TALES OF THE TURF
TALES OF THE TURF
Step inside the world of Australian racing through the eyes, and voice, of one of its greatest storytellers. In each article, John Tapp brings the sport to life with the same warmth, insight, and passion that made him the Voice of Australian Racing. These are the moments, the people, and the horses that shaped the turf, told by the man who called them home.
THE FREEDMAN AND BERRY SHOW ROLLS ON
The Michael Freedman/ Tommy Berry partnership has been a major talking point in the early weeks of the Sydney spring carnival.
PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FOR MAY 2025
Nikki Pollock’s ten wins for the month of May was impressive enough. To achieve that figure with only twenty horses in work is perhaps the best performance we’ve seen
REBECCA’S FIRST SATURDAY METRO WIN IS “DUNN AND DUSTED”.
Many commercial horse trainers drive themselves to the races while their horses are transported by major floating companies. Life’s a bit different for Rebecca Dunn.
KEITH DRYDEN GETS HIS FIRST METRO QUINELLA
Ever astute Canberra trainer Keith Dryden has enjoyed many special moments in a career now into its fifth decade.
THE DAVID PAYNE STABLE HAS BEEN ON A ROLL
I’ve often wondered how a trainer like Chris Waller views a race in which he has multiple representation. With just twenty horses in work David Payne rarely has that problem, although he found himself with a duo to watch in Saturday’s BM78 at Rosehill.
REBEL RAMA AIMS FOR QUEENSLAND OAKS AFTER ADELAIDE FALSE ALARM
When Rebel Rama completely dominated an 1850m maiden at Newcastle on March 30th, trainer Marc Conners made hurried plans to launch a two pronged attack on the Adelaide carnival.
STEPHEN JONES - A LIFETIME WITH HORSES
Scone trainer Stephen Jones was three strides off landing a unique two state metropolitan double on Saturday. He was glued to a TV monitor at Rosehill Gardens as his promising two year old colt Baby Wong failed by a neck to run down Conexy in the Doomben Plate,
CLAIRE GOT ON THE ROAD TO GUNDAGAI TO WIN HER FIRST RACE AS A TRAINER
With the ink barely dry on her brand new trainer’s licence, Claire Lever was dealing with the race day jitters as she legged husband Chad onto Grace Bay before the 1100m Class 1 at Gundagai’s Snake Gully Cup meeting last Friday.