John Tapp Racing

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.

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.