THE RACING VAULT
THE RACING VAULT
Few people have witnessed more racing history than John Tapp. Across decades behind the microphone, he called the greats home and saw the sport’s most iconic moments unfold. The Racing Vault is his personal archive, a place where John shares the stories, horses, and heroes that shaped Australian racing.
THE YANKS CALLED HIM 'THE BIG TRAIN FROM THE ANTIPODES'
The great Phar Lap with a near side front “quarter crack” oozing blood, careers away to win the Agua Caliente Hcp in Tijuana Mexico March 20th, 1932.
SHANNON WAS ONE OF THE GREATS OF THE POST WAR ERA
I never saw Shannon in action, but several veteran horsemen told me over the years that his second placing in the 1946 Epsom was the greatest performance ever seen over the Randwick mile.
GOVERNOR GENERAL HAD A GREAT DAY OUT AT THE CUP OF 1977
This one was snapped shortly after the conclusion of the 1977 Melbourne Cup presentation. Bart Cummings is clutching his sixth trainer’s trophy and was caught in conversation with Sir John Kerr.
TOMMY WOODCOCK & JOCKEY PAT TROTTER WITH RECKLESS
Steve Hart can pull a rabbit out of a hat, when it comes to old photos. Somehow he came up with this classic shot of Tommy Woodcock and jockey Pat Trotter shortly before Reckless contested the 1977 Melbourne Cup.