John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Brad talks about his very first trip to Perth in 1997 when he won an Apprentice’s Cup. He’s loved the place ever since.
He talks of his very first Gr 1 win on Niconero for David Hayes. It just happened to be in Perth. He recalls a WA Derby win for the same stable.
Brad talks of his deep racing background and the achievements of his father Keith who’s still riding trackwork in his mid 70’s.
He talks of brother Todd who’s now out of racing and sister Stacey who opted for motherhood after a successful riding career.
Brad looks back on two national premierships, and the Golden Slipper win he landed at the expense of an injured jockey.
Brad talks of his Caulfield Cup win on Viewed - a result of the ride he considers his career best!
Rawiller remembers with affection his astonishing association with the great horse Weekend Hussler. He won 7 Gr 1’s on the Ross McDonald trained galloper.
Brad also pays tribute to the old marvel Black Heart Bart. He won 6 Gr 1 races on a horse who was constantly plagued with foot problems, but kept bouncing back at the elite level.
He looks back on a Cranbourne fall that left him unconscious for several minutes. His recovery astounded doctors.
The jockey acknowledges several other favourite horses.
Apart from brother Nash he had two other riding heroes. He pays tribute to them.
Brad talks of the wonderful support he’s had from wife Carolyn, daughter Cleo and son Lucas. They’re all settled in Perth.
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed my first chat with Bill Mitchell since he left the training ranks in 2005. He begins by outlining his reasons for relocating to Melbourne in his final years as a trainer.
Bill talks of his surprise decision to relinquish his licence and the establishment of his own bloodstock consultancy business.
The multiple Group 1 winning trainer looks back on nine years as racing manager for the Segenhoe Group.
Bill reflects on the excitement of migrating from England with his family at age 11. His father Major James Mitchell had purchased Yarraman Park Stud from legendary jockey George Moore.
He talks of school days in Australia and the affinity he developed with thoroughbreds at Yarraman Park.
Bill reflects on his return to England where he learned the basics of training from Fulke Johnson Houghton. Then it was back to Sydney for a stint with Neville Begg.
Still feeling his education was incomplete, Bill headed to the USA where he landed a job in the stable of decorated trainer Neil Drysdale.
Bill talks of his humble beginnings as a trainer in Scone and his important move to Warwick Farm.
He remembers with affection his first taste of Gr 1 euphoria- a win with From The Planet in the 1989 Epsom.
Bill was one of several trainers to prepare the bold front runner Stylish Century. He looks back on some notable wins with a special horse.
He acknowledges the deeds of several top class gallopers who contributed to his rise to the upper echelon of Sydney trainers. He makes special mention of outstanding horses like Livistona Lane, Kenwood Melody, Dignity Dancer and General Nediym.
Bill elaborates on the progress of Mitchell Bloodstock, a company he formed fifteen years ago in partnership with his son James.
Great to catch up with a gentleman of Australian racing.
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
At last we catch up with one of the superstars of the Australian riding ranks. We launch straight into Glen’s memories of the freakish mare Makybe Diva who gave him three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories. He still gets goosebumps when he talks about the amazing staying mare.
He talks of the 1998 Melbourne Cup when he hit the front on Champagne and thought he was home. Glen couldn’t believe it when Jezabeel fought back to win.
The great jockey takes us back to childhood days at Beaudesert and his obsession with horses from an early age. He adored his years at Pony Club.
Glen recalls the defining moment at Gympie races when he knew he wanted to be a jockey.
He looks back on his two rewarding apprenticeships- the first with Terry Chinner at Gympie and the second with Kaye Tinsley on the Gold Coast.
Glen talks about his fiery nature in those early years and the careless riding that brought him many suspensions.
He looks back on the fateful day he met his future wife Sloane, the mother of his two children. Glen talks of the shock he received when the Australian Tax Office swooped at the completion of his apprenticeship. He was forced to sell a precious keepsake in order to pay the rent.
Glen tells the story of the Ipswich treble that put he and Sloane back in the black. This was the day he realised he could handle pressure better than most.
The jockey talks of son Tayte and daughter Carter who grew up in Melbourne, and have chosen to make their homes there.
He pays tribute to the NSW trainer who was instrumental in getting him south of the border. He remembers the morning he asked Tommy Smith if he could ride some work for Tulloch Lodge.
Glen vividly recalls his maiden Gr 1 win on the enigmatic Telesto, and several of his subsequent career highlights. There have been so many it’s hard to know where to start.
The champion jockey talks of the days when he had to wear contact lenses in races, and spectacles when he went out to dinner.
Bossy takes us back to the lowest point of his long career- the Macau fall that went within an ace of leaving him quadriplegic. His own diagnosis and the steps he took immediately after the fall, probably prevented total disaster.
Of all the great trainers with whom Glen has been associated, there’s one who left a lasting impression on the great jockey.
This is almost certainly the longest podcast we’ve ever presented. When you talk to an achiever like Glen Boss, time passes quickly.
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Great to catch up with a young horseman who has already made his mark as a trainer and driver at the top level. Brad begins by pointing out the many advantages of being based at Goulburn.
He reflects on the tutelage he received from his late grandfather Tom Hewitt, one of the most respected horsemen of his generation.
Brad talks of the influence Tom had on his sons- David, Bernie and Mark, all highly successful in their own right. He says his Aunt Jenna, the only girl in the Hewitt family wasn’t allowed to drive in races.
The young horseman talks of the trotting genes to be found on the maternal side of his family.
Brad says his brothers have also chosen harness racing as their preferred livelihood- Sam as a trainer and breaker, Scott as a trainer and farrier. Sister Jess also gets a mention.
The thirty year old looks back on the thrill of his first winning drive and his handful of winners at historic Harold Park.
Brad pays tribute to the special horses who’ve helped to launch his career. He speaks with great reverence of his all time favourite Spare Me Days.
He speaks of his great friendship with Canberra Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker, an avid harness racing fan.
For the trots punters Brad highlights a couple of promising young horses in his stable.
He talks of his only Gr 1 winning drive to date. It was Rockin’ Marty in a Breeders Challenge Final. The horse was trained by his father David.
Brad says his partner Milly had no interest in horses when they met but quickly adapted. He and Milly are the proud parents of Ruby who’s almost two and William who arrived only a few weeks ago.
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Great to catch up with John Morrisey, one of the most astute trainers of his generation. John talks about the move from Canberra to the Gold Coast which came as a surprise to many.
The former trainer talks of his time at the well known Capricorn Park training property near Yass.
John takes us back to his childhood on the Northern Rivers and his father’s Ramornie Hcp win with Flecked Marble.
He looks back on the thrill of his own Ramornie win many years later.
John remembers that Ramornie winner, the talented Kidlat.
Morrisey pays tribute to his Gr 1 winners Camarena, Lachlan River and Rockdale with a few good stories along the way.
John fondly remembers talented galloper Here’s The Prince who landed a well orchestrated plunge for the stable in the 1995 Villiers.
He acknowledges the efforts of Here’s The Point, Digger Stakas, Miss Comanche and Kareden- all great money spinners for the stable.
John recounts the story of the day Peter Pascoe arrived with four horses on his truck and told the trainer to see what he could do with them. Two of those horses won 23 races between them.
He talks about the immense loyalty he’s had from owners over the years, and talks about his reputation for timing a horse’s preparation to the minute.
John is obviously disillusioned about the 9 months disqualification he copped when one of his horses returned a positive result to a cobalt test. His frustration hasn’t subsided.
The retired trainer talks about the transition of son Scott into the number one spot.
John pays tribute to Kay, his wife of 50 years. They celebrated recently.
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
It’s unlikely there’s a busier jockey in Australia currently than Hunter Valley based Mikayla Weir. As this podcast is posted Mikayla has had 32 race rides on 8 different race tracks in 10 days. Just for practice she rode in 11 barrier trials at Scone last Wednesday. In an interview recorded on Good Friday she takes us through that horrendous schedule.
The young jockey logs enormous mileage to honour commitments in the North Eastern corner of the state. She explains how she comes to terms with the travelling.
Mikayla takes us back to early days on the South Coast and her introduction to rodeo.
She explains the fundamentals of some of her favourite rodeo pursuits.
Mikayla recalls the fateful day at a Cooma rodeo when she met her partner, professional rodeo star Jock Bone-Langdon.
The 27 year old looks back on her first racing stable job with Kembla trainer Kerry Parker. It was a year before Kerry allowed her to ride trackwork. She was “hooked” from the first moment.
Mikayla reflects on her successful application for an apprenticeship with Hunter Valley trainer Todd Howlett- an apprenticeship which only recently concluded.
The hard working jockey remembers her first race ride and the magical moment of her initial win.
Mikayla acknowledges some of the nice horses who’ve helped to lift her profile in recent times.
She makes special mention of her role model Kathy O’Hara, and expresses her gratitude to the trainers who’ve given her regular support.
The popular jockey talks of the support she receives from partner Jock who gives her the latitude to pursue her chosen career. Mikayla outlines the improvements she and Jock have made to their Jerry’s Plains property. She hints at a future as a trainer.
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
I’ve had several requests over a period of time to organise a podcast with former high profile bookie Bruce McHugh. We actually did just that in August of 2019, but in those early days of the website many missed it. In the 1980’s this was the time of year when Bruce and Kerry Packer would go toe to toe at the big Randwick carnival. It’s an appropriate time to repost that podcast.
Bruce talks of his current interest in racing, and the thoroughbred stallion he stands commercially- the fashionably bred Arlington.
He shares memories of his grandfather Jim who arrived in Australia as a state ward in the late 19th century. Jim McHugh rode an Epsom winner. Bruce remembers him clearly.
Bruce shares wonderful memories of his late father Bill who died in 1999. He remembers his father’s tenuous start as a bookmaker at bush meetings and his elevation to the famous Randwick Flat Enclosure.
He admits he was a born gambler, the prime prerequisite for a future bookie.
Bruce talks fondly of his maternal grandmother Hilda who dabbled in a little bit of bookmaking outside the boundaries of the law.
He recalls a couple of early business enterprises and his low key start as a bookmaker.
Bruce remembers his admission to the Randwick Flat and his gradual transition to the St Leger interstate ring. He was promoted to the main interstate ring with the death of an older bookie. He remembers his main client of the era.
He recalls a chance meeting with Kerry Packer in the Rosehill interstate ring. The bookie next door refused a bet from the media magnate. Bruce accommodated him, and an amazing association began.
The Packer segment in this podcast is wonderful memorabilia. Bruce takes us through some high pressure afternoons with one of the world’s biggest punters. McHugh couldn’t be more frank.
Bruce looks back on the day Packer had a gigantic bet on Myocard in the Sydney Cup only to be beaten by a horse he half owned.
He looks back on 18 rewarding years on the Sydney Turf Club Board, three of those as Chairman. He talks of the AJC/STC merger.
Bruce talks about the massively expensive high court challenge he mounted against a ban on the use of artificial insemination in the thoroughbred industry.
Many theories have been advanced about Bruce’s sudden departure from the bookmaking ranks. He reveals why it was time to go.
This is a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a man who was a major player in the days when the betting ring had as much theatre as the racetrack itself.
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Great to catch up with one of Sydney’s most popular jockeys. Tim talks of his recent Coolmore Classic win on Queensland mare Krone- his 16th Gr 1 success.
Tim looks at his tremendous record with fillies and mares. He says he really hadn’t thought about it too much.
The jockey looks back on his country upbringing and his first apprenticeship to Peter Clancy in the Riverina.
Tim talks about the transfer of his indentures to John O’Shea at Randwick with whom he spent the last 18 months of his apprenticeship. He won the Sydney junior premiership in that season.
The jockey vividly recalls the circumstances that led to his first Gr 1 win.
Tim fondly remembers the wonderful mare Hot Danish who had to be put down in 2011 when she failed to respond to treatment for a massive hind leg infection. He remembers the exciting racing style of the daughter of Nothin’ Leica Dane.
He reflects on his favourite Gr 1 win- the 2011 Doncaster Mile on the noted mudlark Sacred Choice.
Following the passing of Hot Danish the jockey elected to take up a Hong Kong contract. He talks of two successful seasons in the mecca of great jockeys.
Tim remembers Avoid Lightning, the mare who regenerated his career in Sydney. He looks back on his first trip to Perth and the Gr 1 winner he rode for the excitable trainer Gary Moore.
Clarky talks of his two wins in the Gr 1 Flight Stakes. The fillies in question are among his all time favourites.
He elaborates on his reputation as a skilled rider of front runners. He mentions Samadoubt who led throughout to give him two Group victories at Randwick.
The popular jockey talks about family life with wife Jade and daughter Elly. Jade is a sister to talented jockey Josh Parr and daughter of former successful rider Steven Parr.
Tim closes with mention of his love for the NSW Central Coast.
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
A timely podcast with John Messara as the Inglis Easter Sale approaches. John expresses his sadness that this sale will see the auctioning of the last yearlings by his iconic stallion Redoute’s Choice.
John talks of three year old filly Miravalle whose recent success in the Kembla Classic gave Redoute’s Choice his 178th stakes winner.
He talks of Arrowfield’s presence at the Inglis Easter Sale, and his long term association with the famous auction house.
John looks back on the reasons he identified Redoute’s Choice as the horse to replace his own famous sire Danehill.
The founder of Arrowfield profiles the sons of Redoute’s Choice who’ve followed in his footsteps at the famous stud.
The story of John’s acquisition of the legendary Danehill is a great yarn. Nobody tells it better than John himself.
John Messara’s life has been a fascinating journey. He takes us back to his childhood in Egypt and his arrival in Australia at age 11.
The Arrowfield Principal looks back on University days and his acquisition of a Bachelor Of Commerce Degree. That degree led him to his first job with Edwin V Nixon & Partners Chartered Accountants.
His next job was with stockbroking firm Ralph King and Yuill. John’s ability to speak French saw his new employer send him on an important overseas mission.
John reflects on the founding of his own stockbroking company and his long association with the Stock Exchange.
The famous breeder looks back on his low key entry into the breeding and racing world. He pays tribute to some of his early equine favourites.
He looks back on important administrative roles with Racing NSW and the Australian Racing Board and the exciting developments that took place during those years.
John reflects on the challenging task he was asked to undertake by the NZ Government. Many of the recommendations he put forward for the advancement of the NZ racing industry have been adopted.
He pays tribute to Kristine, his wife of 48 years and the mother of his four children Paul, Michael, Louise and Susanne.
With the rain tumbling down in Sydney, John had ample time to spend with us on the podcast. His reflections make for great listening.
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
I first interviewed Bev Buckingham at her Latrobe home in Tasmania during her rehabilitation from injuries received in the Hobart race fall that ended her career in 1998. I saw her again on three occasions over the next few years, but lost touch thereafter. When I spotted a photo of Bev on Twitter recently I launched a successful search for her phone number and thankfully she agreed to this podcast. The trailblazing jockey explains how that photo materialised.
Right off the top I should apologise for some audio glitches over which we had little control. I’m sure you’ll bear with us.
She talks of her family’s move to regional Victoria following her initial rehabilitation, and her brief foray into horse training.
Bev reflects on our visit to the Benalla property where she actually rode a Clydesdale mare for the Sky cameras. It was an emotional moment for us all.
She confesses to flirting with danger some time later when she tried to ride a thoroughbred yearling with disastrous results.
Beverly takes us back to her family’s arrival from England when she was just two years old. Her father was lured to Australia by the government’s call for skilled tradesmen. Their new life began in WA.
The former ace jockey remembers her very first time on a horse. She looks back on the Buckingham family’s move to Tasmania and the friend who talked her father Ted into becoming a horse trainer.
Then it’s fast forward to 1980 when young Bev made her debut as an apprentice jockey in an era of terrible prejudice against female riders.She talks of early winners and the remarkable feat of winning the Tasmanian jockeys premiership in only her second season of riding. She became the first female in the world to win a state title.
Beverly remembers the exciting adventure when she was flown to Sydney by the Nine Network to appear live on Mike Walsh’s Midday Show. She recalls being terrified.
The record breaking jockey talks of her reckless weight reducing measures, and the fateful day when she blacked out while driving to a race meeting. She admits she was lucky to escape with her life.
Bev looks back on favourite horses and some of the landmark occasions in her spectacular career.
She looks back on a stint in Melbourne when her father was invited to take up the option on stables at Ballarat racecourse. She couldn’t believe the opposition to female jockeys in Victoria.
Bev talks of the invitation she got to appear on the popular Bert Newton TV show. She broke new ground by asking the legendary presenter to give her a race ride on one of his own horses. It’s a great yarn!
The groundbreaking jockey looks back on a dream trip to Japan where she rode a couple of winners and came home with some serious money.
The gutsy former jockey was happy to relate the story of the 1998 fall which ended her brilliant career. She takes us through the accident and the immediate aftermath.
Bev takes us through the weeks of pain, despair, frustration, emotional upheaval and the terrible uncertainty of the future. She reveals the insensitive assessment of one particular Doctor.
She talks of her nine years living in Sydney with daughter Tara, the absolute light of her life.
Throughout her life in and out of racing Beverly Buckingham has called a spade a spade. Her trademark honesty is evident all the way through this podcast.