John Tapp Racing

Episode 70: Dwayne Dunn

This is the first interview I’ve ever conducted with Dwayne Dunn. I’ve been a fan throughout his thirty year career, but our paths have never crossed.

Any racing fan would know of his many achievements in the saddle, and the esteem in which he’s held by major stables.

I’ve also discovered during the course of arranging this podcast, that Dwayne is a complete professional. Great to catch up with him.

Episode 69: Michael Cahill (Part 2)

In part two of the podcast Michael Cahill remembers Falvelon as the fastest horse he ever rode. He talks of his time in Hong Kong and Macau. The latter contract took him to a jockeys title, and a Derby win.

He recalls some of the talented horses he’s ridden, his premiership battles in Brisbane, and the inevitable injuries.

He pays tribute to his brother Matthew, who stayed at Cowra, destined to become a champion jockey in the NSW Central west.

Michael talks about his likely future.

Episode 68: Michael Cahill (Part 1)

It’s great to catch up with a jockey who’s been the ultimate professional for four decades.

Michael Cahill was born into a great racing family at Cowra(NSW). He was probably resigned to the career of a bush jockey in his early days, but decided on a change of direction twenty two years ago.

An offer from Bruce McLachlan initially took him to Queensland, and he’s been among Brisbane’s top jockeys ever since.

In part 1 of the podcast Michael talks of his strong family background in racing, and his first taste of the big smoke. He recalls his time working at Mike Willesee’s Trandmedia Stud, and a stint as stable jockey for top Riverina trainer Richard Freyer.

Episode 67: Kristen Buchanan

Great to catch up with a young lady who is rapidly establishing herself in the Sydney training ranks. Kristen Buchanan lived in WA as a youngster, and attained Uni Degrees in Biology and Exercise Physiology. Those qualifications would have given her any number of job choices,  but training racehorses was all she wanted to do.

It’s been a tough ten years for Kristen, but determination and talent have taken her a long way.

Episode 66: Rodney Quinn

When the website began in May of last year, Rodney Quinn was one of my very early podcast guests. He’d been retired for five years, and was well entrenched in his new role as tutor of apprentices with Racing NSW.

What a magnificent career he had. Forty years in the saddle, and success at the highest level, but most importantly the profound respect of all sections of the industry.

If you missed this very early podcast, I’m delighted to give it another run.

Here comes Rodney Quinn Take 2.

Episode 65: Bob Thomsen (part 2)

Bob reminisces about horses like Danewin, Slight Chance and Shogun Lodge who won many Group 1 races.

He talks of the jockeys who helped him along the way, and the apprentices he tutored .

Episode 64: Bob Thomsen (Part 1)

Bob Thomsen taught himself the basics of horsemanship at a riding school, before becoming apprenticed to Tommy Smith in 1957. He rode 40 winners, most of them on metropolitan tracks before a disagreement with TJ  changed his life.

Bob took out his own trainer’s licence, and after a modest start went on to reach the pinnacle of the profession. He talks frankly about those early days.

Episode 63: Barbara Joseph

In keeping with our plan to introduce country based trainers from time to time, we introduce the lady known as the “Baroness Of Bombala”.

Barbara Joseph started with a $600 horse at Bombala 40 years ago. Her journey has taken her to a Group 1 Doncaster at Royal Randwick, and 1200 other winners along the way.

Barb talks about her new training partnership with her sons Paul and Matthew.

Episode 62: Blake Fitzpatrick

This week we welcome another member of the famous Fitzpatrick clan-a  dominant force on the Sydney harness racing scene for decades. 

Thirty five year old Blake Fitzpatrick won a Harold Park premiership at 18, and has driven more than a hundred winners in a season 8 times on NSW tracks. Blake reviews a great career.

Episode 61: Louis Mihalyka

I’ve known few more passionate racing men than Louis Mihalyka, who founded Laurel Oak Thoroughbreds 32 years ago. Like most syndicators he would buy yearlings, and then advertise heavily in the search for new owners.

Fourteen years ago he changed direction and renamed the company Laurel Oak Bloodstock. He realised he should service existing clients exclusively, and give them whatever they wanted- yearlings, stallions, broodmares and various other racing involvements. Louis handles every request, and nobody does it better.

It’s a treat to listen to a man who just lives racing.