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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A TRIBUTE TO BERT BRYANT

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A TRIBUTE TO BERT BRYANT

Great to see the Melbourne Racing Club pay homage to two great race callers of yesteryear at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting. Races were named after Bill Collins and Bert Bryant.

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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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STEPHEN SCHOFIELD’S STILL AS BUSY AS A BEAVER

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STEPHEN SCHOFIELD’S STILL AS BUSY AS A BEAVER

Anyone who’s been on the fringe of the Sydney racing scene for three or four decades would have given Mosht Up a cheer when the mare scrambled home for trainer Stephen “Beaver” Schofield at Newcastle on Saturday.

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BILL WHITTAKER BOOK AWARD TO JOHN H. PAYNE

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BILL WHITTAKER BOOK AWARD TO JOHN H. PAYNE

Racing historian and researcher John H. Payne is the sixth recipient of the coveted award for his work in publishing “Their Last Ride” - a chronological tribute to the 938 jockeys who have lost their lives riding racehorses in Australia between 1847 and 2017.

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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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STEVE HART CATCHES UP WITH FORMER STARTER BILLY DALE

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STEVE HART CATCHES UP WITH FORMER STARTER BILLY DALE

Steve occasionally goes away from the mainstream in selecting his interviews. This time he talks to Billy Dale shortly after his retirement as official Sydney race starter.

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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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STONY BAY- DUAL GROUP I WINNER AT 3. ONE LAST PARADE AT 26

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STONY BAY- DUAL GROUP I WINNER AT 3. ONE LAST PARADE AT 26

Received an email during the week from popular owner Eddy Boas, who wishes to share the most touching horse story in recent memory. I’m sure you’ll remember Eddy’s hardy campaigner Stony Bay, and like me you’ll be surprised to learn that nineteen years have passed, since the tough gelding was retired.

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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.

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THE MORE VIOLENT THE STORM THE QUICKER IT PASSES

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THE MORE VIOLENT THE STORM THE QUICKER IT PASSES

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.