John Tapp Racing

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”.

It was just another day at the office for Damian Browne when he reported for trackwork at Corbould Park two days before this year’s Magic Millions meeting. He was suddenly struck down by crippling stomach pains, and a couple of hours later underwent emergency surgery for a burst ulcer. He talks about the ramifications of his illness, and the prognosis he didn’t want to hear. Damian takes us through the highlights of a career which saw him join the upper echelon of Australian jockeys in the last decade.

Bruce Harpley sat on his back veranda at Junee to conduct this interview for our podcast.  Widely known as the “pacing postman” he’s an earthy country bloke, with a great love of the harness horse. For twenty six years Bruce has mixed horse training with his job at the Junee Post Office. He has 800 career wins on his CV, with an impressive total of 20 Group 1’s. He’s the first to tell you that fellow trainer Bernie Kelly made it all possible. For the trot fans, Bruce Harpley is a good listen.

When it comes to greyhound racing there’s no better raconteur than respected journalist Jeff Collerson. In our special interview Jeff reflects on half a century as chief greyhound writer for the Mirror and the Telegraph. He understood the game, and knew everybody in it. He explains the origin of his lifelong nickname “Pigeon” and pays tribute to some of the famous journalists he worked with. He talks of a golden run on the punt which took him to Paris, and a chance meeting with a girl destined to become his wife. For the dog fans he reminisces about his all time favourites. This is a funny interview with a skilled storyteller.

The champion harness horseman talks about the tragedy that turned his family upside down early in his life. He reflects on his first win at Echuca and the thrill of his first Moonee Valley win. John talks of his long and happy marriage to Maree and his wife’s success as a trainer.

The talented trainer pays tribute to more of his favourite horses, his overseas training experiences, his time with Lloyd Williams and the new owner who bought him a Stradbroke winner. John openly discusses his battle with depression, and a regrettable clash with the authorities during the protracted Aquanita affair.

In Part 1 the respected Victorian trainer talks about his early life in Terang, and the influence of his remarkable parents. He recalls the thrill of his very first win as a trainer and a mare called Goblet who kick started his career. He fondly remembers Jolly Old Mac who took him to Group 1 success at Flemington. John talks about the brilliant Lady Jakeo who gave him two Group 1 wins. The first was expected. The second was a very pleasant surprise.

In part 2 Bernie takes us right back to her childhood days in pony club, and her apprenticeship to Col Williamson on the Sunny Coast. She talks of the premature death of her Dad, and the influence both parents had on her life. She reflects on her association with trainer Paul Sutherland who kick started her career in Queensland, and later brought her to Sydney. Bernie competed at a very high level in Sydney winning plenty of races and riding in several Group 1’s- in one of them she almost pulled off the boilover of the decade. Bernie Cooper is a little lady with a big personality, and you’ll enjoy her trip down memory lane.

It’s a delight to catch up with a little lady who has made her mark in two fields of endeavour. In part 1 she recalls her final riding stint in Macau, where she was involved in the worst fall of her career. She reflects on her first day back when she won three races, and was then accused by Stewards of giving another horse an easy run. She talks about her return to Australia and a whole new life, starting off with a job behind the front desk at the Star casino. Then comes her lucky break in racing media. Bernie tells it all in her trademark breezy style.

Great to chat with Sydney harness racing caller Fred Hastings who achieved the rare distinction of tipping the programme at Penrith last week (11/4/2019). It’s the third time the popular commentator has made a clean sweep of a Sydney trotting card. Fred wanted to be a race caller from a very early age, but had to work in many different roles before things fell into place. This fifty three year old is passionate about the sport of harness racing, and it shows!

We welcome leading Queensland trainer Kelly Schweida who’s enjoying a terrific 2018/19 season. Getting close to 50 winners on all tracks and 30 in town. Kelly started as an apprentice jockey in Townsville and enjoyed great success, even though his progress was hindered by a serious car accident. After winning a Townsville trainer’s premiership, he decided to move to the big smoke twenty five years ago. With the support of a dedicated family, Kelly has established himself as one of Queensland’s best.

In Part 2 the immensely talented heavyweight jockey looks back on his association with some high profile trainers and the good horses he got to ride. He pays tribute to Scenic Blast, the west Aussie horse who took him to Royal Ascot, and to So You Think, almost certainly the best he ever rode. He closes with the story of his last hurrah in Mauritius, where he won a premiership. We also find out what he’s up to today.

In Part 1 of this week’s podcast Steven Arnold talks about his early days in Alice Springs and his family’s heavy involvement in racing. He recalls his move to Adelaide and riding stints in Malaysia and Macau. Steve reflects on his first Melbourne experience as stable jockey for Russell Cameron and a couple of his early Group 1 successes.

In Part 2 Lindsay talks about his great passion for racing, and the jockeys and trainers for whom he’s had respect over the years. He talks about his all time favourite horses, and the riding career of his son Patrick. Young Murphy rode 400 winners before increasing weight caught up. Lindsay’s many friends will enjoy his trip down memory lane.  

Great to catch up with Lindsay Murphy on the eve of his retirement after 42 years in the Sydney racing industry.   Lindsay left his job with the Sydney County Council in 1977 when he heard the Sydney Turf Club were looking for a junior office boy. He later grabbed the opportunity to understudy two racecourse managers, before taking over the maintenance of the Canterbury track. In Part 1 Lindsay talks about his early days in the STC office and his transition to track maintenance under the tutelage of John Jeffs and Lindsay Davies. He remembers the trainers and one respected jockey from the days when Canterbury was a busy little training centre.  

Darren Hancock joined an elite club when he won at his very first race drive. He was just 16, and drove a horse called Sportsman Talk at Bankstown. His win tally as a race driver now stands at 1895 with an astonishing 2630 placings. His training wins total 1287, with 1848 placings. He’s a laid back, laconic character and you’ll enjoy a trip down memory lane with a member of a legendary Australian harness racing family.

In Part 2 Kris talks about more of his favourite horses, his association with successful syndication companies and family life. At 48, Kris Lees has his best years ahead.

When champion trainer Max Lees died suddenly in 2003, his son Kris was left with 60 horses, and some bewildered owners. Today many of those owners are still with Chris, who has doubled the size of his team. Kris Lees has trained some 1800 winners since taking over the operation, with 15 Group 1’s thrown in. In Part 1 he talks about early days under the tuition of his father, and the good horses he grew up with.  

In Part 2 Rod talks about the horse he stumbled upon in a paddock at Scone. He decided to put the chestnut into work and his judgment prove correct in a spectacular way.

Rod Craig enjoyed the respect of all sections of the racing industry during four decades as a horse trainer in Sydney. He got an early Group 1 with Lady Eclipse in the 1983 Champagne Stakes, and trained a host of handy horses over the next ten years. Rod’s career took a spectacular turn in the mid nineties, when he came across an Integra colt on a property at Scone. That colt was named Intergaze, and he took his trainer to dizzy heights over the next four and a half years winning eight Group 1 races. In the podcast Rod talks about the health issue that forced him out of racing a year ago. He  takes us back to his early days in pony club, his life in racing and the people he’s met along the way. Enjoy a two part interview with a true gentleman of the turf.