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.
DANIEL BOWMAN, A LEGION OF OWNERS AND THE HORSE WITH THE FUNNY NAME.
Daniel Bowman has never counted the number of owners involved in Begood Toya Mother, but estimates the figure would be between forty and fifty people.
STEVE HART CATCHES UP WITH TERRY EVANS
A few weeks ago photographer Steve Hart drove to the beautiful NSW Mid North Coast to catch up with successful trainer Terry Evans.
ALMOST 30 YEARS ON FROM VO ROGUE, CYRIL STILL LOVES LIFE IN THE SADDLE
Eight year old gelding Powerline was shipped over the border from Kris Lees’ Gold Coast stable to win Saturday’s Casino Gold Cup on the NSW Northern Rivers.
SKY RACING GIVES CONTROL TO RACING LOVERS WITH SKY RACING ACTIVE
MEDIA RELEASE: Racing lovers will gain unprecedented access to racing vision, form and information following the release of Tabcorp’s innovative new racing app - Sky Racing Active.
JOCKEYS REUNION
As a Sydney race day photographer for more than thirty years, Steve Hart has gotten to know several generations of jockeys - some have become good friends.
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.
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.
LEE’S HOPING HIS MERYL CAN WIN AN AWARD OR TWO
The first of fifteen barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens last Friday (July 19th) generated more hype than any race run in Australia over the weekend.
RACING HAS TAKEN KEAGAN LATHAM AROUND THE WORLD
The narrow win by Whispered in a Maiden 2YO event at Wyong on Saturday was of special significance to jockey Keagan Latham. It was his second win for the powerful Godolphin operation in the space of two weeks, and a milestone 50th win in NSW for the current season.
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.
SHAUN GUYMER CAN FIND A RACE MEETING
When Racing NSW increased the riding fee for the State’s jockeys two years ago, a new window of opportunity opened for those riders who are prepared to travel.
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.
STEVE HART CATCHES UP WITH THE CLERK OF THE COURSE
Steve has kindly allowed me to “pinch” a very interesting chat he had recently with Sydney Clerk Of The Course Cliff Parker.
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.
BEN AND VICTOREM FAIRLY FLEW IN THE HINKLER
How fitting it was that the winner of Saturday’s Hinkler Hcp should be almost “airborne” in the closing stages. The race is named after one of Queensland’s most famous sons, legendary aviator Bert Hinkler who in 1928 brought great acclaim to his country, to his state, and to his hometown of Bundaberg.
STEVE HART INTERVIEWS CHAMPION JOCKEY ROBERT THOMPSON
Last year Steve Hart spoke to the winningest jockey in Australian racing history, Robert Thompson. I loved the interview and unashamedly plagiarised it for my website.
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.
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.
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.
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.