John Tapp Racing

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”.

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.