John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
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
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Hard to believe it’s coming up 13 years since Greg Childs brought down the curtain on a career that brought him a special place among the top riders of his generation. He begins by outlining his current role as a manufacturer and distributor of equine safety vests.
Greg takes us back to his apprenticeship at Hawera on the North Island, and pays tribute to the first top horse he got to ride. He also makes mention of another “gun” apprentice who was rising rapidly through the ranks.
He talks of his first trip overseas at the invitation of an American friend. He rode 7 winners in a short time and competed on some iconic race tracks.
Greg recalls his very first trip to Melbourne with trainers Ray Verner and Peter Hurdle. He ran third in the 1990 Melbourne Cup which really whetted his appetite for Australian racing.
The former champion jockey reminisces about the horses and horsemen who got him started in a new country. It was a three months trial period. He never returned to NZ.
Greg talks of a Hong Kong win on the top mare Romanee Conti, and his first Melbourne premiership win- a performance that earned him a special accolade.
He looks back on Group 1 wins on the talented South Aussie Gold Guru and an exciting straight six win on Final Card to give young Anthony Cummings his first success at the elite level.
Admirers of a good horse will hang on every word as Greg remembers his fantastic journey with Sunline, and his unbeaten winning streak on Northerly.
He talks of his twin children Tayla and Jordan who’ve made flying starts to their riding careers. Greg gives us an insight into those special occasions when he offers advice to the kids.
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Great to catch up with 83 year old Les Bridge who has maintained an amazing winning strike rate throughout his long career. Les found an unattended TV monitor to watch the running of the TAB Everest by himself.
He talks of the circumstances that brought Classique Legend into his stable and the short but spectacular racing career of the horse he rates the best he’s ever trained.
Les says he knew he’d be losing the horse after The Everest but will now concentrate on other horses in his stable owned by Bon Ho.
The veteran horseman talks of his family’s friendship with the legendary broadcaster Ken Howard who died in 1976. He remembers spending many days in Ken’s broadcast box in the days before commentators were allowed on course.
Les goes back to his days as an apprentice jockey. He rode a few winners but didn’t rate himself at all as a race rider. He does recall two well known horses he got to ride.
He talks of the flying start he made as a professional trainer. At first he seemed to have a stableful of stayers but that all changed when Sir Dapper came along.
Les reflects on the deeds of the wonderful Sir Dapper who won 13 from only 18 starts. He also gave the trainer his first Gr 1 victory. He was sorry to see the son of Vain retire to stud very early.
Les got back to training stayers when Kensei came out of the blue. Carefully managed and beautifully placed the son of Blarney Kiss peaked on the day to win the 1987 Melbourne Cup with Larry Olsen up. Les shares his memories of a great journey with Kensei.
He remembers a lightly framed, plain looking little horse called Drawn who belied his looks to win three Gr 1’s.
Many will be surprised to learn that Hot Danish is the trainer’s all time favourite horse. Les gives his reasons.
Les has used the services of several top class jockeys over the years. He pays tribute to some of them.
He talks of the tragic loss of his wife Peggy six years ago.
The great horseman speaks of his health scare last year when hospitalised with gangrenous appendix.
This is one for those racing fans who’ve been around for a while.
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
There was plenty of excitement at the Inglis Classic sale a few years ago, when a new vendor sold a sale topping grey colt by Not A Single Doubt. That colt has since won 6 races including last year’s TAB Everest. That seller Linda Monds is much better known today.
Linda talks of the apprehension she and husband Laurence felt when they took on the well established breeders.
She talks of her original purchase of broodmares which included Pinocchio, the grey mare destined to become Classique Legend’s dam.
Linda talks of Classique Legend’s half brother Aethero who went to a Hong Kong buyer as a yearling. He’s already a Gr 2 winner. She also sings the praises of another half brother, the unraced Fairy Legend who’s in the care of John and Gary Moore.
She talks of her involvement in the Behemoth story. The giant gelding was born and reared at Linda’s Tyreel Stud before being sold as a weanling.
Linda talks of her husband Laurence who plays a major role in the day to day running of Tyreel Stud in the Hawkesbury Valley. Sons Ben and Blake work away from the farm, but help out when needed.
She talks of the all night vigils during the foaling season and pays tribute to the dedicated Tyreel team.
Linda talks of her association with Inglis and her upcoming draft at the Classic Sale 7-9 February.
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Great to catch up with a trailblazer of the early Sydney female training ranks. Helen talks about her move from Warwick Farm to the Gold Coast in 1997- a decision she has never regretted.
She talks of the loyal new owners who supported the stable when she arrived in Queensland, and three new acquisitions from the Gold Coast Sale.
The talented horsewoman highlights two outstanding horses she’s had the pleasure to train from her Gold Coast stables.
Helen takes us back to her childhood days at Warialda (NSW) and her earliest introduction to horses. She pays tribute to parents Bob and Rosalie who loved horses as much as she did.
She tells the story of the wonderful Xmas day when she and her brother got the surprise of their lives.
Helen talks of Uni days at Armidale and her subsequent experience as an Infants School teacher- she loved every minute of her work at some remote country schools.
The trainer looks back on a transfer to Sydney and her second job as a trackwork rider for Tommy Smith.
Helen’s love of the show horse led her to Moliere, a former racehorse who went on to become a legend on the circuit. How she loved that horse!
She reflects on her snap decision to become a trainer. She put one of her show horses into training to win her first race at Wyong.
Helen talks of her first city winner, and the T.J Smith “cast-off” Haida Prince. She won the Gr 2 Todman trial with the former rogue.
The trainer pays tribute to her favourite horses with special mention of Magnolia Hall. This was the horse to provide her supreme racing thrill when he finished third in a Melbourne Cup.
Helen acknowledges the talents of two star stable apprentices John Powell and Shane Edmonds.
She gives much of the credit for her success to husband John Page, a former top trainer in the tough Sydney market. John won hundreds of races, but is best remembered for his wizardry with the unsound triple Derby winner Royal Sovereign.
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Great to catch up with 78 year old Leon Fox now in retirement in his hometown of Inverell. Leon trained horses for 20 years following a stellar riding career which saw him dubbed the “George Moore of the bush”.
Leon begins by paying tribute to his father Les Fox to whom he was apprenticed. He talks of his ordinary effort on the occasion of his first race ride, and the thrill of his first win in a little border town called Texas.
He talks of a very successful apprenticeship and the approaches he got from Sydney trainers who were keen to use his allowance.
Leon was overawed to rub shoulders with legends like Ted McMenamin, Darby Munro and Jim Pike.
The former ace jockey reflects on the day he shared in a precious piece of racing history. Two wins on the same day on the same horse at a Warwick Farm Saturday meeting.
Leon remembers the contract he was offered when Hong Kong racing went professional in the early 70’s. He stayed for 8 years.
He has some wonderful tales to tell about his Hong Kong experience, including a bomb scare at Happy Valley.
Leon talks of his association with some legendary jockeys including the man who rode to fame and fortune on the back of Secretariat.
Fox talks of his return to Australia and the life of a bush jockey. He reflects on the many highlights of his years on Northern NSW tracks, including the horrific fall in the 1988 Inverell Cup. He stayed on his feet to win that Cup.
Leon says he was one of the lucky ones when it comes to injury. He did however miss 27 months at one stage with a complicated leg break.
He pays tribute to the two bush jockeys for whom he had special admiration.
Leon looks back on one extraordinary sequence of wins he achieved on North Western tracks.
Switching to his years as a trainer, he talks affectionately of his favourite horse Tree Lopper.
The accomplished horseman makes special mention of sons Alan and Tim, and his devoted wife Jenny.
Leon was a bit of a fashion plate during his racing days. It was common to see him turn up at a bush meeting dressed to the nines. He doesn’t deny it!
For veteran racing men and for younger fans curious about Australian racing in the 50’s through to the 80’s, this is a must listen podcast.
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
It’s great to catch up with Tommy Berry who’s currently in second place on both the NSW and metropolitan jockeys premierships. Tom talks about the fierce competition in the Sydney riding ranks.
He outlines his very busy trackwork format.
Tom talks about his apprenticeship to his father and chief tutor Kevin Berry.
The champion young jockey looks back on a frightening accident which could have turned him off horses forever.
He looks back on his inauspicious debut at Hawkesbury, and an exciting maiden win at Newcastle on a mare trained by his father.
Tommy reflects on his Magic Millions win on Karuta Queen and the unforgettable thrill of his first Gr 1.
He looks back on a thrilling Gr 1 double at Randwick in 2012. The two races were only 45 minutes apart.
The twenty nine year old pays tribute to the filly who gave him the first of his two Golden Slipper wins. He wasn’t even sure he’d retain the Slipper ride at one stage.
He reminisces about his first Gr 1 for the Waller stable and the injury sustained by his mother Julie only 24 hours earlier.
Tommy is heavy hearted as he talks about the loss of his twin brother Nathan who had taken ill during a riding stint in Singapore. He remembers the imported horse who lifted his spirits after the family tragedy.
He looks back on his two rides on Winx- a win in the Phar Lap Stakes, and an unlucky fifth in the Vinery stud stakes.
Tom reflects on his amazing association with Chautauqua- 5 Gr 1 wins including the T.J Smith three times. Memories of the third one still give him tingles.
He has mixed feelings about his involvement with Hong Kong racing. Some of his short term visits were very successful. His long term association with John Moore had its ups and downs. He did ride a couple of special horses in Hong Kong.
Tommy acknowledges Pierata- the horse to regenerate his career following his return from Hong Kong. He was thrilled to get the job done for an old Warwick Farm mate in trainer Greg Hickman.
The top jockey pays tribute to his wife Sharnee who was the first to recognize her husband’s battle with depression in 2019. She made him do something about it.
Tommy gives us a run down on life with four young children on his Dural farm.
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
It’s now twelve years since Norm Lang put away the harness and hopples for the last time. The game of bowls now commands his full attention.
The eighty five year old has vivid memories of his exciting journey with Steel Jaw- the $5000 horse he took from a maiden pace to a NZ Cup in a very short time. He covers the whole Steel Jaw story, and for trots fans it’s riveting listening.
Norm takes us back to his days as an Ampol agent at Mittagong, and his introduction to trotting by local trainer George Walton.
He remembers his first winning drive at Canowindra and the near accident before he even left the parade yard.
The veteran horseman recalls his purchase of a broodmare and the success he had with her two foals.
Norm pays tribute to a select group of horses who took him to a prominent spot on the Harold Park trainer’s ladder.
He talks about the reputation he enjoyed of being able to keep horses up for long periods of time.
Norm quit race driving in the 1991/92 season but continued to train for another 17 years. He explains the reason for that surprise decision.
Sounding much younger than his 85 years, Norm Lang reviews a very rewarding career.