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 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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DANNY FRAHM 1946-2022 NSW COUNTRY RACING FAREWELLS A LEGEND.

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DANNY FRAHM 1946-2022 NSW COUNTRY RACING FAREWELLS A LEGEND.

Danny Frahm strolled through the Sky Channel car park hauling a king sized two wheeled suitcase. It was a Sunday morning in 2009…

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BOBBY LEWIS - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

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BOBBY LEWIS - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

George Moore told me in 2002 that his failure to win a Melbourne Cup in nineteen rides was of little concern to him. His wife Iris told me differently.

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THE WARWICK FARM WARRIORS!

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THE WARWICK FARM WARRIORS!

“Can you imagine the number of track gallops those blokes have ridden for Warwick Farm trainers over the years?” The question was posed by one of fifty guests at a recent Xmas gathering hosted by seafood restaurateur and racing devotee Mick Doyle.

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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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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.