John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
The CEO of the state’s controlling body talks about the 2021 edition of the Interdominion series, to be held over four exciting nights at three top class racetracks. He answers criticism of the decision to conduct two rounds of heats on regional tracks.
John talks of his upbringing in a legendary western districts trotting family. He talks of Ruby Vale Stud at Alectown, a famous breeding farm established by his grandfather William in 1943.
The administrator remembers his early experience with horses and his transition to the race driving ranks. He drove five winners in a brief career. John also looks back on his love of Rugby League and a fleeting Involvement as a player.
John looks back on some of the successful stallions to stand at Ruby Vale Stud.
He remembers his first administrative role as a committee member of the Parkes Harness Racing Club. He later spent two years as President.
John pays tribute to his late father Stan who died very recently and was farewelled by a huge congregation of mourners.
He looks back on his 1988 appointment as administrator and racing manager for the NSWHRC who were then based at Harold Park. He began his new role just two weeks after Peter V/Landys joined the club as CEO. John says Peter’s unique style of management was evident from the beginning.
Dumesny reviews several major events which took place during his time at Harold Park.
He remembers the landmark High Court decision which would bring huge revenue to the racing industry. Race Fields Legislation changed the landscape for the three racing codes.
John remembers the massive refurbishment of the Harold Park precinct which brought a new and lavish grandstand, and a total reconstruction of the iconic Glebe circuit.
He looks back on the financial stress which ultimately brought about the sale of the valuable piece of real estate to development giant Mirvac.
It’s a laid back chat with a man who’s spent his entire adult life in harness racing.
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
It’s always a delight to chat with Darren Gauci who won a million friends during his magnificent riding career. He begins by looking back on his twilight years in the saddle when opportunities were diminishing.
Darren will long remember the send off he was accorded at Caulfield in Feb 2017. He responded in the best possible way by riding a winner. Emotions ran high through the day.
He talks of his current routine as a jockey mentor for Racing Victoria, and the services available to up and coming young riders.
Darren talks of the natural instinct some hopefuls have for riding. He mentions one modern day champion who didn’t have that instinct.
The former champion rider looks back on early wins and his first Group 1 at eighteen years of age. He rated the horse very highly.
Darren remembers the surprise he got when an enthusiastic fan club started to appear at Melbourne race meetings. He reflects on the wisdom of his master Frank King who devised a simple way to keep his feet on the ground.
Darren looks back on his invitation to appear on the top rating television show Young Talent Time. He actually sat on a horse in the Ch 10 studio. He also met his future wife Karen who was a regular on the famous programme.
He talks of Karen’s journey in the racing world, and their wonderful family of four.
Darren looks back on two separate stints in Hong Kong, one brief the other long term. He formed happy associations with two champion trainers.
He talks of his disappointment in failing to ride a Melbourne Cup winner and looks back on three seconds in the great race.
“The Gauch” pays tribute to a select group of champions he got to ride including Super Impose, Lohnro, Octagonal, El Segundo and Shaftesbury Avenue. He makes a surprise admission about his association with Octagonal.
He may surprise you when he acknowledges the best two year old he ever rode.
Darren makes mention of his biography “The Gauch” lovingly crafted by Kristen Manning three years ago. There are still copies available. It’s a wonderful record of an amazing career.
We could have talked about many more career highlights but time caught up. Darren closes with news of an impending event in the Gauci family.
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Great to catch up with a 31 year old jockey who’s nudging 1000 career wins. Ben was sitting in his car at the Armidale racecourse when we tracked him down for this interview. He begins by singing the praises of a promising mare he rode at Grafton recently.
He makes mention of a recent addition to the Port Macquarie training ranks. He’s already forged an association with Paul Shailer, a former Chris Waller Gold Coast stable manager.
Ben pays tribute to the riding talents of his wife Priscilla who quit the saddle to become a Sky Racing host.
He talks about the Wauchope horse property managed by Priscilla and her sister Cassandra. Ben rides frequently for his father-in-law, Grafton trainer Dwayne Schmidt.
Ben looks back on his apprenticeship to Grafton trainer John Shelton, and his first day as a professional jockey.
He reflects on a brief stint with Gai Waterhouse at Randwick. He rode several winners and got to handle some great gallopers in trackwork.
The jockey remembers his hero worship of rising star Zac Purton. They still keep in touch.
Ben speaks glowingly of the brilliant Victorem. He won six races on the Jenny Graham trained flyer including a Country Championship final.
He tells the story of his lucky “pick up” ride on Sacred Day in the Grafton Cup. A hometown win gave him an enormous thrill.
Ben also heaps praise on Kosciuszko winner Belflyer. He had a lot to do with the horse.
He couldn’t be more honest as he looks back on a bout of depression,and the professional help that got him back on track.
Ben reminisces about his most successful days in the saddle.
The young father makes special mention of 11 months old son Ollie who keeps him on his toes.
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Great to catch up with a doyen of western districts racing! Gayna recalls the thrill of her first training win with Scarlet Vixen at Orange in 1985. She paid $1400 for the filly at an Inglis sale.
She talks of her marriage to Frank Williams and a sudden move to Grafton in 2010. She may still be there had Frank not been offered a job at Gulgong.
Gayna talks about seven successful years of training at Mudgee, and a return to Bathurst as recently as 2020.
The talented horsewoman rode trackwork for thirty years but knee problems now keep her on the ground.
Gayna says she was relatively injury free during her many years on the training tracks.
She acknowledges the special horses who’ve helped to keep her at or near the top of the trainer’s ladder for many years.
Gayna makes special mention of recent winners like From The Bush, Zoo Station and Tags who are chasing more wins.
The trainer expounds on the benefits the TAB Highways have brought to country owners and trainers.
Gayna pays tribute to her elderly parents, now in retirement at Port Macquarie.
She’s reluctant to name favourites when it comes to the jockeys who’ve helped her along the way. She had to be coaxed. It’s a laid back chat with an outstanding horse trainer.
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Great to chat with a man who co-founded Hyperion Thoroughbreds, one of the very earliest racehorse syndication companies in Australia. We find out what Allan’s been doing since a crippling recession brought Hyperion’s operation to a halt in 1990.
Allan takes us back to his childhood in Gravesend near Warialda when radio was a way of life to country people. He fell in love with the theatre of racing, the day he listened to the broadcast of the 1956 Melbourne Cup.
He talks of school days in Inverell and his first job at the Valuer General’s Department in Sydney. A job transfer to Moree led him to a friendship with Terry Mulhall, destined to become his business partner in later years.
Allan reflects on the creation of Hyperion Thoroughbreds and the concept of forming larger syndicates than those offered by predecessors.
He recalls the creation of the famous black and pink silks which signalled the emerging popularity of syndication.
He reflects on the tough guidelines introduced by the Corporate Affairs Commission in the 1970’s.
Allan looks back on the extensive methods of communication necessary to keep hundreds of owners informed about their horses.
He acknowledges some of the better horses to keep the Hyperion banner flying, beginning with the cheap Dubbo sale graduate Prince Clarendon.
Allan pays a special tribute to the evergreen Targlish, almost certainly the best horse to represent the company. The remarkable gelding raced 109 times for 17 wins and 31 placings.
He reflects on the ground breaking idea of purchasing a horse to race in America for Australian owners. He pays tribute to So Vague who won 5 races in the USA before being brought to Australia. He later won stakes races in Melbourne for Colin Hayes.
Allan acknowledges the devotion of some special trainers who gave great service to Hyperion Thoroughbreds.
He pays a special tribute to the veteran jockey who rode many winners in the Hyperion colours and frequently helped out behind the scenes.
Allan reflects on the inevitable winding down of the 16 year old company when the recession started to bite. Hyperion was one of hundreds of businesses to be brought to their knees. The last of the horses were placed according the wishes of their owners, and a great era had come to an end. It was a tough day for old mates Gainey and Mulhall.
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Delighted to catch up with a bloke who boasts a racing pedigree to match that of any thoroughbred blueblood. Alan Gollogly is the son of the former successful Queensland jockey of the same name, and the grandson of Fred Best who won 17 Brisbane trainer’s premierships. Throw in his uncle, champion jockey Noel Best for good measure.
“Jock” talks of his current role as official track clocker for top Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.
He talks of the few hectic hours six mornings a week when he has to identify and clock a large number of horses.
“Jock” explains that he was engaged by Kris Lees after being made redundant by the famous form newspaper “Sportsman”.
He talks about his education in the 1960’s at Brisbane’s Nudgee College. His grandfather wasn’t keen for the youngster to work in racing and actually paid his school fees.
“Jock” describes the talents of the late Fred Best who is still talked about by veteran Queensland racing men. He remembers the deeds of his uncle Noel Best whose career was hindered by weight battles.
He pays tribute to his late father who passed away in 1992.
“Jock” looks back on his association with classy sprinter Bengalla Lad. He rode the horse into second place in the 1972 Stradbroke, but thought he’d lose the ride in the Doomben $10,000. A loyal owner made the difference.
The Newcastle clocker recalls an exciting day in 1974 when he rode five winners. He had to go to a couple of racetracks to make it happen.
He reflects on an unlikely win in a Port Moresby Cup. You’ll love the story about the offer he had to ride in an earlier race. He respectfully declined.
“Jock” looks back on a stint in the Queensland outback when he established an extraordinary strike rate. While living in Cunnamulla he received a shock phone call from a racing icon.
He talks of eight months in Hong Kong where he was usually on the longer priced stable runner.
Alan remembers a wonderful sequence of wins at a Grafton July carnival.
He agrees his life changed forever when invited to try his luck at Newcastle by a local trainer. He enjoyed wonderful support from trainers and won a Newcastle jockeys premiership.
The former jockey pays tribute to his greatest fan, 92 year old mother Joyce who’s a fixture at the local TAB.
“Jock” looks back on the shock discovery of a dangerous melanoma which brought the curtain down on his riding career.
He didn’t let the grass grow under his feet. Before long he was working in a leading Newcastle Menswear store and enjoying every minute of it.
He remembers his fleeting comeback two years later. He rode numerous winners but couldn’t regenerate the enthusiasm of old.
“Jock” talks of the opportunities that came his way over the next few years- lengthy stints with the Newcastle Herald, Prime TV, and Sky Racing Radio.
He looks back on a fun day at Randwick in 1994 when the AJC put on a race called “Golden Oldies” for former jockeys who could still do the job. He got himself on a smart one.
“Jock” talks of the two legendary gallopers he got to ride in trackwork.
Finally he pays tribute to long time partner Lindsay who left Brisbane to join him in Newcastle almost four decades ago.
It’s a laid back yarn with a good teller of tales.
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Thanks to a devoted Melbourne racing historian we were able to access fifty year old recordings of race wins by Dual Choice. Listening to the calls I was reminded of the talents of this flying daughter of Showdown.
A quick spot of research, a scripting of the Dual Choice story and some good work from Supernova Sound and we had ourselves a podcast- a podcast for old timers like me, and those who like to hear about a good horse from any era.
My thanks to Dennis Najim, Bert Bryant and John Russell. Let’s head down memory lane.
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
Keagan is counting down the minutes to a specialist appointment on November 10th when he hopes to gain a clearance to ride again. He talks about the seemingly harmless tumble at Hawkesbury that left him with multiple injuries.
He reflects on a wonderful season that brought him more than a century of winners and a provincial premiership.
Keagan talks of his South African childhood and induction into the famed Durban Jockeys Academy.
He reminisces about his very first winning ride for his master Duncan Howells on the Scottsville track and his transfer to the legendary trainer Mike De Kock.
Keagan looks back on the surprise offer from the United Arab Emirates. De Kock encouraged him to grab the opportunity. He actually won a different kind of Gr 1 race in Dubai.
He talks of the chance meeting with a famous jockey which led to a riding stint in Ireland. He had four good seasons there.
Keagan reflects on a flying visit to England which brought him a Gr 2 win.
The much travelled jockey looks back on a short stint in Mauritius.
He talks of a return to the UK and a relationship with a young lady who worked for a prominent trainer. That lady is now Mrs Keagan Latham.
The story of his move to Australia and his first morning at Randwick trackwork makes for interesting listening.
Keagan talks of his first winning ride in Australia and a hurried trip back to England for his marriage to Nancy.
He reflects on his gradual rise through the ranks in NSW and his decision to concentrate on the provincial and near country circuit.
Keagan talks about his trackwork involvement. He attends when not travelling a long distance to a race meeting.
He acknowledges the trainers who’ve given him continued support and talks about a Scone Cup win for Maher/Eustace.
The jockey talks about the major Queensland win which eventuated when the winner of the race returned a positive swab.
Keagan talks about his unusual recreation away from racing- a different kind of horsepower.
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Kylie Gavenlock’s early life revolved around her devotion to horses and her love for the NSW Central Coast. Now at age 57 Kylie is still based at Gosford, and is in her fourth decade as a professional trainer. She begins by talking about the Gosford Race Club’s plans for expansion as a training centre.
Kylie talks of the 75 acre property at nearby Somersby which gives her horses the “best of both worlds”.
The trainer pays tribute to her elderly Mum who still helps out around the farm.
Kylie looks back on her early days as a trackwork rider and pays tribute to the veteran trainers who helped to get her started.
The talented horsewoman talks of teenage daughter Skye and husband Terry, a former top flight Rugby League forward.
She pays a fitting tribute to pioneer syndicator Harry Lawton, one of the first to recognise her affinity with horses.
Kylie looks back on the special horses who’ve shaped her career.
She speaks affectionately of a talented apprentice who has since developed into a multiple Gr 1 winning jockey.
Kylie talks about her association with John Singleton, another owner to appreciate her ability with horses.
She closes by acknowledging the efforts of a long time stable foreman and two valued track riders.
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.