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.
JOE’S JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN
The further they got into Saturday’s Iron Jack Hcp (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens, the more trainer Joe Ible’s confidence grew. He and jockey Sam Clipperton had planned to go forward from a wide gate, in the hope Zoffany’s Lad could pop into a spot one horse off the fence.
AIDEN MADE IT TO THE CHURCH ON TIME
Not even the excitement of his first TAB Highway win could keep Aiden St Vincent away from his regular Sunday morning Church service at Coffs Harbour.
DANIELLE SEIB DEDICATES THIS ONE TO DAD
When Danielle Seib saw Nash Rawiller look behind in the closing stages of Saturday’s TAB Highway, she suddenly realised her “big baby” Assault’N’Bathory was going to win by a space. “I thought my God he’s looking back to see where they are”, said the young Goulburn trainer. “I couldn’t believe my eyes”.
CLINTON McDONALD - A GENUINE CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK
Chasing a tearaway leader isn’t the ideal spot to be in a horse race, but Something Silver made light of that predicament in the F+M BM 84 (1600) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
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.
BARRY LOCKWOOD TAKES LIFE ONE FOOT AT A TIME
It’s possible that Cruze, who made it three out of four at Eagle Farm on Saturday, was the only winner in Australia to be shod by its trainer, Barry Lockwood.
GARRY KIRKUP IS SLOWLY PICKING UP THE PIECES
Garry Kirkup has struggled with profound grief these past seventeen months. His emotional pain has far exceeded the ravages of the injuries he sustained in that horrific motor accident near Junee.
THE GRISEDALES ARE IN TOWN
Coffs Harbour trainers couldn’t believe their luck six weeks ago when Jon Grisedale joined the ranks of trackwork riders at the popular North Coast track.
TASH WON’T KNOW WHICH HORSE TO WATCH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Goulburn trainer Tash Burleigh has developed a routine, which she believes is worth at least two lengths to her horses.
FOR JOHN THOMPSON THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN A ROLLER COASTER
Apart from a mild case of the race day jitters experienced by all horse trainers, John Thompson spent a pretty relaxed Saturday afternoon at Rosehill Gardens.
NOBLE BOY MAKES A STATEMENT AT THE ‘HILL
A couple of astute judges came away from the Albury meeting on October 27th, convinced they’d seen a pretty promising four year old in action. The horse in question was a big, raw chestnut gelding by the name of Noble Boy, who made very short work of thirteen others in an 1175m Maiden.
MARK’S JOURNEY HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN
My very first thought when Maid Of Heaven threw herself at the line to win the GR 1 Spring Champion Stakes, was for her trainer Mark Newnham. It was a defining moment in the career of the fifty year old, who’s had nothing else but racing on his mind, since early teen years.