John Tapp Racing

Great to catch up with Bart Sinclair OAM who retired from his role as Racing Editor of the Brisbane Courier Mail in 2012, after four decades of trusted racing journalism. The Racing Queensland Hall of Fame Inductee begins by outlining his current role with the Brisbane Racing Club. Bart pays tribute to his father and namesake Bart Sinclair Snr who had great success as a jockey and trainer. Young Bart never saw his father ride, but learned of his talents from old time racing men as he was growing up. He talks of his Dad’s association with Berborough. Bart Snr thought he had the mount on the occasion of Bernborough’s Sydney debut, but was doomed to disappointment. Bart remembers a betting coup his father orchestrated in Brisbane with an unsound horse called Bindana. Bart Snr. patched up another unsound horse called Mullala to win the 1963 Stradbroke. Bart Jnr reflects on his father’s Derby win with Minto Crag and the many races he won with Oxford King- a horse he bought for 300 guineas. The eminent journal

Danny’s family and friends were surprised in 2017 when the popular jockey quit the saddle with 2000 wins under his belt. They were even more surprised recently when he announced a comeback. He talks of his reasons for returning to the saddle, and reviews his first day back at Kranji on Saturday. He explains that he’s been riding trackwork and in barrier trials during his four year hiatus, enabling him to keep his weight in check. Dan talks about some of the great riding talent he’ll be facing every week at Kranji. The 18 time Gr 1 winner recalls his very first win at Corowa in 1993 and looks back on apprenticeships with Peter Maher at Wodonga and Lee Freedman at Flemington. He acknowledges the support of Freedman’s neighbour David Hayes. Dan has never forgotten the day he was contacted by Graeme Begg who offered him two rides at Rosehill. Both horses won, and Danny finished up completing his apprenticeship with the Randwick trainer. The jockey talks about his experiment with the European riding style, an

Great to talk to Tony Erhart who could be the only 73 year old in Australia who’s still riding regular trackwork on a metropolitan racecourse. He says he’s never enjoyed it more. He talks of his unexpected heart bypass surgery in 2014. He didn’t see it coming! A year after his major surgery, Tony went close to becoming the oldest winning rider on a Queensland metropolitan track  when he was beaten narrowly on Top Tone at Doomben.  Tony retired from race riding to become chief work rider for his wife Lorraine. He had barely started his new role when a freak accident left him with a broken femur. He says he intended to stay out of the saddle but last October it got the better of him. Tony talks of childhood days at Gympie, his happy times at pony club, and the disappointment he experienced the first time he tried for an apprenticeship. He approached another trainer and got the job. He has never forgotten his debut at a defunct Gold Coast racecourse. Nor has he forgotten the buzz of riding his first winner

Great to catch up with one of Australian racing’s most respected figures. Sandy speaks to us from Gunnong- Jugrawah, the family property near Gundagai where all of the Tait champions first saw the light of day. Please note this interview was recorded on Sunday Feb 7th prior to Cherry Tortoni racing in the C.S.Hayes at Flemington in which he finished fourth. Sandy begins by summarising the career thus far of the promising Cherry Tortoni, the most recent metropolitan winner to carry the famous red and white silks. He takes us back to a sprinter called Stirrup Cup who wasn’t an elite performer but a genuine little sprinter whose flashy markings made him a crowd favourite in the 1950’s. Sandy shares his memories of Fil Allotta, the talented Randwick trainer who prepared horses owned by his parents for almost four decades. The popular owner talks of Dark Jewel’s lacklustre racing career. Nobody in the family expected her to reach such dizzy heights as a broodmare. Sandy acknowledges all of Dark Jewel’s winnin

Great to catch up with a man who’s been a household name in the Queensland training ranks. He begins by dismissing the popular belief that he’s close to retirement. Rex talks of his love for the Darling Downs and the reasons he’s never wanted to train elsewhere. He looks back on a rural childhood and his three earliest pursuits- dairying, the raising of beef cattle and the harvesting of grain. The veteran trainer talks of his twenty years in a variety of roles at Queensland’s well known Eureka Stud owned by Col McAlpine. Rex decided to go training when Col’s son Scott took over from his father. Rex pays tribute to two special horses who got him away to a flying start as a trainer in his own right. He recalls his association with the legendary Jim Atkins. He remembers a trip to Sydney and some memorable conversations with legendary trainer Neville Begg. Rex looks back on two Weetwood Hcp wins and four Toowoomba Cups. He pays tribute to several of his all time favourite horses including Star Shiraz who pr

Hard to believe it’s coming up 13 years since Greg Childs brought down the curtain on a career that brought him a special place among the top riders of his generation. He begins by outlining his current role as a manufacturer and distributor of equine safety vests. Greg takes us back to his apprenticeship at Hawera on the North Island, and pays tribute to the first top horse he got to ride. He also makes mention of another “gun” apprentice who was rising rapidly through the ranks. He talks of his first trip overseas at the invitation of an American friend. He rode 7 winners in a short time and competed on some iconic race tracks. Greg recalls his very first trip to Melbourne with trainers Ray Verner and Peter Hurdle. He ran third in the 1990 Melbourne Cup which really whetted his appetite for Australian racing. The former champion jockey reminisces about the horses and horsemen who got him started in a new country. It was a three months trial period. He never returned to NZ. Greg talks of a Hong Kong win

Great to catch up with 83 year old Les Bridge who has maintained an amazing winning strike rate throughout his long career. Les found an unattended TV monitor to watch the running of the TAB Everest by himself. He talks of the circumstances that brought Classique Legend into his stable and the short but spectacular racing career of the horse he rates the best he’s ever trained. Les says he knew he’d be losing the horse after The Everest but will now concentrate on other horses in his stable owned by Bon Ho. The veteran horseman talks of his family’s friendship with the legendary broadcaster Ken Howard who died in 1976. He remembers spending many days in Ken’s  broadcast box in the days before commentators were allowed on course. Les goes back to his days as an apprentice jockey. He rode a few winners but didn’t rate himself at all as a race rider. He does recall two well known horses he got to ride. He talks of the flying start he made as a professional trainer. At first he seemed to have a stableful of

There was plenty of excitement at the Inglis Classic sale a few years ago, when a new vendor sold a sale topping grey colt by Not A Single Doubt. That colt has since won 6 races including last year’s TAB Everest. That seller Linda Monds is much better known today. Linda talks of the apprehension she and husband Laurence felt when they took on the well established breeders. She talks of her original purchase of broodmares which included Pinocchio, the grey mare destined to become Classique Legend’s dam. Linda talks of Classique Legend’s half brother Aethero who went to a Hong Kong buyer as a yearling. He’s already a Gr 2 winner. She also sings the praises of another half brother, the unraced Fairy Legend who’s in the care of John and Gary Moore. She talks of her involvement in the Behemoth story. The giant gelding was born and reared at Linda’s Tyreel Stud before being sold as a weanling. Linda talks of her husband Laurence who plays a major role in the day to day running of Tyreel Stud in the Hawkesbury

Great to catch up with a trailblazer of the early Sydney female training ranks. Helen talks about her move from Warwick Farm to the Gold Coast in 1997- a decision she has never regretted. She talks of the loyal new owners who supported the stable when she arrived in Queensland, and three new acquisitions from the Gold Coast Sale. The talented horsewoman highlights two outstanding horses she’s had the pleasure to train from her Gold Coast stables. Helen takes us back to her childhood days at Warialda (NSW) and her earliest introduction to horses. She pays tribute to parents Bob and Rosalie who loved horses as much as she did. She tells the story of the wonderful Xmas day when she and her brother got the surprise of their lives. Helen talks of Uni days at Armidale and her subsequent experience as an Infants School teacher- she loved every minute of her work at some remote country schools. The trainer looks back on a transfer to Sydney and her second job as a trackwork rider for Tommy Smith. Helen’s love

Great to catch up with 78 year old Leon Fox now in retirement in his hometown of Inverell. Leon trained horses for 20 years following a stellar riding career which saw him dubbed the “George Moore of the bush”. Leon begins by paying tribute to his father Les Fox to whom he was apprenticed. He talks of his ordinary effort on the occasion of his first race ride, and the thrill of his first win in a little border town called Texas. He talks of a very successful apprenticeship and the approaches he got from Sydney trainers who were keen to use his allowance. Leon was overawed to rub shoulders with legends like Ted McMenamin, Darby Munro and Jim Pike. The former ace jockey reflects on the day he shared in a precious piece of racing history. Two wins on the same day on the same horse at a Warwick Farm Saturday meeting. Leon remembers the contract he was offered when Hong Kong racing went professional in the early 70’s. He stayed for 8 years.   He has some wonderful tales to tell about his Hong Kong experienc

It’s great to catch up with Tommy Berry who’s currently in second place on both the NSW and metropolitan jockeys premierships. Tom talks about the fierce competition in the Sydney riding ranks. He outlines his very busy trackwork format. Tom talks about his apprenticeship to his father and chief tutor Kevin Berry.  The champion young jockey looks back on a frightening accident which could have turned him off horses forever. He looks back on his inauspicious debut at Hawkesbury, and an exciting maiden win at Newcastle on a mare trained by his father. Tommy reflects on his Magic Millions win on Karuta Queen and the unforgettable thrill of his first Gr 1. He looks back on a thrilling Gr 1 double at Randwick in 2012. The two races were only 45 minutes apart. The twenty nine year old pays tribute to the filly who gave him the first of his two Golden Slipper wins. He wasn’t even sure he’d retain the Slipper ride at one stage. He reminisces about his first Gr 1 for the Waller stable and the injury sustained

It’s now twelve years since Norm Lang put away the harness and hopples for the last time. The game of bowls now commands his full attention. The eighty five year old has vivid memories of his exciting journey with Steel Jaw- the $5000 horse he took from a maiden pace to a NZ Cup in a very short time. He covers the whole Steel Jaw story, and for trots fans it’s riveting listening. Norm takes us back to his days as an Ampol agent at Mittagong, and his introduction to trotting by local trainer George Walton. He remembers his first winning drive at Canowindra and the near accident before he even left the parade yard. The veteran horseman recalls his purchase of a broodmare and the success he had with her two foals. Norm pays tribute to a select group of horses who took him to a prominent spot on the Harold Park trainer’s ladder. He talks about the reputation he enjoyed of being able to keep horses up for long periods of time. Norm quit race driving in the 1991/92 season but continued to train for another 1

Great to catch up with the man who co-founded OTI Racing and Bloodstock in 1999 with high profile sportsman and TV personality Simon O’Donnell. He talks of his early life in Melbourne and the pacer who triggered his fascination with horses. Terry looks back on the creation of his company Pacers Australia which syndicated two horses destined for greatness. The duo won three Miracle Miles and many Gr 1 races between them. Terry talks of his good fortune in being invited to join the ownership syndicate which raced the wonderful galloper Doriemus- winner of 3.5 million dollars.  He takes us back to his time at night school and his own company Henderson Consultants which he later sold to French interests. Terry talks of the origins of the famous OTI colours. The devoted horse lover profiles many of the good horses to carry the OTI colours in recent years. Terry talks of company policy regarding horses purchased overseas. He acknowledges the many trainers employed by OTI in Australia and overseas. Terry pay

Pat says this may well be his final interview. I doubt that strongly, but either way it’s a tribute to a man who endeared himself to the Sydney racing world for almost 6 decades. He reviews an emotional day at Newcastle on Dec 5th when he saddled his final runner. He talks of the heartfelt tribute paid to him by the ATC at a Randwick meeting the following week. Pat talks about his long time role as a drugs and alcohol consultant for Racing NSW- a role he hopes to continue for a long time to come. The experienced horseman reflects on his initial indentureship to Betty Lane in the tiny township of Geurie, and his time with astute trainer Bernie Byrnes at Randwick. Pat remembers the horses who contributed to his successful apprenticeship with special mention of a grand little horse called Medieval Maestro. He recalls the horror fall at Rosehill which left him with a long list of injuries, and virtually ended his riding career. Pat looks back on six years away from racing when he gained a rigger’s certifica

Great to catch up with one of Australia’s ever increasing number of female jockeys. The lady with a name that catches the eye, is 37 years old and could be the nation’s oldest apprentice. Kath Bell-Pitomac talks about the gruelling travelling she undertakes to ride at meetings all over the state. Kath reminisces about her nomadic childhood. She talks of early days in South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. Horses were always her chief interest. She recalls her first introduction to racehorses at Pioneer Park racetrack Alice Springs. Kath recalls her first job as a professional trackwork rider. She talks of a move to Newcastle and the trainer who signed her to an apprenticeship.  The mature age apprentice remembers her early winners and the beginning of her relationship with the fellow jockey who would become her husband. Kath looks back on her break away from racing. She lost the desire completely and didn’t ride a racehorse for ten years.   She talks of her return to trackwork at Welli

An overdue chat with one of Australia’s best known trainers. Clarry discloses his reasons for selling Victory Lodge- the landmark stables from which he produced a stunning 39 Gr 1 winners. He admits it was quite a wrench when the reality sunk in. He talks of his relocation with fifteen horses to the nearby stables of his son Marc. He hints at the possibility of an official partnership down the track. Clarry takes us on a trip down memory lane to the days when he and his father Clarry Senior were sleeping on battered bunks in a stable at Cessnock. To this day the trainer sees the funny side of the story. He talks of the influence of the father who lived to the grand age of 98. Clarry says he was a wonderful mentor. Clarry remembers his very first winner and the two year old colt who gave him his first taste of Gr 1 glory. He pays a fitting tribute to the filly who funded the construction of his new home in Hope St Warwick Farm. He admits his previous house was falling apart. Research was among the best o

This is a laid back chat with one of the real characters of NSW country racing. Rod begins by outlining his reasons for handing over his Nyngan training operation to son Brett at the end of the 2019/2020 season. He explains why he’s currently in Dubbo looking after a big team of horses for fellow trainer Clint Lundholm. Rodney takes us on a sentimental journey beginning with his family’s move from Forbes to Nyngan when he was just fourteen months old. You won’t believe their mode of transport in 1955. He reflects on the time he spent with father Clive in the droving days. Together they would move large flocks of sheep or mobs of cattle long distances in dry times. Rod looks back on his first job with NSW Railways. He remembers his duties and the great camaraderie that existed between mates. His involvement with thoroughbreds began when he was asked to ride trackwork by local trainers. He says the pay was light. Rodney remembers his first horse float and his first horse- a real cheapie! He says he’s had

Great to catch up with one of Australia’s most popular race callers. Danny made his mark as a gallops caller early in his career, but decided to accept an offer from HRV in 1996. Trotting is the richer for that decision. He begins by explaining the origins of his surname. Danny recalls the heady days of his childhood when he would go to the track with his father Richard. He was greatly influenced by the sound of the race call.   He tells the story of the freak opportunity that landed in his lap at age eight, and the wonderful journey that was to follow. It sounds like fiction but it’s true! Danny remembers the day he called a budding superstar at the Berrigan races and the endless practice hours that followed in Melbourne as he honed his craft. The popular broadcaster looks back on the priceless opportunity he received with Network Ten and the media legend with whom he shared race calling duties. Danny reflects on some of his 13 Melbourne Cup calls for the network, and the tempting offer from Harness Ra

Shane begins by talking about his return to NZ when Covid took hold in Asia. He pays tribute to his mother Dawn who has him at home again after many years. The former champion jockey reflects on four Hong Kong race falls the last of which could easily have claimed his life. He talks of his current role as professional punter on Hong Kong racing. Shane talks of his father and grandfather who were both jockeys, and his indentureship to champion trainer Dave O’Sullivan. He looks back on the very first of his 2000 winners and his maiden trip to Melbourne. It had quite an impact on him. Shane remembers the offer from trainer Brian Smith that brought him to Sydney. He comments on his early reputation as a poacher of rides from fellow jockeys. He talks of his unusual attitude to trackwork. He was very different to many other jockeys. Shane reviews his association with a lengthy list of notable horses with special emphasis on a handful of champions. He looks back on his controversial ride on Veandercross in t

How lovely it is to catch up with a bloke I called on hundreds of winners during his golden years in the saddle. Kevin Langby spent six full seasons as stable rider for T.J.Smith, during which time he bagged four Sydney premierships. Kev takes us back to his childhood days in Orange and to his initial apprenticeship to Max Wardle. He later transferred to leading central western trainer Dick Cornish. He looks back on his father’s insistence that he should transfer to a Sydney trainer. He says he was lucky to find a spot with astute horseman Fred Hood. Kevin remembers the early winners and the first top class horse he got to ride. The former champion jockey reflects on his time as stable jockey to Arthur Ward and the retainer he was offered by Sir Frank Packer. Kevin says his association with Tommy Smith just evolved. Not once did the legendary trainer verbally confirm the partnership. He talks of Smith’s attitude to his jockeys and his acceptance of defeat.  The seventy four year old looks back on the t