John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
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.
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Jon Grisedale tried to quit the saddle when he suffered a complicated leg break at Kembla Grange in 2013. He actually announced his retirement but couldn’t resist the urge to start riding trackwork again.
Eight years down the track he’s enjoying his job more than ever.
He begins by acknowledging the long priced winner he rode on the Gold Coast on Saturday for veteran trainer Lennie Wheeler.
Jon explains the reason he and his wife Donna moved from Kembla to Coffs Harbour in 2018.
He talks of the wonderful facilities available to trainers at the Coffs racecourse and the nearby beach.
The evergreen jockey talks of Donna’s ten year stint with the legendary Jack Denham. She credits her training career to the lessons learned in that decade.
Jon talks of his passion for riding trackwork. Six mornings a week he handles 15 or 16 horses. One day recently he went beyond that number.
The jockey talks of his English roots and his original apprenticeship to Bede Horan- the man who moulded his career.
Jon looks back on the heady days when he became number three rider for the giant Nebo Lodge operation and the champion trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith.
He pays tribute to the best horse he rode during his time with Nebo Lodge.
Grisedale reflects on his association with the young NZ trainer who set up shop at Rosehill in 2006. He rode a great deal of trackwork for Chris Waller and was on several of his early winners.
Jon talks of the resurgence of older jockeys in recent years. He’s proud to be one of them. This is a stroll down memory lane with a highly respected jockey.
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Now in her final season as an apprentice 27 year old Jessica is totally focused on maintaining her current lead over Todd Pannell on the SA premiership ladder. She transferred from Melbourne to Adelaide in the hope she might pick up a few more rides. She has to pinch herself to realise she’s Adelaide’s top jockey halfway through the season.
Jess says she’d received a few offers from Michael Hickmott to move to Murray Bridge before she finally bit the bullet.
The young jockey reflects on her childhood at Mt Waverley in Melbourne and her formative years at Monash and Nunawading pony clubs.
Jess looks back on her first job with trainer Danny O’Brien and subsequent stints with Mick Kent and Mick Price. She says it was Mick Price who encouraged her to become a jockey.
She talks about her inauspicious debut, her first win at Avoca and her first metro win. The latter happened in the most unlikely place.
Jess talks of later apprenticeships with Brett Cavanough and the O’Sullivans at Stawell. She reluctantly recalls some nasty injuries.
The jockey elaborates on her sixth and final stable association with John and Chris Meagher at Mornington.
She speaks affectionately of her short but successful stay in Singapore at the end of the 2018/2019 season.
Jess talks of the high standard of riding in South Australia and the lucky break she got on her first day of riding in the state.
She acknowledges the best horses she’s ridden in SA and the trainers who’ve given her strong support. She’s a charming girl and it shows.
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Great to catch up with Bart Sinclair OAM who retired from his role as Racing Editor of the Brisbane Courier Mail in 2012, after four decades of trusted racing journalism. The Racing Queensland Hall of Fame Inductee begins by outlining his current role with the Brisbane Racing Club.
Bart pays tribute to his father and namesake Bart Sinclair Snr who had great success as a jockey and trainer. Young Bart never saw his father ride, but learned of his talents from old time racing men as he was growing up.
He talks of his Dad’s association with Berborough. Bart Snr thought he had the mount on the occasion of Bernborough’s Sydney debut, but was doomed to disappointment.
Bart remembers a betting coup his father orchestrated in Brisbane with an unsound horse called Bindana. Bart Snr. patched up another unsound horse called Mullala to win the 1963 Stradbroke.
Bart Jnr reflects on his father’s Derby win with Minto Crag and the many races he won with Oxford King- a horse he bought for 300 guineas.
The eminent journalist reflects on his childhood around the stables and his friendship with another budding jockey who remains a great friend to this day.
Bart talks of his many visits to Sydney with his Dad, and his passion for the famous Doncaster Hcp. One particular Doncaster is etched in his memory.
He remembers the scholarship win which introduced him to the man destined to become his mentor, and a great influence on his life.
Bart looks back on his early introduction to radio and television and the special people from whom he learned the business.
He talks of his lifetime affinity with the suburb of Ascot and nearby Eagle Farm racecourse. He and Judy moved away for a short time, but quickly returned.
Bart pays tribute to Judy and his two daughters.
The seventy year old looks back on the infamous Fine Cotton scandal, and the “caffeine case” which proved an embarrassment to Queensland racing chiefs.
Bart reflects on the remarkable Rough Habit- the New Zealand horse Queenslanders took into their hearts.
He talks of his involvement with Brisbane’s popular Bernborough Club which brings racing men together several times a year, and contributes thousands of dollars to charity. It’s a good chat with Bart Sinclair OAM.
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Danny’s family and friends were surprised in 2017 when the popular jockey quit the saddle with 2000 wins under his belt. They were even more surprised recently when he announced a comeback. He talks of his reasons for returning to the saddle, and reviews his first day back at Kranji on Saturday.
He explains that he’s been riding trackwork and in barrier trials during his four year hiatus, enabling him to keep his weight in check.
Dan talks about some of the great riding talent he’ll be facing every week at Kranji.
The 18 time Gr 1 winner recalls his very first win at Corowa in 1993 and looks back on apprenticeships with Peter Maher at Wodonga and Lee Freedman at Flemington. He acknowledges the support of Freedman’s neighbour David Hayes.
Dan has never forgotten the day he was contacted by Graeme Begg who offered him two rides at Rosehill. Both horses won, and Danny finished up completing his apprenticeship with the Randwick trainer.
The jockey talks about his experiment with the European riding style, and the thrill of winning his first Gr 1.
Dan pays tribute to his all time favourite horse, the remarkable Grand Armee. He won 6 Gr 1’s on the versatile galloper.
He reviews a sequence of major wins in Australia and Singapore.
Danny’s wife Ash is of Malaysian origin, and the couple are the proud parents of a son and two daughters. He has a 17 year old son from his first marriage to Karen, and Baxter will be watching his comeback performances closely.
The 45 year old talks of his passion for harness racing. It’s the thing he’s missed most of all since going to Singapore.
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Great to talk to Tony Erhart who could be the only 73 year old in Australia who’s still riding regular trackwork on a metropolitan racecourse. He says he’s never enjoyed it more.
He talks of his unexpected heart bypass surgery in 2014. He didn’t see it coming!
A year after his major surgery, Tony went close to becoming the oldest winning rider on a Queensland metropolitan track when he was beaten narrowly on Top Tone at Doomben.
Tony retired from race riding to become chief work rider for his wife Lorraine. He had barely started his new role when a freak accident left him with a broken femur.
He says he intended to stay out of the saddle but last October it got the better of him.
Tony talks of childhood days at Gympie, his happy times at pony club, and the disappointment he experienced the first time he tried for an apprenticeship. He approached another trainer and got the job.
He has never forgotten his debut at a defunct Gold Coast racecourse. Nor has he forgotten the buzz of riding his first winner out of town and his first on a metropolitan track.
Tony still can’t believe he was able to win a Brisbane jockey’s premiership as an apprentice. He pays tribute to a couple of his early major winners.
He reflects on his association with Tommy Smith who used his services frequently at the Brisbane winter carnival in the 60’s and 70’s.
Tony talks about his love of two year olds. He had a magic touch with the “babies” and won a string of major Brisbane juvenile races.
The veteran jockey acknowledges the talents of several riders of his era.
Lorraine Erhart joins the conversation to pay tribute to Tony’s great contribution to her Eagle Farm training operation.
She looks back on a little piece of history she shared with Bernadette Cooper. It’s believed Lorraine and Bernie were the first successful female jockey/trainer combination to win on a Queensland track.
Lorraine is the founder and manager of a wonderful fundraising operation called Stilettos and Saddles. She explains that the concept was designed to brighten the lives of racing people who’ve fallen on hard times.
You’ll enjoy our catch up with the Erharts.
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Great to catch up with one of Australian racing’s most respected figures. Sandy speaks to us from Gunnong- Jugrawah, the family property near Gundagai where all of the Tait champions first saw the light of day. Please note this interview was recorded on Sunday Feb 7th prior to Cherry Tortoni racing in the C.S.Hayes at Flemington in which he finished fourth.
Sandy begins by summarising the career thus far of the promising Cherry Tortoni, the most recent metropolitan winner to carry the famous red and white silks.
He takes us back to a sprinter called Stirrup Cup who wasn’t an elite performer but a genuine little sprinter whose flashy markings made him a crowd favourite in the 1950’s.
Sandy shares his memories of Fil Allotta, the talented Randwick trainer who prepared horses owned by his parents for almost four decades.
The popular owner talks of Dark Jewel’s lacklustre racing career. Nobody in the family expected her to reach such dizzy heights as a broodmare.
Sandy acknowledges all of Dark Jewel’s winning foals with special emphasis on elite performers Cabochon and Baguette.
Daisy Tait who died in the early 90’s became very well known for her imaginative naming of family horses. Sandy remembers her efforts in the pre Google era.
He pays tribute to Neville Begg who became the family trainer when Fil Allotta retired in the early 80’s.
Sandy talks of one of his favourites, the brilliant mare Spinning Hill- yet another descendant of Dark Jewel.
We leave racehorses briefly to talk of Sandy’s achievements on the polo field.
He speaks with great warmth of the horse who gave him and sister Jill the ride of a lifetime. He still can’t believe Tie The Knot won 21 races for $6.2 million in prize money. Those wins included thirteen at Gr 1 level.
Sandy pays the most heartfelt of tributes to Tie the Knot’s trainer Guy Walter.
The dedicated racing man talks of his sister Jill and sons Ollie and James. Ollie and his wife Amber run the beautifully appointed Twin Hills Stud near Cootamundra. They are emerging as very serious commercial breeders. James runs the property for his father, and doubles as Sky Racing’s Southern Districts race caller.
Sandy and jill enjoy racing a few horses in the Riverina. Sandy acknowledges the efforts of his local trainer Tim Donnelly.
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Great to catch up with a man who’s been a household name in the Queensland training ranks. He begins by dismissing the popular belief that he’s close to retirement.
Rex talks of his love for the Darling Downs and the reasons he’s never wanted to train elsewhere. He looks back on a rural childhood and his three earliest pursuits- dairying, the raising of beef cattle and the harvesting of grain.
The veteran trainer talks of his twenty years in a variety of roles at Queensland’s well known Eureka Stud owned by Col McAlpine. Rex decided to go training when Col’s son Scott took over from his father.
Rex pays tribute to two special horses who got him away to a flying start as a trainer in his own right. He recalls his association with the legendary Jim Atkins.
He remembers a trip to Sydney and some memorable conversations with legendary trainer Neville Begg.
Rex looks back on two Weetwood Hcp wins and four Toowoomba Cups.
He pays tribute to several of his all time favourite horses including Star Shiraz who provided his first Gr 1 win.
The trainer acknowledges the talents of some of his all time favourite jockeys.
Rex nominates a couple of “profit pointers” from his fourteen horse team. Great to swap a few racing yarns with a legend of Queensland racing