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.
PRIDE OF JENNI DID IT HER WAY
For those who’d supported Pride Of Jenni it was an exciting watch. For those who’d backed any one of her eight rivals it was a frustrating experience.
FORMER JOURNALIST DOUG GORREL WAS HAPPY TO LET OTHERS WRITE HIS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP STORY.
When you’ve trained the winner of a one million dollar Country Championship Final at Royal Randwick you’re entitled to celebrate accordingly…
BANDI’S BOY COMES OFF A GR 3 WIN TO THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
When Shelby Sixtysix grabbed Gr 1 glory in the 2022 Galaxy, trainer Danny Williams was confident he had another one at home likely to tread a similar path.
CLIFF CLARE 1930-2024. ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD BRIGADE
Ray Selkrig, Bill Camer and Cliff Clare were close in age and carved out distinguished careers for themselves in an era when the Sydney riding ranks were as strong as they’ve ever been.
EVERGREEN GRISEDALE DOMINATES AT KEMPSEY
Chris Parnham’s four win haul at Ascot on Saturday was almost certainly Australia’s best riding performance numerically. At Rosehill Gardens James McDonald calmly snared a black type treble including the Gr 1 Coolmore Classic on Zougotcha.
PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE HAS NO PLANS TO BE A MOTHER JUST YET
When Passive Aggressive went off to Yarraman Park Stud last spring, trainer Grahame Begg was probably hoping he’d get to train some of her progeny down the track.
STEVE HART CHATS WITH KERRIN McEVOY
Steve Hart recently caught up with Kerrin McEvoy who added another Gr 1 to his impressive CV by winning Saturday’s Randwick Guineas on Celestial Legend.
VETERAN NASH SHOWS ‘EM HOW IT’S DONE
James McDonald’s tactics on Fangirl in the Verry Elleegant Stakes were a carbon copy of his Apollo Stakes ride two weeks earlier.
PRYDES EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FEBRUARY 2024
Astute Wagga trainer Gary Colvin maintained his trademark strike rate throughout February posting four winners for the month. Dupride Star and Danny Beasley got the stable away to a good start with an Albury win on February 1st.
MARC QUINN GETS TWO INTO THE FINAL AS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GATHERS MOMENTUM
Trainers of horses who qualify early for the $1 million Country Championship Final are obviously relieved to get the hard part out of the way, but then they have to deal with a different kind of problem.
KAREN OWEN WOULDN’T SWAP HER JOB FOR QUIDS
You’d expect a bush trainer who’d just won her very first race at Royal Randwick to be treating herself to a lazy Sunday morning. There was also the small matter of a nine hour round trip from Wingham to Randwick.
ATMOSPHERIC ROCK GIVES DANNY WILLIAMS ANOTHER STRING TO HIS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP BOW
Danny Williams has saddled up 26.5 TAB Highway winners since the inception of the concept in 2015. He got a special thrill in 2017 when Don’t Give A Damn posted a 6.5 lengths winning margin at Rosehill.
OUR KOBISON SCORCHES THE TURF AT ROSEHILL GARDENS
We’ve seen an amazing sequence of Sydney metropolitan wins lately by horses of humble origins. $7000 online purchase Willaidow recently made it four straight with a Midway win at Rosehill.
BILL CAMER 1931-2024 - THE QUINTESSENTIAL AUSSIE JOCKEY
Many veteran racing fans on and off course felt a tinge of sadness as the runners filed onto the track for Saturday’s Petaluma Hcp at Randwick.
MARC MAKES IT FOUR ON THE TROT WITH FAMILY HORSE
Marc Conners was still shaking his head in disbelief half an hour after Willaidow’s impressive Midway win at Rosehill Gardens.
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE AN OLD PHOTO TO SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO THE HISTORY BOOKS
I’ve always been a pushover for anybody seeking to find a new home for an ancient scrapbook, newspaper or photograph. One day I’ll have to do something about the pile of memorabilia at my place that Red Rum would have had trouble clearing.
ANNA’S MUSWELLBROOK TUMBLE BROUGHT HER BACK TO EARTH AFTER A WEEK OF CELEBRATION
All it took was a sidestep and a swerve from a green three year old filly to remind Anna Roper of the vagaries of racing.
TAB HIGHWAY NUMBER 1 FOR THE RYAN BROTHERS - NUMBER 4 FOR EVERGREEN CAVALLO
When giant gelding Possibly So grabbed the lead in the final few strides of Saturday’s TAB Highway he triggered great emotion among connections.
JIM BYRNE HAS HAD ENOUGH OF CHRISTMAS PUDDING. HE’LL BE BACK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
Jim Byrne’s recent absence from the Brisbane riding ranks hasn’t gone unnoticed. His many followers around Australia have wondered why the popular jockey hasn’t been seen since December 16th.
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.