John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 23, 2019
Tuesday Jul 23, 2019
In part 2 Leon reflects on sixteen years as Bart’s Melbourne foreman during which time he got to work with some of the best horses in Australia.
He talks of his resignation from Bart’s employ which saw him take out his own trainer’s licence. He reflects on the temporary lapse in his friendship with Bart Cummings.
Leon highlights Starspangledbanner and Helenus two of the best horses he trained under his own name.
Tuesday Jul 23, 2019
Tuesday Jul 23, 2019
In Part 1 the experienced horseman talks about his early days in Adelaide as an apprentice jockey.
He recalls his association with Proud Miss one of Australia’s best two year olds in the 1960’s.
Leon pays tribute to his master, renowned trainer Graham Heagney and his reasons for turning his back on racing for eight years.
He remembers the circumstances which saw him become a trackwork rider for Bart Cummings in Adelaide, and the career change that took him to Victoria.
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
In part 2 Ian reflects on the emergence of station 2KY in the Sydney thoroughbred market. He got to call the gallops from 1974 in opposition to 2UE,2GB and the ABC. He recalls the station struggled with huge costs in maintaining the service, and considered pulling out of the race.
That all changed in 1981 when 2GB dropped its racing coverage, and KY inherited the national network.
Ian recalls his favourite races from the mid 1970’s until his retirement in 2009.
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
In part 1 Ian talks about the childhood illness that put him in bed for several months. He couldn’t wait for the Saturday race broadcasts to arrive. His love of racing evolved in that era. He talks about his early days at the Richmond dogs and the Lithgow trots.
He reminisces about the letter he wrote to 2UE management, and the surprise response which put him behind the microphone at the Harold park trots.
Ian looks back on the 1960’s when huge crowds flocked to Harold Park to see some of the legendary horses and horsemen of harness racing’s golden era.
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Delighted to introduce an old friend. Hilton Cope was one of Australia’s best jockeys in his day, but endless wasting was making his life a misery. After 6 Group 1 wins, and great success overseas he made the snap decision to quit in the mid 1970’s.
He talks of the rigours of the sweat box, and the wonderful moments he had in Sydney racing. Hilton talks of the spelling farm he established in the Hunter Valley, which he ran for three decades.
Older racing fans will enjoy this great jockey’s reflections on an exciting era in Sydney racing.
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Tuesday Jul 09, 2019
Barry Baldwin’s racing life began as an apprentice jockey at Roma in Queensland. He rode a few winners, but by age 18 couldn’t ride under 57kgs. His training career started in Roma, gravitated to Toowoomba and then to Brisbane where he’s been twice champion trainer. He picked up a Stradbroke Hcp along the way, and has trained many very talented horses.
Barry tells his story in a very earthy way. There’s plenty of Queenslander in this bloke.
Tuesday Jul 02, 2019
Tuesday Jul 02, 2019
In part two Dan pays tribute to the wonderful trainers who helped him along the way.
He reflects on very successful riding stints in Hong Kong and Macau. He was the first Australian Club Jockey to be appointed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
He talks of some of the very good horses he got to ride in Melbourne including his Blue Diamond winner Knowledge.
Towards the end of the podcast he confesses that he has actually been on a horse’s back in the last couple of years. Silly thing to do perhaps, but he loved it!
We enjoyed the chat with a remarkable bloke, and I’m pretty sure Danny enjoyed it too.
Tuesday Jul 02, 2019
Tuesday Jul 02, 2019
In part one Danny brings us right up to date with his current amazing progress.
He takes us back to the terrible fall at Moonee Valley that snatched away a great career.
His list of injuries was horrific, and his vital signs actually disappeared on the way to hospital.
He refused to believe the Neurosurgeon who told him he’d never walk again.
Danny handled it his own way, and continues to confound the experts.
Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
Always great to catch up with a “bush” trainer and this week it’s Port Macquarie’s Jenny Graham who talks about her current star galloper Victorem. Jenny reflects on her early life on a Wauchope dairy farm, and her childhood fascination with horses. She talks about her love affair with campdrafting, showjumping and eventing- all the things that gave her invaluable experience. Jen talks of her two daughters one a trainer, and the other a very talented jockey.
Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
We catch up with retiring auctioneer Peter Heagney who sold his final lot on behalf of Inglis at last week’s Great Southern sale. Peter talks of his mixed emotions as he brought down the gavel on a fifty year career working for three different companies, the last 25 years with Inglis. Peter talks of his early days with his father, legendary trainer Grahame Heagney who prepared champions like Tobin Bronze. He talks of the yearling he sold destined to be a world champion racehorse, and the special people who touched his life.