John Tapp Racing

The former champion jockey talks about his current state of health and takes us through the emotional struggles of his post racing life. Greg recalls the separation of his parents and many other childhood memories. He talks of his days as an apprentice jockey with several different trainers in Melbourne and Sydney. He remembers the thrill of his first Group 1 success on Innisfree in the Stradbroke- a horse trained by his father. He looks back on his association with legendary trainer Angus Armanasco and Turf Ruler, the horse to put him under the spotlight. He talks of his association with bookmaker Mark Read and the famous “plunge” horse Getting Closer.

Great to chat with highly respected jockey Jeff Penza who reflects on the horror fall at Queanbeyan that sidelined him for ten months. Jeff talks about the decision he made many years ago to become a travelling jockey. He’s been concentrating on provincial and country meetings which have brought him 1074 winners in ten years. The popular jockey talks of his apprenticeship to Peter Balzen, and winning associations with trainers like Dr. Geoff Chapman, Jack Denham, Paul Sutherland and Chris Waller. Jeff talks about his family, his property on Sydney’s outskirts and the showjumpers who’ve helped him to get back to race riding. He recalls the day in 2015 when he almost beat Winx on a Hawkesbury trained galloper called Sons Of John. This is a review of the career of a gifted jockey who chose to get on the road to make his living. He’s ridden hundreds of winners and made a million friends along the way.

It was a delight to catch up with the young lady who arrived from Sweden just under five years ago hoping to get some opportunities in Melbourne’s Monte races. Kima talks about her early days in Australia riding trotters rather than driving them. She slowly made the transition to the sulky, and after a shaky start suddenly emerged as a promising driver. Kima talks about the tremendous support she’s had from  trainers and owners. She pays tribute to I’m The Boss, the horse to launch her career. She looks back on the Shepparton Cup win when she got up to beat her boss David Aiken on the champion Lenny The Shark. She apologised to David as they went past the post. She talks of Wrapper’s Delight, the horse to take her to another level with a win in an Inter Dominion heat at Ballarat. Kima speaks fondly of Buster Brady, the first horse she’s trained in her own right. Together they’ve won a string of country Cups, and they haven’t finished yet.

In Part 2 Bruce recalls his introduction to Kerry Packer. He took a wager from Packer when another bookie declined. He talks of Kerry’s visits to the big Randwick carnivals, and the volume of his betting. He remembers the occasion when he had to put a limit on the world’s biggest punter. Bruce reflects on Packer’s approach to gambling. He goes on to talk of his days on the Committee of the Sydney Turf Club, and his three years as Chairman. Bruce is happy to reflect on the impact of Kerry Packer’s betting on his own future.

The former high profile bookmaker remembers his grandfather Jim McHugh who rode the 1898 Epsom Hcp winner. He pays tribute to his father Bill McHugh himself a popular bookie on Sydney tracks in the days of huge race crowds. He talks of his maternal grandmother Hilda who also possessed a gambling streak. She gave Bruce his first business loan. Bruce recalls his earliest days fielding at the trots at Bulli, Hawkesbury and Penrith. He recalls his slow transition to the galloping tracks, and the bizarre circumstances under which he was promoted to the main interstate ring.

Thirty year old Victorian Mitchell Beer reveals that he didn’t want to be in racing when it was time to look at career options- he chose a golf apprenticeship. He confesses that the magic of the thoroughbred lured him back and set him on a career he hoped would lead him to a future as a trainer. Mitchell reminisces about his early years as the son of a highly respected jockey. He takes us through the formative years when he was tutored by some of the best in the business. He talks of his start in a training partnership with veteran Max Hinton at Mornington. Mitchell takes us through his reasons for moving to NSW, and his progress since arriving in Albury ten months ago.  

In Part 2 Jeff reveals the reason he decided to leave South Africa for a safer life in Australia. He talks of his feeling of uncertainty when he arrived unannounced in Sydney, one of the world’s toughest racing towns. Jeff recalls those important early wins in Australia, and the trainers who gave him valued support. He talks of his ATC Derby win- the one that launched his Aussie career. He remembers a Hong Kong stint which brought him a Group 1 success. Jeff reflects on his arrival in Queensland, and the frightening stroke which put him on the sidelines for over a year. At an age when most jockeys have long quit the saddle, this man was able to come back and win 4 Brisbane jockey’s premierships.

This could be the most comprehensive interview ever given by the former champion jockey. Jeff recalls his early childhood in England where he would watch the races on television with his father, and his fascination with legendary jockey Lester Piggott. He talks about the stern discipline he experienced at the South African Jockeys Academy in Durban and his first apprenticeship. The great jockey reflects on his wonderful career in South Africa and the astonishing milestones he achieved. He pays tribute to the best horse he’s ridden anywhere in the world, and to the great jockeys who provided him with tough competition.

In Part 2  Pam O’Neill recalls the amazing invitation she received to ride in Japan for a month. She talks of the cancer scare she got on returning from the Japan trip. Pam reflects on some of her favourite horses. She won 18 races on Supersnack and gave the horse a home for life when his racing days were over. She talks of the brilliant sprinter Breakfast Creek and the disappointment when she lost the ride. Pam talks of her life as a mother and grand mother. She pays tribute to her late husband Colin O’Neill a former brilliant jockey and very successful trainer.

We finally catch up with the remarkable Queensland lady who pioneered the cause of Australia’s female jockeys four decades ago. In Part 1 Pam O’Neill talks of her childhood involvement with horses in the Brisbane suburb of Ascot. She recalls how she bristled when trying to lead one of her father’s racehorses onto Eagle Farm racecourse, and had to hand it over to a male. She remembers winning her first battle to be allowed to ride trackwork. She recalls her first win over the establishment. They finally agreed to ladies races at registered meetings. Finally she broke down the barriers. Pam has never forgotten the Gold Coast meeting where she became the first woman to ride against men in Australia. She rode 3 winners. What a statement! She talks of her bitter disappointment when New Zealander Linda Jones was allowed to ride against men at Doomben. At that stage Pam wasn’t allowed to ride on city tracks.  

In part 2 the hard working trainer pays tribute to his “horse in a million” Ultimate Art. Kirsty raced the stallion for his entire career. Michael describes him as “the horse who paid off the mortgage”. Formosa explains the origins of his well known racing colours. He speaks fondly of the nickname bestowed upon him by a prominent trots commentator. He looks at his long term goals.

For the trot fans we talk to one of the sport’s quiet achievers. Michael Formosa has gone quietly about his business for twenty years, racking up 1000 wins in the process. Michael talks of his family background, and his eight year apprenticeship as a motor mechanic. He talks of the uncle who got him interested in harness horses at an early age, and the veteran trainer who taught him principles he follows to this day. Michael reflects on his chance meeting with Kirsty Goodyear an apprentice jockey who was to become his wife and the mother of his two daughters. He looks back on the horror Maitland fall which could have put him in a wheelchair.

In part 2 Leon reflects on sixteen years as Bart’s Melbourne foreman during which time he got to work with some of the best horses in Australia. He talks of his resignation from Bart’s employ which saw him take out his own trainer’s licence. He reflects on the temporary lapse in his friendship with Bart Cummings. Leon highlights Starspangledbanner and Helenus two of the best horses he trained under his own name.

In Part 1 the experienced horseman talks about his early days in Adelaide as an apprentice jockey. He recalls his association with Proud Miss one of Australia’s best two year olds in the 1960’s. Leon pays tribute to his master, renowned trainer Graham Heagney and his reasons for turning his back on racing for eight years. He remembers the circumstances which saw him become a trackwork rider for Bart Cummings in Adelaide, and the career change that took him to Victoria.

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.