John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Great to catch up with the voice of NSW central west racing. Col Hodges covers meetings at 25 venues and is a living legend in the region.
He talks of a happy childhood at Bogan Gate (NSW) and school days at the curiously named Gunning Gap, a push bike ride from the family farm.
The veteran commentator recalls his fascination with the ABC race callers of the 1950’s.
Col looks back on his admiration for the shearing contractors who visited the family property. He reminisces about his thirty years in the shearing sheds of the central west.
He talks of the lucky break that shaped his destiny. He was recruited by the king of the western callers Bob Gunn to look after a little meeting at Fifield, between Trundle and Tullamore.
Col looks back on his involvement with harness and greyhound racing. He highlights a few champion pacers of the era.
He pays tribute to his two favourite race meetings, the Bedgerabong Picnics and the famous Wellington Boot.
Col reflects on the early careers of some great country gallopers who went on to much bigger things.
He remembers a handful of ageless country gallopers who became legends on the bush circuit.
Col has long been an entertaining storyteller. He shares a few of his favourite yarns with us. You’ll enjoy this podcast with a country broadcasting legend.
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Tuesday May 12, 2020
It was a delight to catch up with an elder statesman of the Australian training ranks. Mick Robins is turning 90 in July, but sounds years younger as he takes us on a sentimental journey.
Mick talks of his recent stint in hospital after a heavy fall at the Mornington stables of Tony Noonan.
The grand old horseman takes us back to his first job as an apprentice butcher in wartime Broken Hill.
Mick reflects on his days below the surface of the earth as he helped to mine the silver, zinc and lead that was to bring great prosperity to Broken Hill.
He talks of his early attraction to horses and his brief career as an amateur jockey.
Mick shares memories of his first trainer’s licence and a horse called Sir Haydon who got him up and running.
The veteran recalls his move to Adelaide in the early 1960’s and his dream job with champion trainer Graham Heagney. He spent 8 years with Heagney, who trained the champion Tobin Bronze during that time.
Mick reminisces about the lucky break that was destined to change his life. When Graham Heagney decided on a stint in America, Mick inherited 14 of his horses. One of them was the dual Melbourne Cup winner Rain Lover.
The former trainer takes us through those two magical Cup wins, and some fascinating stories that revolve around them.
Mick remembers some other nice horses he got to train in that exciting era.
He talks of his late wife Valda whose long term illness took them to the warmer climate in WA.
Mick pays a special tribute to his great friend Jimmy Johnson who partnered Rain Lover in those two memorable Melbourne Cup victories.
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
In this segment Brad recalls his association with trainers like Malcolm Johnston, Gerald Ryan and Les Bridge.
He talks of the offer he got from champion Queensland trainer Bruce McLachlan who was anxious to get him back to Brisbane.
Brad remembers with affection his big pay day when he won the 2008 Magic Millions Guineas on Heart Of The Citi for trainer Pat Duff.
He talks of his frustration that a Group 1 win has eluded him. He’s gone close a couple of times.
Brad speaks of his admiration for the late Ken Russell and his delight in being able to win three Russell memorial events.
He speaks of a happy association with Sydney trainer David Payne who occasionally flew him to Sydney for race rides.
The jockey gives special mention to his son Bayley who was too small to be a footballer, but too big to be a jockey.
Brad concludes by paying tribute to older jockeys like Jeff Lloyd and Michael Cahill.
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
This podcast was recorded two days before Brad was hurt in a starting gate incident at Rockhampton. He escaped serious injury but was taken to hospital complaining of some neck pain. We wish him well.
In Part 1 the popular jockey talks of his current winning streak and the trainers who are giving him continuing support.
Brad, always on the heavy side, talks of his current situation with weight.
The jockey looks back on his original apprenticeship to his father Phil, who’s still training horses successfully. He remembers his very first winner at Gladstone in 1994.
Brad talks of a work experience stint in Sydney with trainer Alan Bell and a later transfer to Ron Quinton at Randwick.
It was Quinton who provided his first city winner, but his very first winner was trained by Kylie Gavenlock.
Brad recalls a winning treble at Rosehill which included his first stakes win.
He looks back with regret on a broken leg which kept him on the sidelines for a full year.
The jockey reflects on an amazing partnership he had with country trainer Bob Milligan. Together they won dozens of races. The flag bearer was the remarkable bush horse Carael Boy whose wins included the 2001 Villiers.
Brad tells the story of the dietary soup made for him by Mrs. Margaret Milligan. That soup kept him in business.
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
John talks of the tough road back as an independent trainer after three years heading up the powerful Godolphin operation.
He reflects on his feelings when the Godolphin job was offered to him, and the reaction of his family.
John reminisces about a quick dash to Dubai to officially meet Sheikh Mohammed.
Of the hundreds of horses to pass through his hands in the Godolphin days, he was smitten by the remarkable Hartnell. He remembers a great horse.
John recalls the moment he knew it was time to leave Godolphin.
The trainer recalls his early life in Cairns and his love of Rugby League and Polocrosse.
He talks of a University Degree which few people know about.
John reflects on the day he literally walked in off the street and asked Gai Waterhouse for a job.
He remembers his time with Bart Cummings and Gary Moore.
John recalls his low key start at Warwick Farm and the tried horses who got him going.
He looks back with affection on the talented horses who’ve helped shape his career.
John comments on his admiration for a couple of high profile jockeys.
Finally the talented horseman pays tribute to the Canadian girl who was happy to relocate to Australia and marry a budding horse trainer.
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
In this segment Steve reflects on a short riding stint in Mauritius which ended on a very sour note.
He looks back on his return to the saddle after knee surgery and his new association with trainer Terry Courtney.
The top horseman has never forgotten his wonderful partnership with powerhouse sprinter Mighty Avalanche. He takes us through a last to first win in the Gr 1 Oakleigh Plate.
Steve remembers with affection a wonderful six year stay in Macau. He rode 300 winners and bagged a Macau Gold Cup on sand track specialist Kenny, trained by former Sydney horseman Darby Armstrong.
He talks of his move to Singapore as assistant trainer to Claude Charlet. He stayed on when Charlet returned to Macau never dreaming he’d still be there 25 years later.
Steve takes us through several assistant training jobs he had before finally gaining his own licence.
He remembers the circumstances under which he met his second wife Julie, a former English jockey who was visiting Singapore. He tells the story of Julie’s quick trip to NZ where she rode several winners.
He acknowledges Julie’s role in the Singapore stable and her talents as a track work rider.
Steve will long remember his day of days in Singapore when he won the QE 11 Cup and got to meet Her Majesty and the Duke Of Edinburgh.
Burridge looks back on his training career in Singapore and Malaysia and the important races he’s won.
He reflects on a very successful flying visit to Dubai with a small team of horses.
Steve acknowledges the jockeys with whom he’s had success in Singapore.
He closes the podcast with special mention of his chief helper, grandson Charlie.
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
We talk to Steve about the lockdown of Singapore racing and the interim progress of his horses.
He talks of the biosecurity situation and the mood of the locals as the weeks wear on.
We go right back to Steve’s younger days in Melbourne and his passion for football. He was promising but way too small to make a career of it.
He talks of his father Harold, a successful jumps jockey.
Steve recalls his apprenticeship to Jim Cerchi and his first winning ride at Echuca.
He remembers with affection his first city winner and the support he got from his mother and sister.
Steve gives special mention to Jetfighter. He won stakes races on the Ian Harrison trained galloper and rates him as one of the best he rode.
He talks of the days when he was a regular at the Victorian Saturday provincial meetings where he often rode the second stringers for major stables.
Steve looks back on his association with Super Impose. He rode the budding champion in his first four starts.
He remembers his only Cox Plate ride in 1977 for Bart Cummings. He was an unlucky fourth on Stormy Rex.
Steve recalls turning down the mount on the Caulfield Guineas winner Abaridy to ride 4 horses for Bart at the Werribee meeting. Thankfully they all won.
Burridge reflects on his four Melbourne Cup rides. They all finished unplaced but he loved the experience.
Steve pays tribute to the champion jockeys he rode with during his apprenticeship with special mention of the great Roy Higgins.
He remembers the nasty knee injury he sustained in a race fall at Terang. He ignored the pain to ride a horse he thought was a good thing at Mornington.
He won the race but paid the penalty.
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Phillip Stokes so we did the next best thing and chatted on the podcast. The trainer talks of his runners in two states last Saturday. No winners but a few super efforts.
Phillip talks of the fruition of a long term plan to establish a Victorian stable, and the reason he settled on the new Pakenham complex.
He describes the available facilities and the 16 acre property he purchased just 5 minutes down the road.
Phillip reflects on a happy childhood growing up on a cattle station near Marree at the top end of SA. His father Ron introduced him to thoroughbreds at an early age.
He remembers his apprenticeship in Adelaide to John Hall who had been a stable foreman for Bart Cummings in the maestro’s early days.
Phillip recalls his move to Alice Springs when his weight got out of hand. He remembers his new boss Viv Oldfield with great affection. This larger than life character is one of the Territory’s most famous businessmen to this day.
The forty nine year old recalls his first overseas stint with top trainer John Hammond at the famous Chantilly training centre near Paris.
Phillip looks back on his job with Taiki Farm in Japan and the moment he met Ayumi, the girl destined to become his wife and the mother of his two sons.
He cherishes memories of his time with Hall Of Fame trainer Bill Mott at the famous Belmont track on Long Island (NY).
The trainer looks back on the horses to get him up and going in the unforgiving business of horse training. Squillani, Marju Snip, Maybe Discreet, Hucklebuck and Eclair Surprise all get special mention.
Phillip talks of his magical day at Flemington on the final day of the 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival when he won three races including the Gr 1 Emirates.
He runs through the future prospects of some promising horses he has at Morphettville and Pakenham currently.
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Great to catch up with one of the hardest working jockeys in Australian racing. Much to his frustration, Grant is currently on the sidelines with a broken collarbone. He has an update on his likely return date.
He talks of the fall on March 31st which came at a time when he was enjoying a winning run.
Grant discusses the amazing statistics he’s accumulated in the last twenty years as provincial and country jockey.
He pays tribute to his father Clarrie Buckley who enjoyed Group 1 success in the 1960’s and 70’s. He highlights some of the good horses his Dad got to ride.
Grant talks of his early days as an apprentice in the Hawkesbury precinct and the trainers who supported him. He’s never forgotten his first winning ride on the Gary White trained Impossible Mission.
He pays tribute to Paul Cave, the trainer who gave him some opportunities on better class horses.
Grant looks back on his fleeting association with the brilliant mare Private Steer- a three time Gr 1 winner.
He looks back on his transition to the provincial and country tracks which have become his life.
Grant pays tribute to his wife Chantelle, a former jockey and trackwork rider for Godolphin’s Agnes Banks operation. He talks of Chantelle’s strong racing background.
He looks back on no less than nineteen race falls- not so bad when you consider the massive number of rides he’s had.
Grant outlines his association with the Godolphin operation at Newcastle and Kembla Saturday meetings.
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
In part 2 Gary talks of stable favourites Single Bullet and Testashadow.
He tells the story of the $20,000 yearling who gave him victory in the Golden Slipper of 2017. He was thrilled to win for a large group of owners who’d been brought together by Darby Racing.
Gary tells some good stories about two members of the She Will Reign syndicate who added to the whole amazing story- one of them won a fortune on the punt, while the other bought a new fishing boat which he called the “She Will Reign”. That boat met a bizarre fate.
The trainer talks of his Everest experience with She Will Reign and the mare’s subsequent sale to a Japanese breeder.
Gary speaks with affection of the remarkable veteran Marwin Gold who won 20 races for the stable. He reveals the old warrior’s current home.
He talks of his eleven year marriage to Kelly and her strong racing background. Kelly and Gary have an eight year old son Harper whose current interest in horses is far from obsessive.
Gary gives Kelly credit for getting him back on track when he “hit a flat spot” a few years ago.
This is a good yarn with a hard working Aussie horse lover who’s had a fantastic journey in an unforgiving business.