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

Racing History

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IT’S FIFTY YEARS SINCE KEN HOWARD’S RACE CALLS THRILLED THE PUNTERS

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IT’S FIFTY YEARS SINCE KEN HOWARD’S RACE CALLS THRILLED THE PUNTERS

I can’t let New Year’s Eve 2023 go by without mention of a special anniversary. On this day exactly fifty years ago there were scenes of great emotion in the 2GB broadcast box high above Royal Randwick racecourse as the legendary Ken Howard called time on his extraordinary career.

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REFLECTIONS FROM INDIA LATE 1930’s COURTESY JOHN PIGGOTT

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REFLECTIONS FROM INDIA LATE 1930’s COURTESY JOHN PIGGOTT

This black and white image was presented to John at Edgar’s Avalon home in the late 1990’s. Edgar in fact removed the photo from his personal album. John says the snap was taken at either Bombay or Poona at the height of the racing season.

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A BOOK FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE A GALLANT HORSE. “THE VO ROGUE SHOW” BY LYNLEA SMALL

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A BOOK FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE A GALLANT HORSE. “THE VO ROGUE SHOW” BY LYNLEA SMALL

Authors have been writing books about the deeds of champion Australian racehorses for two centuries. None have attacked the task with more energy and purpose than Lynlea Small…

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A CHANCE MEETING WITH LESTER

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A CHANCE MEETING WITH LESTER

Those who had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Lester Piggott never forgot the occasion. The tall, gangly, poker faced horseman with the trademark mutter presented a countenance that gave little away.

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A TALE OF TWO THOMPSONS- THE LATTER PART OF A GREAT CAREER AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER

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A TALE OF TWO THOMPSONS- THE LATTER PART OF A GREAT CAREER AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER

Mark Bradley was kind enough to send me a photo he discovered recently in the Bradley Photographers archives. This is a precious piece of racing memorabilia from the Wyong jockeys room in 1973.

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VAIN - THE EXCITEMENT MACHINE

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VAIN - THE EXCITEMENT MACHINE

When Graham McNeice stumbles upon a piece of priceless racing footage, his reaction is something akin to that of Howard Carter when the British archaeologist found the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. “Shadow” came across some rarely seen black and white footage of Vain’s three Sydney race starts in 1969.

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NOTHIN’ LEICA DANE - ONE OF THE BEST OF HIS GENERATION

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NOTHIN’ LEICA DANE - ONE OF THE BEST OF HIS GENERATION

There’s nothing like looking at past results of major races to trigger a trip down memory lane. In glancing at Spring Champion Stakes history last week, I was reminded that twenty five years have passed since Nothin’ Leica Dane won the Randwick feature.

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HENRY’S IN HORSE HEAVEN

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HENRY’S IN HORSE HEAVEN

My thanks to Sean Driver who took the trouble to email me last week after having listened to our recent podcast with jockey Brad Pengelly. Sean was hoping Carael Boy would figure among Brad’s list of favourite horses, and he certainly wasn’t disappointed.

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BRADLEY PHOTOS STIR MEMORIES OF A BRILLIANT EARLY SLIPPER WINNER

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BRADLEY PHOTOS STIR MEMORIES OF A BRILLIANT EARLY SLIPPER WINNER

Of the twenty eight fillies to win the Golden Slipper, none have gone into the great race with more miles on the clock than the 1965 winner Reisling.

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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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DON’T DIE WONDERING- THE PAT WEBSTER STORY. THE FASCINATING LIFE OF ONE OF RACING’S BEST LOVED CHARACTERS

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DON’T DIE WONDERING- THE PAT WEBSTER STORY. THE FASCINATING LIFE OF ONE OF RACING’S BEST LOVED CHARACTERS

The careers of several Australian racehorse trainers have been honoured in book form, but none have had a more human story to offer than Pat Webster. What a journey, what a career, what a life!

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POMPEII CONTINUES TO RULE A DECADE AFTER RACING.

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POMPEII CONTINUES TO RULE A DECADE AFTER RACING.

I was delighted to record a podcast recently with top jockey Craig Newitt who’s getting very close to 2000 career wins including 33 Group 1’s.

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1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

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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.

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

There’s a maiden galloper racing in Sydney currently, whose name rings a giant bell for me.

He’s called Triplicate, a logical name for the son of a mare called Tripled, a non winning daughter of General Nediym.

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A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

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I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing late last week, of Ern McQuillan OAM. The former celebrated photographer, had been suffering the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, and slipped away peacefully at the Barclay Gardens Aged Care Facility at Forster, on the NSW mid north coast.

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THAT O’HARA GIRL

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THAT O’HARA GIRL

In most professions fifteen years isn’t such a long time.

In the life of a professional jockey, it’s a pretty lengthy period.

In the case of a female professional jockey, it’s an eternity.