John Tapp Racing

Punters and racing fans who follow southern districts racing are familiar with the name of Nick Souquet. The veteran jockey has been a fixture down south for all of his thirty years in the saddle.  I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Nick Souquet  which was all the more reason to get him on the podcast for a chat about his successful career. Nick says he’s never met another person in Australia who goes by his surname. He talks of his home base at Wodonga which enables him to ride in two states. Nick says he’s able to control his weight when riding regular trackwork. The veteran jockey speaks glowingly of the talents of Al bury trainer Mitchell Beer. He talks of recent winning rides at prominent Victorian tracks. Nick pays tribute to his wife Laura and three children whose ages range from 5 to 15. He acknowledges his wife’s riding career which finished after a nasty race fall. The jockey looks back on childhood days growing up on the well known Coppabella Pastoral property near Tumbarumba. He reflects on a c

Punters and racing fans are familiar with the maroon, yellow and white silks of Mystery Downs, a company managed by Frank and Christine  Cook. The Cooks share in the ownership of enough horses around Australia to warrant the services of twenty five trainers. Frank took over full time management of Mystery Downs after selling his chain of nursing homes in 2014. In previous years he’d been the state and federal President/Chairman of the Australian Nursing Home Association. He begins by talking about his part ownership in Everest contender Lost And Running. Frank takes us back to childhood days in the Sydney suburb of Dundas where he and family would crowd around the radio to listen to the broadcast of trotting events. They devised a unique method of wagering. He talks of his interest in harness racing and his regular attendance at the iconic Harold Park track. Frank looks back on his job with the Department of Labour and National Service. He then had a stint with the Health Dept before receiving an offer to joi

With the Melbourne Cup only a month away the familiar trivia questions are starting to pop up in the pubs and clubs. One popular question is the one about the oldest person still living who has trained a Melbourne Cup winner. The answer of course is Mick Robins who won it twice with the great stayer Rain Lover in 1968 and 69. I’ve actually had a couple of recent emails requesting a podcast with the veteran trainer. The fact is I recorded an interview with Mick two and a half years ago, and he was a delight to talk to. Tell you what, why don’t we run it again at this special time of year. He begins by talking about his stint as an apprentice butcher in war time Broken Hill. Mick looks back on his days below the surface of the earth helping to mine the silver, zinc and lead that would bring great prosperity to Broken Hill. He talks of his early attraction to horses and a brief career as an amateur jockey. Mick remembers gaining his first trainer’s licence and a horse called Sir Haydon who got him up and running

Nineteen years have passed since Stan Aitken called time on his successful riding career. The multiple Gr 1 winning jockey continued to work in the racing industry as a groundsman for the Ballarat Race Club until his retirement a few years ago. Stan clearly recalls his final ride in the Ararat Gold Cup of 2003. He talks of his decision to quit when opportunities dried up. He looks back on his working years at the Ballarat racecourse. Stan reflects on his childhood in the idyllic Tasmanian town of Penguin, and his earliest connection with horses. He remembers his move to Victoria and an apprenticeship to local trainer Jack Whitelaw where he learned about life in a racing stable. After twelve months he transferred to Norm Creighton at Caulfield. His first race ride was on a horse destined for fame as a hurdler. Stan looks back on the thrill of riding his first winner at Yarra Glen. His first city win was even more exciting. He made it a double on the day for good measure. He explains yet another stable switch w

Mark Newnham’s career story is one of a young bloke who held on to his dream like a dog with an old boot. From the first day his father took him to the races, young Newnham knew he wanted a future with horses. He says his passion has never waned. Mark talks of the difficulties of running a dual operation at Randwick and Warwick Farm. He was relieved when more boxes became available at headquarters.  He reflects on his training statistics over the last two seasons. Mark elaborates on the little known fact that his maternal grandfather Bert Condon was a successful jockey as far back as the 1920’s and 30’s. He remembers with affection the many times he tagged along when his father, newspaper executive John Newnham was a regular at Sydney race meetings. Mark recalls work experience with Bob Thomsen, a dream job as travelling foreman for Bart Cummings and an overseas stint when he rode work for some legendary horsemen. He looks back on his first apprenticeship to Graeme Begg and a transfer to Ron Quinton. He remem

Racing historian Dennis Najim recently sent me audio recordings of some of Galilee’s memorable wins in Melbourne in the  mid 1960’s. The NZ bred stayer dominated the Victorian Spring carnival of 1966 winning the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in dominant fashion. The following autumn Galilee trounced his opposition in the Sydney Cup becoming the first horse to win the big treble in the same season- a distinction he still holds. The pigeon toed gelding with the suspect action was once described by jockey John Miller as an “express train”. This tribute features race calls by legendary commentators Bill Collins, Bert Bryant and Ken Howard. Thanks to Dennis Najim and Supernova Sound we’re delighted to present a tribute to one of the best horses of his generation.

After a wonderfully successful decade training from his Murwillumbah base, Matt Dunn surprised a few people when he elected to open a metropolitan stable. The first negative was his ineligibility for the weekly TAB Highways which he’d dominated since their inception in 2015. Matt talks about the numbers in his Rosehill and Murwillumbah stables. He acknowledges the contribution of Holly Julius who runs the northern operation. Matt talks of his frequent visits to the northern rivers. The trainer talks of the easy access to many racetracks from the Murwillumbah stables. He lauds the vastly improved country prize money levels. Matt trained under Gerald Ryan’s name for the first two years at Murwillumbah. He explains how the concept came about. He admits he was sad to have to forfeit the right to run in the TAB Highways. The talented trainer talks about a successful run enjoyed by the operation through the month of August. Matt reflects on his childhood fascination with horses. He learned to ride at a Frenchs Fore

I caught up with John Wade at the recent Jockeys Reunion and the idea of a podcast immediately sprang to mind. He’s not the kind of bloke to talk about his many achievements in the saddle, but happily I was able to pin him down. John is now in his early 70’s, lives on the Gold Coast and works full time for a Pathology Company.  He tells us more about the job and the enormous number of miles he travels every week. John talks of early days at Newcastle following in the footsteps of his late father Bill, who dominated the Newcastle and Hunter riding ranks for many years. Bill won 13 Newcastle premierships. He recalls one thrilling Newcastle premiership which went right down to the wire. John recalls the Gunnedah barrier trial accident which terminated Bill’s career. He talks of the unorthodox way in which he learned to ride, and his subsequent indentureship to a legendary Newcastle trainer. John looks back on the predictable early career highlights- first race ride, first winner and first metropolitan winner. He

Enjoy nothing more than heading “bush” for our podcast chats. This week we go to Big River Country to catch up with Grafton trainer Dwayne Schmidt who operates a twenty horse operation from Grafton. After a successful training stint in Queensland, Dwayne headed back to NSW when the track problems at Eagle Farm persisted. He admits he was sorry to leave Brisbane. Dwayne says he strongly considered Ballina as a training base before settling on Grafton. He has some nice things to say about the promising Alf’s Magic. Durnstein produced a stunning maiden win at Grafton during the July carnival. Dwayne talks about the potential of this promising son of Exosphere. Dwayne takes us back to his riding career which began with an apprenticeship to Leslie Picken when Canterbury was still a training base. He still finds it hard to believe he actually rode his first winner on the hallowed turf of Royal Randwick. Dwayne remembers a two horse track gallop at Canterbury which gave him almost as much satisfaction as a race win.

Had Greg Radley not tried his hand as a radio presenter in Brisbane and Sydney he may still be calling races in the Hunter Valley where it all began thirty five years ago. His curiosity about other avenues of sports media saw him develop a special talent as a presenter and interviewer. Today he’s the polished professional who hosts several key Sky Thoroughbred Central programmes. We talk to Greg about his fascinating journey to the top of his profession.  He describes his enduring love for his hometown of Newcastle. Greg pays tribute to his father Terry, a former top sportswriter for the Newcastle Herald and other publications. He talks of Terry’s passion for harness racing and those fun filled nights at the old Newcastle Showground track.  He speaks fondly of mother Ann, brothers Michael and Tony and his only sister Clare. Greg acknowledges the tremendous support he got from the late John McDermott in the early years.  “Macca” became his tutor and close friend. He tells a great story about the night the broa

You can’t say Neil Paine has created a trend with his wardrobe of colourful outfits because nobody else has followed a similar path. Unperturbed he’ll continue to set the pace in his role as race day manager for the Waterhouse/Bott yard. Neil joins us on the podcast to talk about his riding career and his current role. He explains the origins of the race day apparel. Neil reflects on the Noumea race fall that ended his very successful riding career. He looks back on a lengthy rehabilitation and the phone call from Gai Waterhouse which would decide his life after race riding. Neil looks back on an association with the stable which began when Tommy Smith regularly provided him with rides. Gai continued to use Neil’s services following her father’s retirement. He talks about his involvement with trackwork and his role when representing the stable at outside meetings. The former jockey talks of the breach of Covid protocol which landed him in hot water on Golden Slipper day 2020. Neil pays tribute to his father R

Great to catch up with trainer Nick Olive who looks like surviving yet another Canberra winter. Nick takes us back to the fateful day when his father took him and brother Tim to a Canberra race meeting. He says the die was cast on that very day. The trainer talks of his recent Covid 19 isolation. Nick agrees with some fellow ACT trainers who don’t wish to train anywhere else despite some concerning insurance issues under the ACT Government. He talks of his manageable team of 20-25 horses. Nick remembers childhood days when he’d help a local thoroughbred trainer before reporting for school. He talks of subsequent learning stints with a leading Rosehill trainer, and a now famous thoroughbred stud. Olive talks of a two year experience at the Orange Agricultural Institute- a promise he made to his parents. Nick talks of his first serious job under the tutelage of respected trainer Ken Callaghan. He explains the circumstances surrounding an accident that frightened the daylights out of him. He says it could have b

Received a surprise email from Harry Troy who says he’s a regular listener to our podcasts in Macau. It suddenly struck me that we hadn’t recorded a chat with this man. What a diversified life he’s had as a bookie’s clerk, jockey, publisher and long time Macau race caller.  We begin by looking back on the riding contract that first took him to Macau in 1997. Harry looks back on his decision to quit the saddle when an opportunity came up to become a parade yard commentator for Macau Jockey Club television. Later he was appointed understudy to the resident race caller. He looks back on his early race calling experience in the NSW western districts. Harry talks of the first few weeks of his new race calling career. After a tentative beginning he settled into it quickly. He was in the chair for twenty years. He pays tribute to the best horse he’s seen in Macau. Harry begins his trip down memory lane by looking back on his early life as one of ten kids. His father was a bush bookmaker who worked at race meetings r

An overdue chat with an astute horse trainer and one of racing’s true characters. Lindsey took a giant step in 2019 when he opened a business at Warrnambool, but left his WA stables operating under the supervision of a trusted lieutenant. He talks of his delight in being able to combine the two operations to win more than 100 races in each of the last three seasons. Lindsey talks of his use of heavy sand in the preparation of horses. He expresses his opinion on the theory that too much sand work can diminish a horse’s natural speed. He describes the idyllic surroundings in which his horses train at Narrawong Beach near Port Fairy. Lindsey brings us up to date on the progress of recent winners God Has Chosen,Triple Missile, Tuvalu, In The Boat and Corner Pocket. He takes us back to his apprenticeship to Colin France at Rockingham (WA) and his brief riding career. The trainer looks back on his move to Victoria and a job with successful trainer Tom Hughes Snr. He talks of his time on the Gold Coast with Henry Da

Great to catch up with a horseman whose name appears regularly among winning trainers at Southern Districts meetings, and occasionally in the city. Students believe Norm Gardner’s strike rate in recent years is a very healthy one. We talk to Norm about some of his recent winners, and the disadvantage of training horses in the bitter Canberra winters. Norm talks of retired Canberra jockey Kevin Sweeney who knew it was cold when ice gathered on his eyebrows during trackwork. The trainer talks of his stabling accommodation at Canberra’s Thoroughbred Park training complex, and his nearby 40 acre property known as Summerhill Thoroughbreds. Norm says wife Diane plays a major role in looking after the place. We go back to Norm’s younger days in Wagga where his father Tom always had a horse or two around him- harness horses included. Norm says he dreamed of becoming a jockey from the moment he began riding trackwork for local trainer Fred Shaydel. He was doomed to disappointment. He says he did the next best thing by

Chad Lever’s sudden disappearance from the riding ranks last September mystified trainers, punters and friends. The popular jockey had been juggling a huge workload for several years to honour commitments on the provincial and country circuit. Ten months ago he knew he’d have to take a break before his health suffered. Chad explains that he’s been able to control his weight by riding trackwork and competing in barrier trials for his wife Claire. He explains that the constant travelling and wasting had worn him down. Chad talks of his wife’s riding career under the name of Claire Nutman and the training career she always envisaged. He looks back on their New York wedding. He acknowledges Claire’s good start as a professional trainer. Chad takes us back to his early days in Port Augusta and the valuable tuition he received from his late grandfather Fred Brodie. He remembers being regaled by Fred’s tales of the turf. He looks back on his move to Adelaide and an apprenticeship to top trainer Leon Macdonald. He wa

It’s great to catch up with the ever ebullient Dr Geoff Chapman who slipped quietly into retirement four years ago, after a life of achievement and great diversity. Geoff begins by talking about his return to the medical profession after terminating his training career. He looks back on his early years at Cobar and his family’s move to a property on the outskirts of Dubbo. Geoff talks of five happy years at the Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School at Tamworth. He remembers with affection his enrolment at Sydney University. His initial goal was an Agricultural Science Degree, but that changed when he became friendly with a group of medical students. “Doc” remembers his National Service enlistment and a brief sojourn in the boxing ring. His next sporting pursuit was Rugby Union. He made the University side, and forged a friendship with a legendary coach. Geoff reflects on his three test matches as a Wallaby. He has some amusing stories about a NZ tour. He recalls the completion of his studies and the beginn

The moment news of Ray’s retirement hit the airwaves it became a priority to lock him in for a podcast. After all I have known the man for fifty four years, and we spent a lot of time together in his early days with the 2GB Macquarie team. His journey in Australian sports media has been a fascinating one- from a humble start as a harness racing commentator on Riverina tracks, to the upper echelon of Australian sports broadcasting. He admits there was a major degree of sadness surrounding his decision to retire. Ray says a century of State Of Origins would have been the perfect way to end his career, but he resisted the temptation. He talks of wife Cher’s concerns about his increasing anxiety attacks. Ray was happy to talk of his early family life in Junee. He was the youngest of seven born to parents Joe and Win. He pays tribute to his Mum and Dad. He reminisces about a trip he and I made to Junee in the early 70’s. Our opportunity to call a race or two at the Junee trots was thwarted by a freak cloudburst. 

Great to catch up with the girl who left her busy father a note to ask for her first pony. Robert Murray agreed, and the first stone was laid on the path to his daughter’s career as a respected professional jockey. Rachael’s on the injured list at the moment otherwise she would have been difficult to pin down for an interview. She looks back on the day she left that note on the kitchen table. Rachael looks back on her early life on the family farm near Inverell, with her recollections of some severe droughts. She talks of the talents of the little grey pony called Suzie and some fun filled days at pony club. Rachael remembers her second horse- a quarter horse gelding who had little natural talent. She had to educate him from scratch. She talks of her siblings and pays tribute to her mother Rosemarie who had the job of taking her to horse events all over the north western region. Rachael talks of her university enrolment and the degree she attained in Agricultural Sciences. One of her classmates was an apprent

It’s a pity we didn’t get to talk to Kim about her stunning Rosehill double with French Bonnet and Kingsheir on Saturday. This interview was recorded the previous day shortly after she’d arrived home from the Gosford trials. Kim talks about the frustration trainers are experiencing with the neverending run of wet tracks in Sydney.  She talks about the twenty hectare property at Jilliby where all of her horses are spelled and pre-trained before going into her Wyong stables. Sometimes they go back to the property for a freshen up. Kim talks of the recently retired Trumbull, one of her all time favourites. She says he hasn’t been the same horse since suffering a heart arrhythmia last year. The successful trainer talks of her childhood obsession with horses and early days in pony club. Kim talks of her introduction to harness racing and her first boss, the extraordinary horseman Charlie Parsons. Anybody in the district who had a problem horse went to Charlie Parsons. She talks of her first winning drive and her i