John Tapp Racing

In part 2 Ian reflects on the emergence of station 2KY in the Sydney thoroughbred market. He got to call the gallops from 1974 in opposition to 2UE,2GB and the ABC. He recalls the station struggled with huge costs in maintaining the service, and considered pulling out of the race. That all changed in 1981 when 2GB dropped its racing coverage, and KY inherited the national network. Ian recalls his favourite races from the mid 1970’s until his retirement in 2009.

In part 1 Ian talks about the childhood illness that put him in bed for several months. He couldn’t wait for the Saturday race broadcasts to arrive. His love of racing evolved in that era. He talks about his early days at the Richmond dogs and the Lithgow trots. He reminisces about the letter he wrote to 2UE management, and the surprise response which put him behind the microphone at the Harold park trots. Ian looks back on the 1960’s when huge crowds flocked to Harold Park to see some of the legendary horses and horsemen of harness racing’s golden era.

Delighted to introduce an old friend. Hilton Cope was one of Australia’s best jockeys in his day, but endless wasting was making his life a misery. After 6 Group 1 wins, and great success overseas he made the snap decision to quit in the mid 1970’s. He talks of the rigours of the sweat box, and the wonderful moments he had in Sydney racing. Hilton talks of the spelling farm he established in the Hunter Valley, which he ran for three decades. Older racing fans will enjoy this great jockey’s reflections on an exciting era in Sydney racing.

Barry Baldwin’s racing life began as an apprentice jockey at Roma in Queensland. He rode a few winners, but by age 18 couldn’t ride under 57kgs. His training career started in Roma, gravitated to Toowoomba and then to Brisbane where he’s been twice champion trainer. He picked up a Stradbroke Hcp along the way, and has trained many very talented horses. Barry tells his story in a very earthy way. There’s plenty of Queenslander in this bloke.

In part two Dan pays tribute to the wonderful trainers who helped him along the way. He reflects on very successful riding stints in Hong Kong and Macau. He was the first Australian Club Jockey to be appointed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He talks of some of the very good horses he got to ride in Melbourne including his Blue Diamond winner Knowledge. Towards the end of the podcast he confesses that he has actually been on a horse’s back in the last couple of years. Silly thing to do perhaps, but he loved it! We enjoyed the chat with a remarkable bloke, and I’m pretty sure Danny enjoyed it too.

In part one Danny brings us right up to date with his current amazing progress. He takes us back to the terrible fall at Moonee Valley that snatched away a great career. His list of injuries was horrific, and his vital signs actually disappeared on the way to hospital. He refused to believe the Neurosurgeon who told him he’d never walk again. Danny handled it his own way, and continues to confound the experts.

Always great to catch up with a “bush” trainer and this week it’s Port Macquarie’s Jenny Graham who talks about her current star galloper Victorem. Jenny reflects on her early life on a Wauchope dairy farm, and her childhood fascination with horses. She talks about her love affair with campdrafting, showjumping and eventing- all the things that gave her invaluable experience. Jen talks of her two daughters one a trainer, and the other a very talented jockey.

We catch up with retiring auctioneer Peter Heagney who sold his final lot on behalf of Inglis at last week’s Great Southern sale. Peter talks of his mixed emotions as he brought down the gavel on a fifty year career working for three different companies, the last 25 years with Inglis. Peter talks of his early days with his father, legendary trainer Grahame Heagney who prepared champions like Tobin Bronze. He talks of the yearling he sold destined to be a world champion racehorse, and the special people who touched his life.

In Part 2 of the podcast Colin reflects on Group 1 wins by Ista Kareem and Blutigeroo- two horses he got second hand. He talks about the prospects of some of his current team including the headstrong Vassilator who beat all but The Autumn Sun in last year’s Caulfield Guineas. Colin reflects on his association with some of Melbourne’s best jockeys. He pays one of  them a heartfelt tribute.

In Part 1 trainer Colin Little talks about the shock he received to learn that Caulfield will close as a training base in 2023. He talks of his early life riding ponies on the racecourse and his short career as an apprentice jockey. He’s never forgotten his first city winner as a trainer- a win that clinched a premiership for a famous jockey. He pays tribute to the wonderful El Segundo, the best horse he’s ever trained.

New Zealand has long been the breeding ground of great horses and great horsemen. On behalf of HRNSW we catch up with champion Kiwi harness trainer/driver Colin de Fillipe. Colin talks of his early days in the sport and his first winning drive at Greymouth in 1974. That was the first of well over 2000 winning drives for the South Island horseman. Colin reflects on the great pacer Courage Under Fire who won a total of 41 races. Bruce Negus trained the champ for the first half of his career, and De Fillipe drove him in 24 consecutive victories. Col also talks about the bonny mare Kym’s Girl which he co-trained and drove to win the famous NZ Cup. Trot fans will enjoy this trip down memory lane with a gentleman of NZ harness racing.

Great to catch up with the ebullient John Holloway whose career as a racing writer began with the defunct Sydney Sun in 1959. Holly talks about his inner city childhood, and those early days in the print media when he got to work with some of his boyhood idols. He takes us through a long and diversified career, paying tribute to some of the  special people he met on his journey. At 75 John is still contributing a popular weekly column “Bloodlines” in the Sydney Morning Herald. He’s a regular at the yearling sales where he assists a couple of high profile breeders.

In this segment Danny talks about the job offer that changed his life. He was invited to become private trainer for former Wallaby and Eastern Suburbs League star Alan Cardy. Alan had set up a state of the art training facility at Goulburn, and Danny realised it was time to have a serious crack at training. Now freelancing at Goulburn, the experienced horseman produces regular winners on country and metro tracks. He has a tremendous strike rate in the TAB HIghway races.

Great to catch up with Danny Williams, a familiar character on racetracks with his trademark stetson. Danny, a son of former respected bush jockey Harry Williams, had a spectacular career as an amateur rider, and a successful transition to the pro ranks. In this episode he talks about some of his experiences on crude and dusty bush tracks, and his torturous battle with weight. He talks about his final days as an amateur when he won 8 from 13 races at Cairns.

he word “retirement” is not in George Altomonte’s vocabulary. The sprightly 83 year old is almost as busy today, as he was in the 60’s when he was building a huge car dealership network. George talks of childhood days at his father’s market garden, and the little automotive workshop he started at age 20. Today he controls ten car dealerships on Sydney’s North Side, an extensive property development portfolio, and rural properties including his famous Corumbene Stud. George likes to ‘sell the colts” and “keep the fillies” from his breeding operation. One of his fillies, Overreach gave her owner the thrill of a lifetime by winning the 2013 Golden Slipper.

Great to welcome Allan Denham to the podcast. His trademark humour is ever-present as he looks back on his time as an apprentice jockey. His friends thought he’d last five minutes. He hung in there for seven years, riding 400 winners and winning an apprentices premiership. He talks about “life with Jack” and the difficulties of living in the shadow of the legendary trainer. He pays tribute to some of his father’s owners who have stuck solid since Jack’s passing in 2009. He fondly recalls some of the top horses he got to ride and train.

We catch up with Alan “Groovy” Scorse who just recently relinquished his trainer’s licence following a concerning medical report. Alan talks candidly about an optic nerve tumour first diagnosed in 2017. He got the all clear after extensive treatment, and got on with the job. When the tumour returned recently he decided to quit training to concentrate fully on a lengthy treatment regime. Alan took the first step to becoming a jockey when he knocked on the door of legendary trainer Harry Plant at Randwick. Then followed a successful stint with Ray Guy at Rosehill. “Groovy” talks about his 35 years in the saddle, 1269 winners and a couple of Gr 1’s.

In Part 2 Steven takes us through the running of the 1991 Melbourne Cup. He couldn’t have wished for a better 22nd birthday present. He pays tribute to some of the great horses he rode during his stellar career, including Hong Kong champion Fairy King Prawn. He makes special mention of a few jockeys for whom he had special admiration. Finally he talks about the emergence of his son Lachlan as one of Victoria’s top apprentices. Steve King fans will enjoy his trip down memory lane.

In Part 1 Steve brings us up to date with his current role at the famous Macedon Lodge training complex. He reflects on his apprenticeship to trainer John Meagher,and his early winners. He remembers that first, exciting Group 1 victory in the SA Oaks, and John Meagher’s move to Flemington when the developers took over the Epsom training precinct. He reflects on his friendship with Leon Corstens, the man who was instrumental in securing him the ride on Let’s Elope. In Part 1 Steve looks back on the great mare’s wins in the Caulfield Cup and  LKS McKinnon Stakes.

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”.