John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Blake looks back on school holidays at Moree with his late grandfather, one of his valued tutors.
The young jockey reflects on his apprenticeship to Newcastle trainer Steve Hodge.
He talks of the magic moment when he won at his very first race ride.
Blake looks back on the unforgettable day at Rosehill when he rode five winners on a Saturday programme.
He pays tribute to Sir John Hawkwood, the imported English horse who gave him a maiden Group 1 victory.
He looks back on the days when his manager was his mother Leanda
Blake remembers the good horses and the trainers who’ve helped him along the way.
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Blake talks of the nasty fall at Hawkesbury which cost him many months of race riding.
He expands on his current situation at the regular Newcastle and Kembla Saturday meetings where his services are being used by Godolphin and other high profile stables.
Blake talks of his impending marriage to Rachel King and the way in which he popped the question.
Blake reflects on his childhood as the son of busy jockey Dale Spriggs who refused some tempting offers to come to town.
He reflects on school days when he showed special talents in athletics and on the soccer field.
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Anybody who watches Sky Racing on Saturday nights will be aware of the achievements of Skye Bogenhuber at the regular Toowoomba meetings in recent years.
The thoroughly professional jockey has won 5 Toowoomba premierships, and went very close to a sixth.
Skye talks of her recent return to the saddle following a six months enforced lay off. She suffered a bleed to the brain in a nasty fall at the Toowoomba jump outs, and faced a long period of rehabilitation.
You’ll enjoy her recollections of life growing up in the NSW Blue Mountains, and her trips to the local Pub and Club TAB with her late father Joe.
She talks of her passion for athletics during school days, and an obsession with training.
Skye reflects on her time as a student at the Uni of NSW. She has never forgotten the moment she spotted a racehorse from her classroom window opposite Randwick racecourse.
She takes us through her learning period in riding tuition at the Richmond TAFE, and her subsequent apprenticeships in Grafton and Brisbane.
The Bogenhuber journey from those early days has been quite an adventure. Early on she had to drive hundreds of kilometres to get a ride at small meetings in Queensland.
Now she’s often called “The Queen Of Clifford Park”. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Skye Bogenhuber’s story.
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Just on a year ago I had the pleasure of recording a lengthy chat with a man who has been a major player in the ranks of Australia’s harness racing drivers for 45 years.
Gavin Lang at age 60 is currently battling a rare form of lymphoma at Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital. He’s a week into his second round of chemotherapy, and is uppermost in the thoughts of his fans and friends around the nation.
If you missed the podcast on its initial posting, I hope you can tune in this time to hear the legendary horseman reflect on a stellar career.
He talks of his return to the training ranks after years of freelance race driving.
He talks of the miles he’s travelled to achieve 6300 career wins.
He pays tribute to his father Graham Lang, himself a master horseman and a wonderful tutor in the early days.
Gavin reflects on the long list of outstanding horses he’s had the pleasure to drive.
He talks of his role models among Victoria’s driving ranks of the 70’s and 80’s.
His current illness is not his first. He recalls another major scare more than a decade ago, and his subsequent recovery.
Enjoy a trip down memory lane courtesy of HRNSW, with a giant of the sport.
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
In part one Craig talks about his recent haul of winners at the two day Kalgoorlie Cup carnival.
He explains why he made the surprise move to return to his home state of Tasmania after many successful years in Melbourne.
Her remembers his early days as an apprentice in Tasmania.
Craig recalls the surprise phone call from Lee Freedman offering him a job that any apprentice in Australia would have died for.
He talks of his very first Gr 1 winner, and the disqualification that turned his life upside down.
Craig reflects on his association with the brilliant mare Miss Andretti, and reveals that her temperament didn’t match her great talent.
He remembers his whirlwind trip to the UK and the thrill of winning the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Miss Andretti.
Craig heaps praise on one of his all time favourites Pompeii Ruler. Many will be surprised to learn that Newitt rates this horse the best he’s ridden.
The jockey looks back on the day he was summoned into the stewards room to be given some tragic news.
He pays tribute to his 5 time Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee, and looks back on his Sydney triumphs.
He talks of the jockeys he most admires, and the origins of his well known nickname “Froggy”.
Craig talks of his current situation in Tasmania.
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
In this segment Bernie reflects on his search for the ideal standardbred training property. He found the place of his dreams at George’s Plains.
He pays tribute to the talented horses who’ve helped him along in a tough business.
Bernie elaborates on his liking for younger horses. He’s never been one to hang onto older horses forever. He prefers to move them on in order to try a new batch.
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
Bernie recalls his freakish fall at Eugowra recently, and the injuries he sustained.
He looks back on early days on the farm at Crookwell (NSW) and the lessons he learned from his late father Tom.
Bernie reflects on the neighbor’s horse that gave him his first winning drive.
The master horseman remembers Nikalong Shadow the first really good horse he got to drive. Tom Hewitt trained Nikalong Shadow but Bernie drove him to 43 wins.
Bernie talks about the offer from a prominent owner/breeder which prompted his move from Crookwell to Bathurst twenty years ago.
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
Tuesday Oct 15, 2019
Brilliant WA apprentice Jade McNaught reflects on her history making feat at the Belmont track on September 14th 2019, when she became the first apprentice in the state to win six races in one day on a metro track.
Jade talks of her decision to become an apprentice jockey at age 30, twice the age of most junior riders.
She reflects on her first two ponies and her achievements at pony club and in the show ring.
Jade remembers the experience she gained working with performance horses and on a well known WA stud farm.
Jade McNaught’s journey has been an inspiring one. She talks to us from the Geraldton races at the end of a four hour road trip from Perth.
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Suman looks back on his time with Woodside Park Stud, and a request from Sheriff Iskander which led him to the purchase of a Northern Meteor colt later to be known as Zoustar.
He talks of his decision to leave the breeding side of the business to concentrate on yearlings, weanlings and overseas horses.
Suman talks of the backing he’s getting from loyal supporters who are prepared to back his judgement.
He discusses the upsurge in weanling sales and the new concept known as ‘pin hooking”. Suman talks of a recent pleasant surprise provided by a pin hooker.
He pays tribute to the people who help him raise and nurture the young bloodstock he intends to sell on.
He acknowledges the contribution of his wife Natalia who has supported him every step of the way.
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
Tuesday Oct 08, 2019
In Part 1 Suman talks about the shattering disappointment of losing two promising European imports to injury. He updates the progress of Django Freeman and Schabau and looks to the future with both horses.
Suman recalls his days at school and a stint at University, but much prefers to talk about his early visits to the Inglis Yearling sales.
He takes us through his chance meeting with businessman Sheriff Iskander- a meeting destined to shape his destiny.
Suman reflects on his time as racing manager John O’Shea and the lessons he learned from the successful trainer.
He takes us back to the fateful day when he spent every last dollar to buy a broodmare called Myrrh in foal to Testa Rossa. He sold that yearling for $260,000 and then proceeded to breed a Doncaster winner from his prized mare. Suman was on his way.
Suman tells the story of his involvement with Written Tycoon a stallion destined for much bigger things.