John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Cameron reviews his recent trip to NZ when he finished second on the points table in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship.
He talks of his reaction to the news that he will represent Australia in a World Junior Drivers Series in Sweden later this year.
Cameron talks of his Riverina upbringing and the strong trotting background from which he descends.
The young driver looks back on his days in the popular mini trots, and his champion pony Energiser.
He pays tribute to the uncle who taught him all of the basics and provided his first winner.
Cameron talks of the job he was offered by Menangle trainer Shane Sanderson and the success that followed.
Young Cameron pays tribute to his favourite horses so far.
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
To mark the festive season I’d like to present one of our favourite podcasts from the early days of the website.
Wayne no longer manages jockey Travis Wolfgram as he did when the podcast was recorded in 2018. He has however taken over the management of visiting Irish apprentice Tom Sherry, who’s showing plenty of promise. Tom joins Robbie Dolan and Chris O’Brien on the Wayne Harris team.
The former champion jockey takes us through his roller coaster career, which brought him many dazzling highs and some devastating lows.
He talks of his thrilling Melbourne Cup win on Jeune. He learned he was riding the horse after the barrier draw on the Saturday night. He takes us through the great race step by step.
He talks of Jeune’s explosive C.F.Orr Stakes win the following Autumn.
Wayne reflects on his serious illness after riding Jeune in the Japan Cup.
He remembers the thrill of riding 5 winners on a Randwick programme as an apprentice.
He reveals the circumstances under which he got the ride on Century Miss in the Golden Slipper as an 18 year old apprentice.
Wayne takes us through several Group 1 wins on some pretty tidy horses.
He reflects on the day he got to provide Gai Waterhouse with her first Melbourne Gr 1 winner.
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
In Part 2 Scott reflects on the $20,000 Inglis Classic filly who went on to win $3.2 million including a Golden Slipper and a Moir Stakes. She Will Reign was a tremendous advertisement for Darby Racing.
The syndicator pays tribute to his “surprise packet” Samadoubt who looked like being a handy Benchmark horse, but suddenly snatched Group 1 glory.
He pays tribute to several regular Darby Racing trainers including Mark Newnham who currently has twenty horses in work for the company.
Scott elaborates on Darby Racing’s recent entry into the international market. He talks of the lightly raced Harpo Marx who has a stunning pedigree, and form around the Melbourne Cup runner up Il Paradiso.
He talks of the company policy regarding horses who are battling in the metropolitan area.
Scott talks of the family who support his passion for thoroughbred syndication.
Scott Darby is a perfect example of a bloke who tenaciously pursued his dream.
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
In Part 1 Scott Darby talks of the yearling sale selection criteria, which has led him to many winners.
He talks of his early fascination with racing and his desire to become a jockey.
Scott reflects on the intimidating experience of an interview with Tommy Smith.
He looks back on a job with trainer Clarrie Conners in the early 90’s. He talks of his earliest attempts in the field of syndication.
Scott remembers with affection his flying start as a syndicator. A Gimcrack Stakes win with a $15,000 filly.
He talks of two young horses he purchased and later sold on. They ran 2nd and 4th in a Golden Slipper. He was very angry with himself.
Scott pays tribute to his first syndicated Gr 1 winner, the $10,000 Inglis Classic graduate Yankee Rose. She gave twenty owners an exciting ride.
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
HRNSW presents a chat with respected trainer/driver Ashlee Grives who’s currently going through a very sad time.
Ashlee explains the debilitating colic attack which struck her wonderful race mare Ameretto, and two subsequent surgical procedures.
Ash reflects on the day she paid $3500 for a filly destined to win $565,000, and a coveted Gr 1 The Queen Of The Pacific.
The talented trainer explains her decision to move Ameretto to a Melbourne stable at the height of the mare’s powers.
Ash reveals she has a foal out of Amaretto thanks to the wonders of embryo transfer.
She reminisces about her earliest days in the sulky and a job with the famous Randwick Equine Vet Centre.
Ashlee has never forgotten the day she became the first NSW female driver to reach 100 winners in a season.
She talks about her husband’s transition to the care and management of harness horses. Ryan was a builder/bricklayer by trade but had to learn about horses in a hurry.
Ash analyses her current role as a horse trainer and the responsibilities of motherhood.
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
The talented Victorian jockey takes us through the freak accident which fractured both his legs. He describes the extent of the injuries.
Jamie talks of a family background which has produced jockeys and trainers for several generations.
He reflects on his apprenticeship to grandmother Janet and later to Leon Corstens.
Jamie speaks candidly about his failure to pass two random jockeys room drug tests. During the second disqualification he got his weight under control, and couldn’t wait to get back.
He pays a touching tribute to the late Russell Cameron, the trainer who believed in him through thick and thin.
Jamie talks of the young Cameron employee destined to become his wife. Jamie and Carol Anne now have a young son Henry, and another boy on the way.
The jockey talks of his fascination with jumpers, and pays tribute to some of the better horses he’s ridden on the flat.
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
In part 2 the legendary trainer pays tribute to his all time favourite Emancipation, winner of 19 races. He draws comparisons with Sunline and Winx.
Neville has good things to say about Dalmacia, a horse he was offered over the birdcage fence at a race meeting.
He looks back on his Golden Slipper win with Dark Eclipse in 1980 with his former apprentice Kevin Moses in the saddle.
Neville looks back on a 20 year association with Ron Quinton. They were one of the strongest combinations ever seen in Sydney racing.
He talks of Veloso and Best Western, the two that got away. He trained them both early in their careers, but lost them to other trainers after ownership changes.
Neville concludes with reflections of his training years in Hong Kong. He returned to Australia in 1996 and never trained again.
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
In Part 1 the veteran horseman talks of his interest in thoroughbred breeding and his current involvement with Written By’s new life at the famous Widden Stud.
Neville talks of two year old filly Mildred winner of two juvenile races in Melbourne. He manages the Hinchinbrook filly who’s trained by his son Graeme.
He takes us back a long time to his apprenticeship with the legendary Maurice McCarten who had been a wonderful jockey and was on his way to a stellar training career.
Neville talks of his close association with the great racehorse and sire Todman.
He touches on the afternoons when he rode exercise alongside Bernborough.
Neville pays tribute to Winona Girl, one of the greatest mares in history. She recorded 27 wins and 26 placings.
The great horseman remembers the ill fated Neville Sellwood who died in a race fall in France in 1962. Begg knew him well.
Neville reflects on his entry into the Sydney training ranks and the early Gr 1 winner who came out of the blue.
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
The popular Gold Coast trainer recalls the horror accident a month ago when he was slammed onto the concrete pavement by a runaway horse.
Toby talks of early days in the NSW Hunter Valley and the wonderful foster family who reared him.
The successful horseman looks back on his modest beginnings as a professional trainer, and one special horse who got him started.
Toby talks of his move to the Gold Coast and the owner who persuaded him to become his private trainer at Warwick Farm.
Edmonds has never forgotten the day he bought a certain colt for Ray Gall at the Inglis Classic sale. He actually won a race with I Am Invincible.
The trainer reflects on the trauma of a positive swab which originally saw him disqualified for six months, later downgraded to a three month suspension.
Toby talks of his appointment as Queensland foreman for the burgeoning Nathan Tinkler empire. He was stunned a year later when that empire collapsed, leaving him high and dry.
Toby takes us through Houtzen’s career from the Magic Millions sale to the hallowed turf of Royal Ascot.
The trainer acknowledges stable favourites like Tyzone, Winter Bride and promising two year old The Drinks Cart who cost his owners $2000. What a fairy tale will emerge if he wins the Magic Millions Classic.
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
In the second segment the champion jockey looks back on his first Group 1 winner as a fully fledged jockey- again provided by T.J.Smith.
Gordon pays tribute to Black Onyx, a great sprinter of the early seventies who gave him a Doomben $10,000 win.
He looks back on his retainer as number two jockey for the powerful Stan Fox stable at Rosehill. He talks of his admiration for the stable’s number one rider, the legendary Athol Mulley.
Gordon talks of a working holiday in England where he rode for leading trainer Sam Armstrong. He remembers many a “weight shedding” jogging session with Armstrong’s son in law Lester Piggott.
He recalls another overseas trip at the suggestion of Irish training legend Dermot Weld. On arriving home he began an association with Jack and Bob Ingham who were spending freely at the yearling sales.
Gordon reflects on his final overseas adventure in Tehran where racing had just begun. The sport was doomed from the moment the Shah was overthrown in 1979.
Old timers will remember the achievements of Gordon Spinks. I hope younger “podcasters” will tune in to learn just how good he was.