John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
In Part 2 Max remembers the lucky day when he bought a share in Savabeel, the Zabeel colt destined to become a Cox Plate winner and a very successful stallion.
He reviews Savabeel’s racing career and his subsequent move to the famous Waikato Stud in NZ where he’s gone on to sire around 100 stakes winners.
Max reflects on the devastating stock market crash of 1987. He lost everything and actually went back to work at the famous Bourbon and Beefsteak at King’s Cross.
He sadly reflects on the premature passing of the girl he married when he was just 21 years old. Jen, his wife of 46 years succumbed to cancer 18 months ago.
Max reflects on his Grafton Cup win with First Crush. Jen knew how badly he wanted to win that Cup, but was too ill to attend.
He looks back on some of the best horses he’s owned or part owned including Honour In War who angered the crowd when he took the Villiers off Takeover Target on protest.
Max talks of his love of a punt. He’s not a form student but absorbs everything he hears at the track and bets late.
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
It was a treat to catch up with the ebullient Max Whitby. In Part 1 Max talks of his current role as Managing Director of Propex Derivatives- a respected proprietary trading firm.
He explains the role of another company Envirobank Recycling which provides litter solutions for beverage.
Max proudly explains the operation of his syndication company Mi Runners which has brought close to 5000 new owners into racing. He loves this venture.
He talks of his participation in the Everest Slot Holders concept. No luck so far, but he’s having another crack this year.
Max takes us back to his childhood at Bangalow (NSW) and the influence of his grandfather on his life.
He remembers his days as a jackeroo on the Amaroo cattle station, and the extraordinary circumstances that brought him to Sydney and to the Texas Tavern at King’s Cross.
Max talks with affection of Bernie Houghton, a Sydney based American who took a shine to the young bloke from Bangalow.
He talks of his new job with the rural commodity firm Nicholls, and his instant fascination with the Futures Market.
Max reflects on the establishment of his own business L Quay Futures Brokers, and the subsequent sale of the company to ABN Amro.
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
In this segment the 3 time premiership winning jockey remembers the great trainer Jack Green who took a liking to the curly haired kid from the Begg stable.
Kevin recalls the help he got from George Ryder who had introduced the ARABS racing syndicates designed to bring smaller owners into the game.
George was another to support young K.Moses.
He recalls his very first winner and his first city treble at Canterbury.
Kev talks of his 1976 Doncaster win on Authentic Heir- a very important win at that stage of his career.
He takes us through his exciting 1980 Golden Slipper win on Dark Eclipse, and the one and only time he got to ride champion Emancipation- one ride for one win in the Edward Manifold Stakes.
He recalls Group 1 winners like Lord Hybrow, Palace Revolt, and All Our Mob.
Kevin dwells on his association with the remarkable Stylish Century. He won a Victoria Derby and an AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the gallant little horse, and was beaten a head by Almaarad in a W.S.Cox Plate.
The sixty seven year old horseman looks back on four successful overseas stints, and relates a funny story revolving around legendary jockey Willie Carson.
Moses recalls the traumatic consequences of his involvement in the “jockey tapes affair” of the mid 90’s.
He looks back on three Sydney riding premierships, and reveals the identity of the jockeys he most admired.
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
In Part 1 Moses talks of his current role as a trainer, and a knee problem which requires surgery.
He reflects on the impact of a positive swab returned by one of his horses in 2015 resulting in a shock disqualification.
Kevin looks back on twenty years as a trainer and the nice horses to pass through his hands. He pays tribute to former Gold Coast trainer Alan Bailey who was his mentor in the early days.
He talks of his passion for riding trackwork after becoming a trainer, and pays tribute to son Shane and devoted wife Jenny who put endless hours into the training operation.
Kevin brings us up to date on daughter Tanya and younger son Darren both of whom are running their own businesses. He talks of life as a grandparent.
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Corey talks of the frustration as he struggles with his slow-healing spinal injuries.
He recalls the Queensland Derby fall that shattered his T7 vertabra and the subsequent major surgery.
The champion jockey reflects on his great career and the Kempsey fall he suffered at his very first race ride.
Corey talks about his first Melbourne Cup win on Shocking in 2009. He remembers everything going wrong in the race but says the horse was able to get away with it.
He takes us through his second Cup win on Rekindling in 2017 and the thrill of having his wife Kylie and three daughters at Flemington to share his happiness.
Corey reflects on that special day when he won three Gr 1 races at Royal Randwick.
He pays a heartfelt tribute to the amazing Apache Cat and the five consecutive Gr 1’s he won on the enormously popular sprinter.
Corey recalls his 18 months stint with Lee Freedman on the Mornington Peninsula.
The champion jockey talks of his involvement with Channel 7 and Racing.Com during last year’s Spring carnival. He reflects on the Sky programme “Off The Rails” which got him started in the racing media.
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.