John Tapp Racing

Episode 100: Brian Hancock

One of the very first podcast guests when the website opened a year ago was harness racing legend Brian Hancock. 

To save you the trouble of locating the interview we’re going to feature it again this week.

The former champion horseman recalls the many jobs he held in the early days, including a stint as a coal miner

He pays tribute to the many good horses who helped him attain the sobriquet “the Inter Dominion King”.

Episode 99: Damian Browne

It was just another day at the office for Damian Browne when he reported for trackwork at Corbould Park two days before this year’s Magic Millions meeting.

He was suddenly struck down by crippling stomach pains, and a couple of hours later underwent emergency surgery for a burst ulcer. He talks about the ramifications of his illness, and the prognosis he didn’t want to hear.

Damian takes us through the highlights of a career which saw him join the upper echelon of Australian jockeys in the last decade.

Episode 98: Bruce Harpley

Bruce Harpley sat on his back veranda at Junee to conduct this interview for our podcast. 

Widely known as the “pacing postman” he’s an earthy country bloke, with a great love of the harness horse.

For twenty six years Bruce has mixed horse training with his job at the Junee Post Office.

He has 800 career wins on his CV, with an impressive total of 20 Group 1’s. He’s the first to tell you that fellow trainer Bernie Kelly made it all possible.

For the trot fans, Bruce Harpley is a good listen.

Episode 97: Jeff Collerson

When it comes to greyhound racing there’s no better raconteur than respected journalist Jeff Collerson.
In our special interview Jeff reflects on half a century as chief greyhound writer for the Mirror and the Telegraph. He understood the game, and knew everybody in it.

He explains the origin of his lifelong nickname “Pigeon” and pays tribute to some of the famous journalists he worked with. He talks of a golden run on the punt which took him to Paris, and a chance meeting with a girl destined to become his wife. For the dog fans he reminisces about his all time favourites.

This is a funny interview with a skilled storyteller.

Episode 96: John Caldow

The champion harness horseman talks about the tragedy that turned his family upside down early in his life.

He reflects on his first win at Echuca and the thrill of his first Moonee Valley win. John talks of his long and happy marriage to Maree and his wife’s success as a trainer.

Episode 95: John Sadler (Part 2)

The talented trainer pays tribute to more of his favourite horses, his overseas training experiences, his time with Lloyd Williams and the new owner who bought him a Stradbroke winner.

John openly discusses his battle with depression, and a regrettable clash with the authorities during the protracted Aquanita affair.

Episode 94: John Sadler (Part1)

In Part 1 the respected Victorian trainer talks about his early life in Terang, and the influence of his remarkable parents.

He recalls the thrill of his very first win as a trainer and a mare called Goblet who kick started his career. He fondly remembers Jolly Old Mac who took him to Group 1 success at Flemington.

John talks about the brilliant Lady Jakeo who gave him two Group 1 wins. The first was expected. The second was a very pleasant surprise.

Episode 93: Bernadette Cooper (Part 2)

In part 2 Bernie takes us right back to her childhood days in pony club, and her apprenticeship to Col Williamson on the Sunny Coast.

She talks of the premature death of her Dad, and the influence both parents had on her life. She reflects on her association with trainer Paul Sutherland who kick started her career in Queensland, and later brought her to Sydney.

Bernie competed at a very high level in Sydney winning plenty of races and riding in several Group 1’s- in one of them she almost pulled off the boilover of the decade.

Bernie Cooper is a little lady with a big personality, and you’ll enjoy her trip down memory lane.

Episode 92: Bernadette Cooper (Part 1)

It’s a delight to catch up with a little lady who has made her mark in two fields of endeavour.

In part 1 she recalls her final riding stint in Macau, where she was involved in the worst fall of her career. She reflects on her first day back when she won three races, and was then accused by Stewards of giving another horse an easy run.

She talks about her return to Australia and a whole new life, starting off with a job behind the front desk at the Star casino.

Then comes her lucky break in racing media. Bernie tells it all in her trademark breezy style.

Episode 91: Fred Hastings

Great to chat with Sydney harness racing caller Fred Hastings who achieved the rare distinction of tipping the programme at Penrith last week (11/4/2019). It’s the third time the popular commentator has made a clean sweep of a Sydney trotting card.

Fred wanted to be a race caller from a very early age, but had to work in many different roles before things fell into place.

This fifty three year old is passionate about the sport of harness racing, and it shows!