John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Great to catch up with the man who won last year’s Kosciuszko with Handle The Truth and hopes to do it again with the same horse next month.
Keith talks about his great day at Wagga last week when he dominated the programme.
He talks about the thrill of winning the rich Kosciuszko last year and the training regime he’s following with Handle The Truth this time around.
Keith talks about the bad habits the gelding displayed early in his career.
The veteran trainer talks about the line breeding theory that brought Handle The Truth into the world, and the racing name suggested by breeder Louie Mihalyka.
He looks back on his first job as a rouseabout in a Dubbo shearing shed and later involvement as a concrete truck contractor.
Keith looks back on the valuable lessons he received from a veteran Canberra trainer.
He reflects on the deeds of his very first winner, and the good horses that eventually came into his stables.
Keith remembers the time he overspent his budget on a colt he selected with syndicator Louie Mihalyka whose Laurel Oak company was getting on its feet.
He reviews the career of the colt known as Into The Night who went on to win ten times his purchase price.
Keith recalls his brush with racing royalty when Lester Piggot won on one of his horses during a world farewell tour.
Keith looks at the future prospects of some promising horses who’ll soon be back in work following a winter break.
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
We catch up with a former Hawkesbury trainer who surprised friends and clients when he slipped away from racing four years ago. Warwick explains the reasons for his departure.
He gives the impression he hasn’t completely dismissed a return to training down the track.
Warwick looks back on his childhood days in the saddle, and gives great credit to the work being done by the Pony Club movement around Australia. He remembers his transition to showjumpers.
He recalls riding trackwork for his father at Hawkesbury , and a brief career as an amateur jockey.
Warwick looks back on work experience in the Ray Guy stable, a short stint on a stud farm and his first experience as a trainer in his own right.
He looks back on a decade operating his own poultry farm at Kellyville.
The sixty six year old recalls his modest start as a full time trainer and pays tribute to a few special horses who got him on his way.
Warwick capsulises the career of Prince Trialia, the horse who didn’t attract a bid at the yearling sales. He delights in telling the story of the little horse who went on to win $692,000 and two Doomben $10,000’s (then the Castlemaine Stakes).
The former trainer tells a great story about his brush with racing royalty- the day renowned English jockey Lester Piggot rode one of his horses at a Wellington Boot meeting.
Warwick makes special mention of 5 time metro winning mare Lady Bureaucrat and her full brother Mr. Bureaucrat who gave him his third Gr 1- the 2002 Doomben Cup.
He tells the story of his chance meeting with the owners of the former Group 1 winner Straussbrook. The horse was near death with a chronic scouring complaint. How Warwick brought him back to health and got him back to the races is an amazing story.
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Delighted to catch up with outstanding Sydney trainer John Thompson who’s coming off a great 2019/2020 season. John acknowledges the deeds of his “war horse” Dreamforce and the exciting Mamaragan who’s gearing up for an ambitious Spring campaign.
The trainer pays tribute to some other stable favourites who did their bit in 2019/2020.
John shares memories of his late grandfather Vic Thompson Snr, one of the most astute horseman of his era.
He looks back on his father’s appointment as head trainer when Jack and Bob Ingham opened their lavish Crown Lodge complex at Warwick Farm.
The trainer reflects on Vic Thompson Jnr’s split with Crown Lodge . His Dad decided to train a small team of his own, with John as his right hand man.
John talks about his later decision to spread his wings and work for other trainers. He enjoyed his time with Bill Mitchell who sent him interstate with a very good horse in 1999.
He speaks with great reverence of his 8 years with the maestro Bart Cummings.
John tells the story of the phone call that led him to the biggest training job in Australian racing.
He remembers the best horses he trained under the Patinack banner including a very special mare who had only 4 race starts.
The trainer tells the story of a chance meeting with an Asian racing administrator who invited him to help with the structuring of a racing industry in China. It was just the diversion he needed at the time.
That Asian connection brought a certain mare into his life- the mare who regenerated his training career at home.
He was extremely relieved when some discerning owners started to send him horses again. One such owner was Paul Fudge who got John to take over the training of the imported Sir John Hawkwood. It resulted in a Gr 1 win.
John talks of his wife Nicolle who’s a daughter of former multiple Gr 1 winning trainer Rod Craig. He says he gets his father-in-law to help out from time to time.
He explains that the racing genes haven’t extended to the next Thompson generation.
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
The champion jockey talks about his decision to base himself in Sydney at the expiration of a 15 months disqualification incurred in Hong Kong.
Nash will never forget his return to race riding at Kembla Grange in July 2019. He says it was a day of high emotion.
He talks of the exciting Randwick wins that put him straight back into his position among Sydney’s best jockeys.
The forty five year old talks of the influence of his father Keith, a remarkable horseman who’s still riding work in his mid 70’s. Nash makes special mention of his jockey siblings.
Nash recalls two apprenticeships- one to his uncle Stuart, the other to John Sadler.
He pays tribute to two trainers who gave him great support when he came out of his time.
The jockey looks back on his association with the brilliant Elvstroem who took him all over the world.
Nash remembers exactly what he was doing when a life changing phone call came from Gai Waterhouse.
He reviews the special horses to take him to racing’s dizziest heights, with special mention of Pierro and More Joyous.
Nash can’t hide his pride at the achievements of his son Campbell who rode 75 winners in Victoria in his first season.
He concludes the interview with comments on two very good horses he’ll be riding through the Spring Carnival.
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
John recalls the tragedy that dealt the cruellest of blows to the Ledger family- the Corowa race fall that claimed the life of twenty five year old son Adrian.
The trainer acknowledges the tremendous work being done by the National Jockeys Trust to assist the families of jockeys killed or injured in the racing industry.
John reflects on his acquisition of a nearby property he named in honour of his late son. He talks of the support he receives from sons, Chris,Brad, Travis and wife Kerri.
The outstanding horseman looks back on the special horses who’ve shaped his training career, and makes special mention of valued client Mick Price.
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
In part 1 John talks about his decision to move the training operation from Yarrawonga to Wangaratta when the travelling started to wear him down.
He looks back on the establishment of his state of the art complex on twenty acres behind the Wangaratta racecourse.
John takes us back to childhood days at Mulwayla where his love affair with horses began.
He looks back on his time in the show jumping arena and one special horse who took him to lofty heights.
John pays tribute to his late brother George who died much too soon in 1998. He talks of Rich Fields Lad, the best horse George ever trained.
He explains why he was forced to take out a trainer’s licence, and the special horses who kick started a new phase of his career.
John talks of the horse he inherited after George’s passing. He went on to win 15 races with the free striding Brave Chief including 11 in town. He recalls the frightening colic attack which could have taken Brave Chief’s life.
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
The popular caller and radio host talks about his recent retirement from the airwaves, and his intention to continue with another of his skills- the art of auctioneering.
Kim talks about his reaction to calling home a winner at Walcha recently at odds of $126.00- he remained composed even though he part owned the mare.
He talks of his love of riding and his first lesson at age 4.
Kim talks of his education at the famous Scots College where one of his mates was the future father of a champion jockey.
The versatile commentator has never forgotten the day his uncle took him to an Inglis sale. It had an enormous impact on the teenager.
Kim looks back on frequent visits to the greyhounds and his race calling practice sessions at Harold Park and Canterbury.
He looks back on the country clubs to get him started as a race caller, and the chance meeting with a former NSW Premier that led to a job with a Sydney radio station.
Kim reflects on the tragic road accident that claimed the life of his wife Barbara twelve years ago. He talks of the son and daughter who between them, have given him five grandchildren.
The 69 year old has been following racing very closely since the early 70’s. He pays tribute to his favourite horse of that era. You might be surprised.
He talks of his all time favourite country horse, an iron gelding who won 36 races on NSW tracks in the 1990’s.
Kim makes special mention of the best horse he’s ever owned or part owned.
He nominates his favourite jockey from yesteryear, and his current favourite.
Kim closes with a look at his immediate plans in the auctioneering business.
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Michael expresses his delight at winning his second consecutive Melbourne junior title.
The twenty one year old talks of the enormous influence racing had on his early life. It was the main topic of conversation in the family.
Michael recalls the moment he knew he wanted to be a jockey.
He talks of early experience with the Stockdale stable and subsequent apprenticeship to Stuart Webb. He didn’t think he’d ever get to ride a racehorse.
Michael delights in telling the story about the budding superstar who gave him his first winning ride.
The young jockey talks of his exciting trip to France for the Longines Prix Future Racing Stars series.
He pays tribute to the great old horse who provided his first city win.
Michael talks of the generosity of champion jockey Craig Williams.
He acknowledges the horses who’ve helped him win two premierships.
Michael talks of his father’s influence on his career, and the reason he elected to ride under another name.
The young jockey speaks of the tragic loss of his mother Janelle earlier this year.
He looks back on his only Gr 1 ride to date, courtesy of Team Hawkes.
Michael looks at the future without his weight allowances.
Tuesday Jul 28, 2020
Tuesday Jul 28, 2020
Saw a bloke called Dale Smith ride a few Brisbane winners over the last month and was curious about his background. It was obvious he’d had plenty of experience so I tracked him down for a podcast.
Dale and his partner Melissa Taylor made a snap decision to move to Queensland a couple of years ago. He talks about the reason for such an important move after two decades in Victoria.
He acknowledges the trainers who immediately offered him support once he started riding work at Eagle Farm.
Dale talks of a recent relocation to the Sunny Coast where he’s riding work for several trainers and Melissa has procured stables for her ten horse team.
The jockey takes us back to childhood days in the Kimberleys and his late father’s successful riding career. He reflects on his dad’s battle with cancer.
Dale recalls his schooling in Perth and an apprenticeship to a leading trainer. He’s very honest about an attitude problem he suffered as a teenager.
He looks back on a move to Victoria orchestrated by a family friend who was actually his Godfather.
Dale reminisces about a new boss in Melbourne and the important early winners to get him on his way as a jockey. He remembers his transfer to Leon McDonald’s Flemington stables.
He pays a special tribute to trainer Mick Price who gave him many opportunities over a long period of years. He makes special mention of a few favourite horses from the era.
Dale looks back on the young lady who was riding trackwork for Mick Price who happened to catch his eye. Melissa Taylor is now his partner and mother of his young daughter Aleera.
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
The young trainer looks back on his first Saturday night Menangle double recently.
He talks of his annual migration to sunny Queensland to escape the southern winter. Dean looks at the four horse team he’s taken north this year.
The trainer pays tribute to Game Set Major, a horse he helped deliver at birth. He’s lost plenty of sleep over the gelding in recent times.
Dean goes back to childhood days at Moss Vale and his introduction to the standardbred horse.
He speaks with great affection of his early winning drives, especially his maiden win at the famous Harold Park track.
Dean pays tribute to his wife Rikki and children Lucy and Harry- all horse lovers.
He talks of his day to day training sessions on the little showground track at Gunning, between Goulburn and Canberra.
The trainer reviews the deeds of the horses who’ve helped his career.
Dean juggles his training commitments to accommodate a little floor sanding business he’s operated for some years. He explains how he makes it work.