Gallops, Horse Racing, John Tapp Racing, Racing History, Racing NSW, Sky Racing
John Tapp
1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

There were 78,500 people at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day 1976. Those still living, hold indelible memories of their visit to the historic course on the day mother nature threw a tantrum.

1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

John Tapp

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JESS TAYLOR FOUND OUT YOU CAN GET HURT WHEN YOU’RE NOT EVEN TRYING!

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JESS TAYLOR FOUND OUT YOU CAN GET HURT WHEN YOU’RE NOT EVEN TRYING!

“He’s the last horse I would have expected to do something like that,” said Jess Taylor as she reflected on the bizarre accident that will keep her out of the saddle until the middle of September.

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RACING LUCK FINALLY COMES KELLY’S WAY

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RACING LUCK FINALLY COMES KELLY’S WAY

Trainer Kelly Purdy was a bundle of nerves as the Eyeliner Stakes field neared the home turn at Ipswich on Saturday. Her recently acquired stable star Bandipur was last of fourteen runners, only 7 lengths from the leader but behind a wall of horses.

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QUACKERJACK NEVER DUCKS A FIGHT

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QUACKERJACK NEVER DUCKS A FIGHT

The Group 3 Liverpool City Cup couldn’t have been scripted better for the bold striding Quackerjack. The chestnut gelding with the symmetrically perfect white blaze dislikes the slightest interruption in his races.

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JAMIE DE BELIN HAS MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF ON AND OFF THE RACE TRACK

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JAMIE DE BELIN HAS MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF ON AND OFF THE RACE TRACK

I mentioned in the Friday Flashback blurb that Jamie De Belin had disappeared from racing circles years ago and had it not been for the Pablo’s Pulse photo he may have remained incognito.

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TRAVELLING TRAVIS GOES WHEREVER HE CAN RIDE A WINNER

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TRAVELLING TRAVIS GOES WHEREVER HE CAN RIDE A WINNER

You’d think Travis Wolfgram would have been on cloud nine as he left Gosford racecourse last Saturday. He’d reeled off a brilliant winning treble in the first four races for Team Snowden, all three having been saddled up by Peter Snowden himself.

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ADAM DUGGAN’S COLT GALLOPED OFF THE PAGES OF THE 2017 INGLIS PREMIER CATALOGUE

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ADAM DUGGAN’S COLT GALLOPED OFF THE PAGES OF THE 2017 INGLIS PREMIER CATALOGUE

Adam Duggan didn’t take his head out of the catalogue in the weeks leading up to the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne. The Gosford trainer had a $100,000 “bank” set aside and thought that kind of money might put him into something “half decent” in Melbourne.

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JENNY DUGGAN CALLS AUSTRALIA HOME

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JENNY DUGGAN CALLS AUSTRALIA HOME

Jenny Lindgren was born in Sweden one year after her legendary compatriots ABBA had taken Australia by storm. She’s now Mrs. Jenny Duggan, Australia’s most senior apprentice jockey, and just lately she’s been whipping up a little storm of her own.

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NORM SENDS ANOTHER WINNER DOWN THE HIGHWAY!

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NORM SENDS ANOTHER WINNER DOWN THE HIGHWAY!

Norm and Diane Gardner breathed a sigh of relief when Upper House won Saturday’s TAB Highway at his metropolitan debut. Norm is the breeder, trainer and part owner of the slow maturing four year old gelding.

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THE WINNING WAYS OF GARRY NEWHAM AND PAUL MAKIN

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THE WINNING WAYS OF GARRY NEWHAM AND PAUL MAKIN

The presentation ceremony after the Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks finished not a moment too soon for Garry Newham. The trainer of the winner Winning Ways had a lump in his throat big enough to choke an elephant, for clearly understandable reasons.

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TODD PANNELL LETS HIS RIDING DO THE TALKING

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TODD PANNELL LETS HIS RIDING DO THE TALKING

Todd Pannell was so busy trying to coax Despatch over the line on Saturday, he may have forgotten for a moment that he was one stride off his first Group 1 victory. By the time he arrived back at the mounting yard gate, he was fully aware this was the dream he’d been chasing for more than half his life.

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JOSH PARR WEARS HIS HEART ON HIS SLEEVE

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JOSH PARR WEARS HIS HEART ON HIS SLEEVE

I can’t think of a jockey anywhere in Australia who displays more unbridled raw emotion than Josh Parr. It struck me initially when he won the Gr 1 Surround Stakes on Shoals a year ago - his one and only ride on the Fastnet Rock mare.

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A MEMORABLE RACE DAY IN THE GARDEN CITY

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A MEMORABLE RACE DAY IN THE GARDEN CITY

What a pity the last race numbers error at Clifford Park on Saturday had to take the gloss off a spectacular Queensland race meeting. Stewards declared correct weight before officials discovered the wrong horse had been placed fourth.

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KEVIN KEMP HOPES THE JIM ATKINS LONGEVITY RUBS OFF

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KEVIN KEMP HOPES THE JIM ATKINS LONGEVITY RUBS OFF

There wasn’t a trace of racing in Kevin Kemp’s background, but he was besotted by horses from the moment he first sat on a pony. Most of his mates owned ponies and those kids would be out all day, every day. “If I got home before dark, Mum and Dad would wonder what the hell was wrong”, recalled Kevin.