John Tapp Racing

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