commodore he still has in storage at his parent’s home in Benalla.
Pete reflects on the invitation from trainer Clarry Conners that propelled his decision to move to Sydney. He talks of an early stakes win for Clarry.
The forty nine year old horseman looks back on his first career Gr 1 success- the 2008 Rosehill Guineas for Anthony Cummings.
Pete looks back on three more wins at the elite level.
He’s totally honest about the major setback he suffered when convicted of betting offences in 2010. You’ll be surprised to learn how he spent the time during his disqualification.
Peter talks of his teenage daughter Haley who’s showing plenty of talent in the show ring. A good yarn with a talented horseman.
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
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 to childhood days in Auckland when he would go to the races with his parents.
He reflects on work experience in the stable of leading trainer Fred Smith who later indentured him.
Gary looks back on his first winner Silver Lad. The horse started at cricket score odds.
He remembers his chance meeting at the races with the young lady from Matamata destined to become his wife. The Willetts are approaching 56 years of marriage.
The veteran horseman has never forgotten the horse who changed his life. He takes us through the remarkable career of an iron gelding called Battle Heights.
Gary was stable jockey for Bon Hoysted when a precocious chestnut son of Manihi arrived in the stable. He remembers Manikato’s quirky early habits and takes us through the amazing career of a powerhouse sprinter.
He reflects on the training genius of Bob Hoysted.
Willetts pays tribute to several other topliners he was fortunate enough to ride beginning with Rose Of Kingston who became the first filly in 38 years to win the AJC Derby.
This was my first interview with Gary Willetts in many years. It was a treat to catch up with a true gentleman of the turf.
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
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 of a normal day in his life as a Telstra technician.
The fourth generation horseman explains that he’s one of only three trainers to use the Moree track. He pays tribute to the Club President and Secretary.
Peter tells us more about Moree’s unique location on the famous Artesian Basin, and the benefits derived from a never ending supply of quality bore water.
He relates some tales about previous generations of Sinclair horsemen.
The trainer looks back on two attempts to establish himself as a professional jockey. He rode plenty of winners but paid the penalty.
Peter enjoys competing on the picnic circuit in northern NSW. He talks about some of the legendary amateur races in the region.
The busy horseman discusses his constant travelling to race meetings from Goondiwindi to Scone.
Peter didn’t make his TAB Highway debut until 2020. He ran second and fourth at his first appearance. He says he won’t undertake the long trip unless he feels he has the right horse. That’s a tip in itself.
He reflects on wins in many country Cups in the region. His three Moree Cup wins are very special.
Peter acknowledges the efforts of his regular jockeys.
He talks about his much loved family. Jack and Jorja haven’t followed him into the racing industry but Nathan is training successfully in his own right. Peter talks of Nathan’s struggle with spina bifida and a life changing operation in 2013.
Peter looks back on two special days on his home track in recent times.
This is an insight into the life of a bush trainer in the modern era. Peter Sinclair is one of the best.
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
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 around 1993. During a long layoff he and wife Mireille ran a laundromat at Coffs Harbour.
He also explains the loss of a kidney as a result of a race fall some years ago.
The dedicated bush jockey talks of his early life in Bowen (QLD) and his initial apprenticeship to Harry Hatten in Brisbane. He talks of a transfer to Ron Conquest and the thrill of his first winning ride at Gympie.
Danny looks back on his one and only ride on the legendary Queensland horse Prunda- a win at Eagle Farm. Prunda won 30 races.
The veteran reflects on a two year hiatus from racing when his weight got out of hand, and a fresh start in Goondiwindi.
He talks of his move to northern NSW and eight happy years based at Barraba. This is where he formed an association with a marvellous bush sprinter.
Frahm explains that constant bush commitments kept him away from metropolitan tracks. He remembers his one and only city winner. He tells a good story about the mare in question.
Danny looks back on his five individual trips to New Caledonia. Here he met with great success in the saddle, and met Mireille, his wife of 34 years.
He pays fitting tributes to the two jockeys he most admired, and to his favourite country trainer.
Dan recalls his surprise when he received a coveted award twenty years ago.
He speaks openly of his battle with cancer and his current state of health. You rarely get to speak to a man who rode in races for half a century. Wonderful to catch up with a true country racing legend.
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
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 of 35-40 horses and the wonderful support he’s had from owners.
He talks of a valued association with jockey Anthony Cavallo who rides most of the stable runners. Kody admits he still enjoys riding some of the trackwork himself.
The trainer acknowledges the contribution of several horses who’ve helped establish his training career. There’s one gelding in the stable he expects to go on to better things.
Kody talks of his strong racing background and the support he’s had from several talented family members.
He looks back on his early days as a bush apprentice and the pleasant surprise he received when high profile Sydney trainers began seeking his services.
Kody looks back on a short but rewarding stint with the legendary Guy Walter.
He profiles some of the better class horses he got to ride on metropolitan tracks.
The young horseman looks back on a very successful association with Brett Cavanough during the trainer’s time in Albury.
During his days as a jockey Kody loved nothing more than riding in remote areas. He looks back on some outback experiences including a Birdsville Cup win.
He talks of the enjoyment he’s gaining as a tutor of three stable apprentices.
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
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 first win at Foxton with a horse part owned by a top NZ cricketer.
John talks of his time working on a Waverley property which adjoined a farm owned by a trainer who would soon join the Melbourne Cup honour roll. He also met his future wife at Waverley.
He talks of the snap decision to move to Malaysia when stables became available. In a 5 year stay he won a trainers premiership and several major races.
The 63 year old talks of his return to NZ and the setting up of his dual operation in Matamata and Christchurch. He was soon training a huge team. Another premiership beckoned.
John pays tribute to the horses who propelled his career on both sides of the Tasman. He reflects on the day when his filly Gust Of Wind comfortably defeated Winx in the Australian Oaks.
He talks of his bittersweet experience after winning the Guineas/Cup double at Wagga last year. Cup winner House of Cartier was stripped of the honour three months later. John gives his side of the story.
John has news concerning the immediate future of his recent winner Emeralds. He reports on the progress of his brilliant two year old filly Four Moves Ahead who beat all but the placegetters in the recent Golden Slipper.
He talks about his scant sleeping routine and the long hours he spends in the stable. That’s the way he likes it!
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
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 young jockey talks of the riding career of his partner Jessica Payne with special mention of her trip to France where she represented Australia in an apprentice jockey series.
Jye recalls the important race meeting which would determine his fate in the Victorian Jockeys premiership. His baby son Oakley was due to arrive on the same day.
The twenty six year old reflects on the circumstances leading up to his engagement for Twilight Payment, and takes us through the running of the Melbourne Cup.
Jye looks back on childhood days at Koondrook and talks of his parents and siblings.
He remembers his fascination with motor bikes and push bikes long before he became hooked on horses.
Jye pays tribute to Gerald Egan, the remarkable Mansfield horseman to whom he was apprenticed. He wasn’t the first top apprentice to come through the Egan operation.
Young McNeil reflects on his first win at Kerang and his first metropolitan success at Sandown on the horse with the bizarre name.
Jye acknowledges the support of several high profile stables, and the thrill of his first Gr 1 win in 2019. He mentions another special horse in his career so far.
He talks of his ability to ride at a featherweight despite his height. Jye hates the sauna and has found a better way to keep his weight in check.
He acknowledges the efforts of his manager and his mentor.
This is a refreshing chat with one of the brightest young race riding stars in Australia.
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
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 they needed a second opinion before the surgery could be approved.
The champion jockey explains that he was on the brink of mounting a court challenge to WorkCover’s ruling.
Corey talks of the specialist’s findings and the six hour operation that followed.
He talks of the agonizing moment when he quizzed the Doctors about the chances of a comeback.
Corey says the reality struck home when he made the official announcement of his retirement.
The popular jockey looks back on his first official outing since the accident- a Taree race meeting featuring the race named in his honour, the Corey Brown Cup.
Time to reminisce and Corey remembers the indignity of falling at his very first race ride. He talks of his first winner only a week later.
The Gr 1 specialist talks of his family background. His grandfather and father were both jockeys.
Corey takes us through the circumstances leading up to his 2009 Melbourne Cup win on Shocking and the bizarre way in which the race was run.
He elaborates on four minor placings in the Cup between 2002 and his second victory on Rekindling in 2017.
The retired jockey looks back on his day of days in 2003 when he rode four winners at the Randwick spring meeting including three Gr 1’s.
Corey pays tribute to the headline horse Apache Cat and the 5 Gr 1’s he won on the exciting sprinter.
He recalls his eighteen months retainer with Lee Freedman and the story behind their much publicised split.
Corey reflects on the thrill of representing Australia in the Shergar Jockeys Challenge at Royal Ascot.
Brown explains his reasons for nominating Exceed And Excel as the best horse he rode.
He talks of his extensive media involvement with Sky, Racing.Com and the Seven Network.
Cory concludes with a mention of his resolve to regain strength and mobility before he even thinks about his future.
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
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 looks back on the spectacular Inter Dominion Championship of 2005 when massive prize money attracted the best horses from all over Australia. Peter pays tribute to the winner, the remarkable Blacks A Fake who was destined to win another three ID’s.
Pete talks about his early years in Melbourne and his sister’s engagement to a prominent jumps jockey. This was the catalyst of his interest in racing.
He talks of his heady days as lead singer for Amber Light, a popular Melbourne band. Racing was the furthest thing from his mind as he belted out the hits of his hero Elvis Presley.
Pete looks back on the move to Hobart with his young family and the Hobart Mercury advertisement destined to change his life.
He talks of his passion for cricket which led him to a friendship with a young man who would become captain of the Australian cricket team.That friendship would inspire Pete’s first book - “THe First Tests Of Ricky Ponting”.
Pete became an avid fan of Tasmania’s record breaking jockey Beverly Buckingham whose achievements were lauded all over Australia in the 1990’s. He recalls the events that followed her horror fall at Elwick in 1998.
He talks of the story he was able to write when Beverly walked again.
Pete pays tribute to two talented Tasmanian jockeys.
He talks of the book he had to write. The talented journalist found a publisher and got his project underway- “Mick and The Cleaner” was the frank biography of the battling trainer and the $10,000 yearling who won 19 races including six in Melbourne. Pete says he wasn’t happy after he’d written 20,000 words. He ripped it up and started again.
Pete concludes by profiling his all time favourite Tasmanian horses.
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
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 to ride.
Gordon reflects on the newspaper advertisement which led him to Theo Green’s stable.
He recalls the track gallops with Theo by his side and the start of his mateship with Ron Quinton.
Spinks explains why he preferred to use his middle name rather than his given christian name.
Gordon remembers his very first winner at Mudgee and his initial city win.
He recalls the beginning of a successful association with Tommy Smith. He was stunned when the top trainer started giving him Gr 1 rides when he was still an apprentice.
Gordon has never forgotten a last to first win on NZ mare Unpainted in the 1968 Doncaster.
The champion jockey looks back on his first Gr 1 win as a fully fledged jockey- again courtesy of T.J. Smith.
Gordon remembers Black Onyx , a great sprinter of the 60’s and 70’s who gave him a Doomben $10,000 win.
He looks back on a retainer as number two jockey for leviathan owner Stan Fox. He talks of his admiration for the stable’s top jockey Athol Mulley.
Gordon talks of a “working holiday” in England where he rode for leading trainer Sam Armstrong. He remembers many a jogging session with Armstrong’s son-in-law Lester Piggott.
He recalls another overseas stint at the suggestion of Irish training wizard Dermot Weld. On arriving home he began his association with Jack and Bob Ingham who were spending freely at the yearling sales.
Gordon reflects on his final overseas adventure in Tehran where racing had just begun. The sport was doomed from the moment the Shah was overthrown in 1979.
Older racing people will remember the deeds of Gordon Spinks. I hope younger “podcasters” will tune in to find out just how good he was in an era of outstanding jockeys.