John Tapp Racing

Great to catch up with popular Malcolm Fitzgerald who looks back on a horror two weeks in which the bushfires came dangerously close to the Racing NSW property he manages near Taree. Mal talks of the job he loves, as he and partner Holly supervise the welfare of 60 former racehorses at Oxley Island. The couple assess and place suitable horses in the right homes.  Mal reflects on his childhood with foster parents and the ambition to become a jockey. He talks of early days as a bush apprentice and the opportunity that led him to a job with the huge Nebo Lodge operation at Rosehill. Mal looks back on a torturous battle with weight which almost certainly contributed to the bout of encephalitis that sidelined him for 9 months. Through the toughest of times Malcolm Fitzgerald has never lost his sense of humour. It’s very evident all the way through this chat with one of racing’s good blokes.

An absorbing chat with a Nyngan based jockey who turns 27 this week. She explains the reason for her move from Tamworth to drought ravaged Nyngan. Wendy talks about her endless trip from Nyngan to ride at a recent Toowoomba meeting, and the return trip to the Warren (NSW) races the following day. She recalls her early introduction to horses and the many disciplines she learned in the saddle. Wendy takes us through her experiences on stud farms at home and overseas. She identifies the turning point. The moment she knew she wanted to be a jockey. Wendy reflects on a stint with Gai Waterhouse and apprenticeships to Peter Robl at Randwick and Sue Grills at Tamworth. She looks back on a horror fall at Tamworth in March which caused major damage to her right shoulder. Wendy pays tribute to her favourite horses and horse people. This lady was born to ride. There’s nothing else she’d rather do. A great listen is Wendy Peel.

This is a different kind of podcast. Rather than talk to an established racehorse syndicator, we introduce a man who has just started out in a tough business. David Thompson talks of a love of racing born when he struck a profitable Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double in 1993. He recalls the win by Fraar and the dream that led him to coupling the horse with a bank of Melbourne Cup runners. He bought a car out of the winnings. Dave talks of a job redundancy and a sudden illness that laid him low for a full year. He recalls the support of wife Jacqui who encouraged him to have a crack at racehorse syndication. Dave recalls his first yearling sale at Scone, and the second at Inglis 2018 Classic Sale. So far he’s purchased only three yearlings. One is yet to be syndicated. He talks of the people who’ve joined him so far with a couple of touching stories thrown in. Dave reflects on the TAB Sponsorship that allowed Thompson Thoroughbreds to sponsor a race at Albury. This is a bloke who’s following a dream.

The talented jockey talks of his busy life and the arduous travelling he does to attend country and provincial meetings. Christian talks of school days in Queensland and the unlikely subject he took a liking to. He talks of his apprenticeship to the man destined to become his father in law. He looks back on an accident that could have finished his career before it started. Christian talks of his very first race ride, and the thrill of his first win. The popular jockey reveals that he was diagnosed with depression as a teenager. Christian talks with total honesty about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction. He reflects on an offer to become stable jockey for Graham Rogerson at Randwick. The winners continued to flow despite his emotional problems. The jockey looks back on his nervous breakdown and months of rehabilitation. He talks of the moment he knew he wanted to ride again. Christian recalls his return to Sydney and the resurgence of his career with the support of many trainers. He pays tribute to the

Blake looks back on school holidays at Moree with his late grandfather, one of his valued tutors. The young jockey reflects on his apprenticeship to Newcastle trainer Steve Hodge. He talks of the magic moment when he won at his very first race ride. Blake looks back on the unforgettable day at Rosehill when he rode five winners on a Saturday programme. He pays tribute to Sir John Hawkwood, the imported English horse who gave him a maiden Group 1 victory. He looks back on the days when his manager was his mother Leanda Blake remembers the good horses and the trainers who’ve helped him along the way.

Blake talks of the nasty fall at Hawkesbury which cost him many months of race riding. He expands on his current situation at the regular Newcastle and Kembla Saturday meetings where his services are being used by Godolphin and other high profile stables. Blake talks of his impending marriage to Rachel King and the way in which he popped the question. Blake reflects on his childhood as the son of busy jockey Dale Spriggs who refused some tempting offers to come to town. He reflects on school days when he showed special talents in athletics and on the soccer field.

Anybody who watches Sky Racing on Saturday nights will be aware of the achievements of Skye Bogenhuber at the regular Toowoomba meetings in recent years. The thoroughly professional jockey has won 5 Toowoomba premierships, and went very close to a sixth. Skye talks of her recent return to the saddle following a six months enforced lay off. She suffered a bleed to the brain in a nasty fall at the Toowoomba jump outs, and faced a long period of rehabilitation. You’ll enjoy her recollections of life growing up in the NSW Blue Mountains, and her trips to the local Pub and Club TAB with her late father Joe. She talks of her passion for athletics during school days, and an obsession with training. Skye reflects on her time as a student at the Uni of NSW. She has never forgotten the moment she spotted a racehorse from her classroom window opposite Randwick racecourse. She takes us through her learning period in riding tuition at the Richmond TAFE, and her subsequent apprenticeships in Grafton and Brisbane. The Bogen

Just on a year ago I had the pleasure of recording a lengthy chat with a man who has been a major player in the ranks of  Australia’s harness racing drivers for 45 years. Gavin Lang at age 60 is currently battling a rare form of lymphoma at Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital. He’s a week into his second round of chemotherapy, and is uppermost in the thoughts of his fans and friends around the nation. If you missed the podcast on its initial posting, I hope you can tune in this time to hear the legendary horseman reflect on a stellar career. He talks of his return to the training ranks after years of freelance race driving. He talks of the miles he’s travelled to achieve 6300 career wins. He pays tribute to his father Graham Lang, himself a master horseman and a wonderful tutor in the early days. Gavin reflects on the long list of outstanding horses he’s had the pleasure to drive. He talks of his role models among Victoria’s driving ranks of the 70’s and 80’s. His current illness is not his first. He recalls another

In part one Craig talks about his recent haul of winners at the two day Kalgoorlie Cup carnival. He explains why he made the surprise move to return to his home state of Tasmania after many successful years in Melbourne. Her remembers his early days as an apprentice in Tasmania. Craig recalls the surprise phone call from Lee Freedman offering him a job that any apprentice in Australia would have died for. He talks of his very first Gr 1 winner, and the disqualification that turned his life upside down. Craig reflects on his association with the brilliant mare Miss Andretti, and reveals that her temperament didn’t match her great talent. He remembers his whirlwind trip to the UK and the thrill of winning the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Miss Andretti. Craig heaps praise on one of his all time favourites Pompeii Ruler. Many will be surprised to learn that Newitt rates this horse the best he’s ridden. The jockey looks back on the day he was summoned into the stewards room to be given some tragic news. H

In this segment Bernie reflects on his search for the ideal standardbred training property. He found the place of his dreams at George’s Plains. He pays tribute to the talented horses who’ve helped him along in a tough business. Bernie elaborates on his liking for younger horses. He’s never been one to hang onto older horses forever. He prefers to move them on in order to try a new batch.

Bernie recalls his freakish fall at Eugowra recently, and the injuries he sustained. He looks back on early days on the farm at Crookwell (NSW) and the lessons he learned from his late father Tom. Bernie reflects on the neighbor’s horse that gave him his first winning drive. The master horseman remembers Nikalong Shadow the first really good horse he got to drive. Tom Hewitt trained Nikalong Shadow but Bernie drove him to 43 wins. Bernie talks about the offer from a prominent owner/breeder which prompted his move from Crookwell to Bathurst twenty years ago.

Brilliant WA apprentice Jade McNaught reflects on her history making feat at the Belmont track on September 14th 2019, when she became the first apprentice in the state to win six races in one day on a metro track. Jade talks of her decision to become an apprentice jockey at age 30, twice the age of most junior riders. She reflects on her first two ponies and her achievements at pony club and in the show ring. Jade remembers the experience she gained working with performance horses and on a well known WA stud farm. Jade McNaught’s journey has been an inspiring one. She talks to us from the Geraldton races at the end of a four hour road trip from Perth.

Suman looks back on his time with Woodside Park Stud, and a request from Sheriff Iskander which led him to the purchase of a Northern Meteor colt later to be known as Zoustar. He talks of his decision to leave the breeding side of the business to concentrate on yearlings, weanlings and overseas horses. Suman talks of the backing he’s getting from loyal supporters who are prepared to back his judgement. He discusses the upsurge in weanling sales and the new concept known as ‘pin hooking”. Suman talks of a recent pleasant surprise provided by a pin hooker. He pays tribute to the people who help him raise and nurture the young bloodstock he intends to sell on.  He acknowledges the contribution of his wife Natalia who has supported him every step of the way.

In Part 1 Suman talks about the shattering disappointment of losing two promising European imports to injury. He updates the progress of Django Freeman and Schabau and looks to the future with both horses. Suman recalls his days at school and a stint at University, but much prefers to talk about his early visits to the Inglis Yearling sales. He takes us through his chance meeting with businessman Sheriff  Iskander- a meeting destined to shape his destiny. Suman reflects on his time as racing manager John O’Shea and the lessons he learned from the successful trainer. He takes us back to the fateful day when he spent every last dollar to buy a broodmare called Myrrh in foal to Testa Rossa. He sold that yearling for $260,000 and then proceeded to breed a Doncaster winner from his prized mare. Suman was on his way. Suman tells the story of his involvement with Written Tycoon a stallion destined for much bigger things.

Greg begins by talking about his dream horse Pierata and the proposed stud venture which seemed likely to terminate the stallion’s racing career. He talks of the surprise decision to put him back into work. The popular Warwick Farm trainer reflects on his early days at Gunnedah, and his first involvement with horses. Greg talks about his fleeting career as an amateur jockey, and his early days as a trainer when stabled on the Boggabri Showground. He talks of his association with trainers Geoff Smith and Colleen Underhill. Greg reflects on nine happy years working for the mighty Crown Lodge operation. He pays tribute to the horses who brought him under notice as a commercial trainer.

Glenn talks of his childhood days living at Rosehill when there was only one trotting trainer in a bustling thoroughbred precinct. That trainer took young Glenn under his wing and had him in the sulky from a very early age. Glenn recalls the closure of the Granville Showground to make way for the Parramatta Speedway. He and his brothers had to move their horses to Bankstown which turned out to be a life changing move for the budding harness driver. He reflects on five incredible years in the  early part of the millenium when he drove a huge number of winners. Glenn pays tribute to the trainers who’ve helped him along the way, and to the best horses he’s driven. He talks of his hopes for the future.  

I’ve been wanting to catch up with the remarkable Clare Lindop for a long time. It’s hard to believe fifteen months have passed since the former trailblazing jockey called it quits. In a twenty year career Clare won 1432 races including 4 Gr 1’s and a long list of stakes events. She achieved several firsts. She was the first Aussie female to ride in a Melbourne Cup, and the first female to win the historic Victoria Derby. Clare talks of her early days in country Victoria and the move to South Australia in 1999 destined to launch her career. She talks of thrilling wins in the Vic and SA  Derbies, Adelaide Cup, Goodwood Hcp and Magic Millions. Clare pays tribute to the people who helped her along the way. Remember Clare Lindop came up in an era when lady jockeys were still struggling to gain recognition. She proved the doubters wrong in spectacular fashion.

Gary Harley entered another exciting phase of his career in 1988, when the Newcastle Knights entered the competition. He reflects on many happy years as the Knights official caller and the hysteria of their first premiership win. He pays tribute to the brilliant Luskin Star, the dynamic colt from the coalfields who won the 2YO Triple Crown in 1977. Gary recalls the best performers he got to call in the three codes. He talks of his current role in form analysis for Sky Thoroughbred Central and the many hours of research involved. He pays tribute to his wife Sue who’s courageously battling ill health, and his sons Todd and Troy. Both have inherited Dad’s love of racing. Gary Harley’s earthy style and Jimmy Durante voice, have made him a very recognizable figure on the vast Sky Network. He’s a very normal bloke from  Maitland and that’s a big part of his charm.

In part 1 the affable Harley talks of his childhood days in Maitland and the influence of his father Jack, who was a racing tragic. Gary talks of his school days at the Maitland Marist Bros and the phantom Melbourne Cup call he was asked to provide every year. He talks of his passion for all sports and his own experiences in cricket and football. He tells a couple of stories about a young cricketer from Dungog who became a legend in later years. Gary looks back on the wonderful opportunity he received from John McDermott at the Singleton dogs. He and Macca remain very close friends to this day. Gary reflects on his first job with the Rural Bank and a transfer to Murwillumbah. He’s never forgotten the surprise phone call he received from Ray Warren - a call destined to change his life. Things moved quickly for Harley when the doyen of Newcastle race callers Billy Hill suddenly retired. Gary explains the sad circumstances of Bill’s shock decision.

Clare talks of her happy childhood on a Bairnsdale property and her earliest involvement with horses. She pays tribute to her parents Daniel and Julie who taught her the basics of horse management. Clare recalls her days as a nurse and the part time job she needed to supplement her income. She remembers the thrill of taking 5 horses to Queensland for top trainer Peter Moody. One of those horses was pretty special. The gifted horse woman looks back on the surprise offer she received from Peter Moody - a job that would take her to Sydney and an exciting new challenge. Clare talks of her transition to the training ranks at Warwick Farm and the support she receives from her partner, top jockey Jason Collett.