John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
TAB punters who fancy a flutter on NSW southern meetings are familiar with the riding of Brendan Ward. The Victorian born jockey had 700 winners on his CV when he moved to Canberra twenty years ago. He’s since added another 820. Brendan talks about his involvement in Canberra trackwork.
He talks of the endless travelling country jockeys have to endure in the modern age.
Brendan talks of his lifelong addiction to exercise and training.
He talks of childhood days in Melbourne and the work experience stint with a legendary trainer of the 1980’s. He eventually became apprenticed to Geoff Murphy.
Brendan recalls his first winning ride at Terang.
He talks of fellow apprentices in the Murphy stable and his association with a top horse of the era.
The jockey reflects on the tuition he received from a couple of ace jockeys of the day.
Brendan looks back on two “loan out” experiences with other trainers- one in Wodonga and the other in Adelaide.
He remembers a quirky horse he was associated with at Ollie Cox’s Wodonga stables, and the friendship he forged with Benalla jockey Peter Robl.
Brendan outlines the reason for his move to Canberra and the wonderful run he enjoyed in the first few years.
He talks of the two serious accidents that slowed his momentum for many months.
Country commitments have kept him away from Sydney tracks over the years, but he reflects on a few highlights in the big smoke.
Brendan acknowledges the talents of the Canberra sprinter he regards as the best horse he’s ever ridden in a race.
He makes special mention of the trainers to give him continued support.
Great to catch up with a hard working, dedicated and super fit country jockey.
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
I’ll never forget the day Sky Channel boss Graham McNeice told me he was bringing a young race caller from Queensland to join the Sky team. Russell Leonard was only seventeen, very talented but very intimidated by the big city. The youngster loved the experience but couldn’t adapt to life in a city like Sydney. We catch up with 50 year old Russell Leonard three decades after homesickness sent him scurrying home to Rockhampton.
Right off the top we investigate the nickname by which he’s universally known.
Russ takes us through his current work schedule.
You’ll be surprised when he outlines the number of horses trained at Callaghan Park in Rockhampton. Russ helps to coordinate trackwork a couple of days a week.
He talks of the outstanding racing surfaces available at Rockhampton and Mackay.
Russ takes us back to childhood days with his horse trainer father Keith Leonard. He remembers life on the road with a truckload of horses. They met some interesting people.
He has never forgotten his “baptism of fire” behind the microphone when the Clermont race caller couldn’t get there.
Russ looks back on early days as a caller on bush tracks and his first real opportunity in Rockhampton.
He’s never forgotten the fateful phone call from Graham McNeice which enticed him to Sydney. He reflects on a busy year with Sky Channel and the lingering homesickness that brought him home.
Russ looks back on a short but fascinating stint in Port Moresby. He couldn’t believe the volume of wagering in the New Guinea betting shops.
This man has crammed a lot into his fifty years. He remembers his role as racing manager to the late Bruce McLachlan at the trainer’s world class Caboolture training centre.
Russ talks of his long stint as a sales rep in the liquor industry- firstly with Hardys Wines and later with Bacardi Lion.
The talented Leonard takes us through his role as a compere of the popular Calcutta functions which precede regional Cup meetings. He’s in demand as far afield as Warrnambool.
Russ talks of his marriage to Karen and the progress of their two sons.
Russ pays tribute to two special horses who cut their teeth on Central Queensland tracks. You’ll know the names.
I can’t believe more than three decades have passed since “Brolga” spent a restless year in Sydney. Lovely to catch up with a dyed in the wool Queenslander.
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
It’s a delight to introduce a young man whose serious health problems haven’t diminished his resolve to become a serious professional jockey. Harry begins by talking about the wide area he covers in the pursuit of winners.
He talks of a two year stay in Bendigo and the homesickness that took him back to Swan Hill.
Harry talks about the 10 hectare property near Swan Hill where he lives with partner Tayla.
He recalls having lived a reasonably normal childhood despite the restrictions imposed by his medical condition.
Harry takes us through his regular medication regime and the daily physiotherapy required to get him to the races.
The jockey pays tribute to his horse trainer father Austy who remains his greatest supporter.
He talks of his only sibling, brother Sam who has chosen a career path away from racing.
Harry looks back on the magical occasion of his first winning ride.
He acknowledges the ongoing support of trainer Darren Weir in his early days as a jockey.
The 25 year old will never forget his only Gr 1 win to date. Darren Weir entrusted him with the ride on Sopressa in the Schweppes Australasian Oaks of 2018. Harry takes us through an unforgettable day.
He looks back on the exciting day at Wycheproof when he rode six of the seven winners.
Harry makes special mention of one of his favourite horses- the great bush galloper Vianden who won many Country Cups.
The jockey speaks with reverence of a horse called Signoff. He has no doubt the Darren Weir trained gelding is the best horse he’s ridden to date.
Harry talks of his strong association with the Maher/Eustace stable.
He expresses his appreciation of the wise counsel he receives from media identity Deane Lester.
Harry says the absence of interstate jockeys and his ability to ride at a light weight, might bring him a ride or two in the bigger races over the Victorian carnival.
There was no hesitation when I asked Harry to name the jockey who has been his greatest inspiration.
This is a bright and breezy chat with a remarkable young man.
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Many good judges believe Mister Rea is the best 2 year old pacer seen out this season. The no nonsense colt is unbeaten in six runs. We catch up with his trainer Ray Walker.
Ray has bred many of his best horses over the years including Mister Rea. He says the colt’s dam was a very fast mare.
He says the grand dam was even better but plagued with problems.
Ray talks of Mister Rea’s manners and faultless gait. He talks of his co- owners wife Jane and long time friend Greg O’Callaghan.
He reviews the colt’s racing career so far, and tells us a little about the background of regular driver Darryl Perrot.
Ray looks back on the horror race fall which claimed the life of his father Col in 1978. He immediately took over the running of the family training operation in Leeton.
The popular horseman looks back on his first win and his initial success at Harold Park.
He reflects on the career of the only 2 year old he compares with Mister Rea. Ray looks back on Jossella- the wonderful mare who launched his professional career. He highlights Granodorite, another great money spinner in his early days, and Glenburn Chef who did a great job before going amiss.
He looks back on the worst race fall of his career. He was in a multiple pile up on the final turn at Bulli. To this day he feels the effects of a broken heel.
Ray speaks of his all time favourite Imastrongone winner of an amazing 34 races. Fast, tough and brave he was a fiercely competitive racehorse. He also speaks glowingly of another tough cookie in Vasco Da Gama.
He looks back on a career which has yielded hundreds of winners and multiple premierships. He says he’s cutting back a bit these days.
No discussion with a Temora man would be complete without a tribute to the great Paleface Adios. Ray remembers the champion fondly.
He talks of the invaluable support of his wife Jane who drives fast work on the Temora track.
Ray enjoys the breeding side of the business and makes mention of his broodmare band.
When pressed to nominate his all time race driving hero he comes up with a legendary name from the 1970’s.
Ray offers his comments on the decision by HRA and HRNZ to change the official birthday of southern hemisphere standardbreds.
Great to catch up with a devoted trotting man from the NSW Riverina.
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Racing fans have been pleased to see Glyn Schofield’s presence at three recent barrier trial sessions at Rosehill. Until his resumption in late August the veteran jockey hadn’t been seen since Boxing Day of last year. He reveals that a painful problem with his right arm required extensive surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation.
Glyn takes us back to early childhood in his native England and the job transfer that took his family to Johannesburg. He says horses were of no interest to him at this stage of his life.
The ace jockey talks about his time as a pupil at the famous Durban Jockeys Academy- the institution which launched the careers of several champion jockeys.
Glyn talks of his apprenticeship to Alister Gordon and his very first winner at Scottsville. He makes mention of some special horses who got him going in South Africa.
He remembers a working holiday he had in 2001 at the Caboolture training operation of the late Bruce McLachlan.
Glyn recalls another visit to Queensland for the 2002 winter carnival. He won a race for Gai Waterhouse on the Gold Coast.
Schofield talks about the three month contract in Hong Kong that would last for four years.
He talks about the amazing career parallels shared by himself and brother-in-law Jeff Lloyd. They made a joint decision to leave the political instability of South Africa and move their families to Australia.
Glyn talks of the gradual acceptance by Sydney trainers and a few special early winners. He didn’t know it at the time, but he got to ride a budding champion in 2009. He wasn’t able to retain the ride.
He talks of a Randwick fall in 2011 and the surgery that got him to Singapore a few weeks later. He won the Singapore Gold Cup with 14 screws in his collar bone.
Glyn reviews his association with a number of his favourite horses with special mention of the amazing Hay List.
The jockey recalls the emotional day in the Rosehill jockeys room when he watched son Chad win the Cox Plate on Shamus Award.
He talks of Chad’s progress and his current activities in Hong Kong.
Glyn speaks affectionately of daughters Demi and Whitney. He looks back on the dark days of 2014 when Whitney lost husband Nathan Berry to a rare disease.
The top jockey talks of wife Tiffany’s love affair with Sydney.
The fifty four year old speaks of his eagerness to get back into active competition against some of Sydney’s hottest young jockeys. Glyn’s an excellent storyteller.
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
We caught Anthony at the end of a good week. He’d ridden a double on the Gold Coast the day before, and a winner at Eagle Farm the previous Wednesday.
As Incentivise’s original rider he was a keen observer when the rising star won Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. He watched on a TV monitor in the mounting yard at Aquis Park.
Anthony gives his impressions of the Makybe Diva win and then takes us through Incentivise’s rise through the grades in Queensland.
We chat about Anthony’s early years in Maitland and the shock discovery of his hearing impairment. He’s been wearing hearing aids from age eight.
The jockey talks of his fascination with the game of Rugby League and his lifelong fascination with the Newcastle Knights.
He talks of the only racing link in his family background- the grandfather who wanted to be a jockey but wasn’t allowed to pursue his dream.
Anthony talks of two apprenticeships in Grafton and his move to a Brisbane stable.
He remembers his first ride which turned out to be a disaster, and his very first win at Murwillumbah.
Allen still can’t believe he rode five winners on a Saturday metropolitan programme at Doomben.
He looks back on a three months “loan out” to a leading Sydney stable in 2012. He rode a winner at Rosehill on his very first day at a Sydney meeting.
Anthony acknowledges the support of a fellow jockey during his short stay in Sydney.
He pays tribute to a few of the horses who’ve helped him along the way.
You can’t help but admire his honesty as he talks about the day at Beaudesert when he had a mental block about the distance of a race.
He explains the circumstances that may have contributed to his concentration lapse.
Anthony speaks glowingly about the talents of his fiancee Alannah Fancourt, a very capable jockey in her own right. They won three races between them at Aquis Park last Saturday.
A good yarn with the twenty eight year old who helped develop the talents of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup favourite.
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Great to catch up with respected Scone trainer Rod Northam who’s hoping a slot holder might come along for his Kosciuszko hopeful Spiranac. Rod has high praise for the Scone training precinct.
He takes us back to childhood days on a Singleton dairy farm where he taught himself to ride.
Rod talks of the genetic influence provided by his father and grandfather.
The experienced horseman looks back on work experience at Carrington Stud and the celebrity mare he looked after.
Rod talks of his love of Rugby League and a short stint with a well known country team.
He reflects on a rewarding year at the famous Marcus Oldham College in Victoria.
Rod couldn’t believe his luck when he landed a job as a trackwork rider at the Lindsay Park operation in South Australia. The dream turned sour when a nasty fall put him in hospital.
Colin Hayes took a shine to the young New South Welshman and before Rod knew it, he was preparing yearlings for the Adelaide and Sydney sales.
Rod reflects on his association with Colin Hayes who influenced his career more than any other.
He looks back on a trip to England where he worked for a jumps trainer who got him to take a horse to a Kempton meeting one day. Here he saw a horse destined for fame in Australia, and also ran into an old friend.
Rod acknowledges the horses who’ve helped him to build his business as a trainer. All time favourite is Big Money who won 10 races despite serious foot issues.
He makes special mention of After All That winner of almost $500,000, and the talented mare Myamira.
The Inglis 2YO Challenge has been a wonderful race for the Scone trainer. He looks back on his five winners.
Rod has always valued the input of experienced jockeys, and pays tribute to two of the best.
Last but not least he talks of the meteoric rise of stable apprentice Reece Jones who’s been taken along slowly by his master. Rod predicts a great future for the young rider.
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
Twenty five years ago I described Paul Ambrosoli as the best greyhound commentator in the world. To date nobody has taken me to task. I’m delighted to welcome him to the podcast. The legendary caller begins by paying tribute to his late wife Pat.
Paul acknowledges the achievements of his granddaughter Claire Lever now married to jockey Chad Lever and making her way in the tough grind of racehorse training.
He talks of childhood days and his total lack of interest in joining his father’s tailoring business.
Paul recalls the “imaginary” races he called at home as an impressionable kid.
He talks of school days at Sydney Grammar.
Paul talks of his early association with 2KA Katoomba, the station to launch his career as a racing and rugby league commentator.
He talks of the record number of race meetings he once covered in a week.
Paul has never forgotten the drama of calling the last at a twilight galloping meeting and the first at Wentworth Park dogs thirty minutes later.
Despite his allegiance to the greyhound industry Paul was also very adept as a gallops caller. He looks back on a 15 year association with the Hawkesbury Race Club.
Now to the part greyhound enthusiasts will enjoy. Paul rates his all time favourite dogs.
Paul has always had a great association with sponsors. He talks of some of his favourite commercials.
The seventy six year old speaks of his Hall OF Fame induction and his reaction when “The Ambrosoli” was created- a race named in his honour.
I’m an unabashed fan of the talents of the man justifiably dubbed as “Mr. Greyhound Racing”. It’s a delight to have him on the Supernova Sound Podcast.
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Great to catch up with a little bloke of Italian descent who began his career with the late Ray Guy at Rosehill 35 years ago. Five years ago he was still living in Sydney and travelling to the western districts most weeks. In 2016 he moved to Mudgee and is now one of the most in demand jockeys on the western line. He looks back on the reasons for the move.
Anthony explains the origins of the nickname that has followed him around for more than three decades.
“Choco” looks back on the day his father took him to meet Ray Guy in the trainer’s Rosehill office.
He reflects on the wonderful day when Vain Glorious provided him with his first win at Gosford. He expands on Guy’s success rate with unfashionably bred horses.
Anthony speaks of Bryan Guy who has gone on to great success in his own right.
He talks of opportunities to come his way from other Rosehill trainers. He was fortunate to win a race on Potrero for Dr. Geoff Chapman. The horse went on to multiple Gr 1 success.
“Choco” clearly remembers the day he stormed home to win a stakes race at Randwick on a despised outsider.
He tells the amazing story of his Silver Shadow Stakes win 1989. When he arrived at the barrier on his long priced mount he had no idea of the dramatic circumstances that were about to unfold.
Cavallo says he has Glen Boss to thank for a surprise win in the 1996 Golden Fleece on the beautiful Warren track in the far west.
“Choco” reflects on a total of seven years outside of Australia. He talks of his experiences in Asia.
The veteran jockey is happy to talk about the inevitable race falls including one nasty one at Wellington(NSW).
He acknowledges the support of leading trainers Gayna Williams and Kody Nestor. He’s never forgotten Alison Smith’s first city training success. He was thrilled to be a part of it.
Anthony reflects on two TAB Highway wins.
He speaks of his ability to ride at a featherweight. He has no doubt this is the major contributing factor to his longevity.
Great to catch up with a thorough professional who loves his job.
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Great to catch up with trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith who recently pulled up stakes and relocated from Hawkesbury to sunny Coffs Harbour. He explains why he settled on the north coast.
Noel talks of his new association with “Stable Of Stars”, a syndication company which offers horses for lease rather than sale. The trainer explains the concept.
The trainer pays tribute to wife Emma who has ridden the bulk of his trackwork for most of their married life.
Noel talks of his reconnection with Jon Grisedale who at one stage was number three Nebo Lodge jockey. Now in his mid fifties Grisedale is riding better than ever, and rides an enormous amount of trackwork at Coffs.
We go back to young Noel’s days as a bank teller and the surly customer who was indirectly responsible for his move to another job.
Noel reflects on his move to Sydney when his brother Brian was offered the number one training job for the late Millie Fox.
He looks back on his decision to go solo at Newcastle in 1991. He talks of his very first win at Taree and the tough times that followed.
Noel tells the story of the ill fated Angst- the brilliant grey filly who propelled him to the big stage. He talks of her brilliant quartet of wins in the 1993 Princess Series and her premature death following surgery for a breathing infirmity.
He speaks affectionately of Mistador who wasn’t in the class of Angst but came along at exactly the right time for the shattered trainer. He looks back on the day Mistador toppled a rising star at Newcastle.
We reserved plenty of space for Noel’s tribute to his dual Gr 1 winner Landsighting, winner of 8 races with 6 placings for $1.3 million.
Noel pays a special tribute to the late Bill Fisher, the “dream” owner who showed him tremendous loyalty during a few fabulous years together.
His affection for Famous Seamus is very evident as he summarises a career which brought 12 wins and $1.3 million. His wins include a Gr 1 BTC Cup.
Noel talks of the talents of his Irish born wife Emma, and her late father Will Robinson whose many wins as a jumps jockey included the famous Aintree Grand National.
The experienced trainer looks forward to the final phase of his career in a lovely part of NSW. Mind you he’ll be pleased to travel if the right horse comes along.