Thanks for checking in on Tappy’s Racing Yarns.

Bert Bryant’s name often comes up when older racing fans reminisce about the race callers of yesteryear. I can recall standing on the fringe of the interstate betting rings on Sydney tracks watching punters rock with laughter as they listened to a Bert Bryant call. His quips became legendary in Australian racing and did exactly what Bert intended them to do - make the thrill of backing a winner even more enjoyable or help ease the pain of backing an “also ran”.

Bert’s very first race call was heard on radio 2DU Dubbo from a nondescript meeting at Geurie in 1948. His audition tape would later land him a job as assistant to Tom Moon on 3UZ in Melbourne. When Moon succumbed to the ravages of asthma in 1949, the little bloke from Dubbo was elevated to the top job. The story of his sudden illness and premature retirement in 1977, and the comeback he wished he’d never made will sadden you deeply. I was moved to pay my tribute to the broadcasting legend when the website began in 2018. I feel equally moved to give it another run over this holiday period.

Speaking of re-runs, we’ve delved into the podcast archives to come up with one of my favourites from 2021. Our guest is Allan Gainey whose love of racing led him to a bold new venture in the 1970’s with workmate Terry Mulhall. Together they created Hyperion Thoroughbreds, one of the earliest racehorse syndication companies in Australia.

Allan was in reminiscent mood as he looked back on the $700 horse who got the new enterprise off the ground. Some talented horses and magical moments followed over the next sixteen years. Allan and Terry were gutted in 1990 when the company became a victim of the recession described by then Treasurer Paul Keating as the “recession we had to have.” At a time of year when many of us get a little sentimental, let’s give pioneer syndicator Allan Gainey a shout out.

Tappy

(Banner image courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)