JOHN TAPP RACING PODCAST
JOHN TAPP RACING PODCAST
Episode 579: A tribute to Tobin Bronze - a thoroughbred superstar of the 1960’s. Talented versatile and as tough as nails.
The centuries old proverb “handsome is as handsome does” has never been better exemplified than it was by the celebrated racehorse Tobin Bronze.
Episode 578: David Taggart - the former crack jockey who battled through post accident trauma to become a favourite with punters on Melbourne’s SEN Track Radio.
I was thrilled to meet David Taggart for the first time at the recent Sydney premiere of the “J. Mac Story”. Like many Aussie racing fans, I was well acquainted with his story.
Episode 577: Justin Sheehan - The heavyweight jockey whose enforced retirement cut a brilliant career far too short.
The first bloke to give me a wrap for the talents of Justin Sheehan was John O’Shea. It was 2000 and John’s solo training career had just begun at Warwick Farm.
Episode 576: Col Hodges OAM - Broadcasting legend missing in action after home accident.
Col Hodges’ absence from western districts race meetings of late has been a talking point among his legion of friends.
Episode 575: Brett Robb - Learned about horses from his Dad and got his sense of humour from a lifetime in the bush.
Brett Robb made the call to go solo as a trainer when his father Rodney decided to cut his team back to five horses in 2020.
Episode 574: Jett Newman - Talented apprentice has topped 100 wins in just thirteen months of race riding
Eighteen year old apprentice Jett Newman had a huge number of trial rides before being signed up by northern rivers trainer Matt Dunn.
Episode 573: Gratz Vella - His Golden Slipper placing with Music Time triggered requests for a podcast.
I’ve had several emails requesting a podcast with Gratz Vella in the wake of his thrilling third placing in the TAB Golden Slipper with Music Time.
Episode 572: Tappy chats with Kris Lees
Kris Lees was thirty three years old when his father Max passed away in 2003. He’d been training a handful of horses in his own right while working as stable foreman for his very respected trainer/dad.
Episode 571: Bernie Howlett - the horseman who rode, trained and bred Gr 1 winners.
With another edition of the historic Sydney Cup coming up on April 11th, it seems an appropriate time to catch up with a man who won it twice as a jockey in 1959 and 1961.
Episode 570: Scott Darby - Founder and Managing Director of syndication leaders Darby Racing
It’s just over six years since Scott Darby last appeared on our podcast. At the time his popular racehorse syndication company was gathering momentum.
Episode 569: Blake Spriggs - one year on from life threatening Moruya race fall
Blake Spriggs answered immediately when I tried his mobile number one day last week.
Episode 568: Tappy chats with Jane Clement
The Jane Clement story makes for a very interesting podcast and we’re delighted to have her join us this week.
Episode 567: Tappy chats with Richard Litt
Richard Litt’s entry into the Sydney training ranks materialised under very sad circumstances.
Episode 566: Neil Rae - former multiple premiership winner now riding the big machines
Former champion jockey Wayne Harris speaks glowingly of his former “stablemate” Neil Rae.
Episode 565: Kerrin McEvoy - Champion international jockey will be back from injury for the autumn carnival
The enormous genetic influences in Kerrin McEvoy’s background were obvious from a tender age.
Episode 564: Ashlee Grives (nee Siejka) - Former top harness horse trainer/driver and gallops trainer transitioning into equine rehabilitation.
Ashlee Grives nee Siejka left a big imprint on the NSW race driving scene with an impressive tally of 800 winners. She trained many of them in her own right.
Episode 563: Lee Magorrian - From County Meath to a NZ scholarship and a stint with the Waller stable. Irish jockey is in Sydney for keeps.
Lee Magorrian had never been on a horse’s back when he got a stablehand’s job with Joe Byrne in his native County Meath in 2009.
Episode 562: Terry Robinson - Master standardbred and thoroughbred horseman hints at retirement.
With his team of gallopers now in single digits, Terry Robinson has few city runners these days.
Episode 561: Tappy chats with Paddy Cunningham
It’s been a pleasure to welcome a sequence of popular country trainers to the podcast lately and we’re going “bush” again in our first interview for 2026.
Episode 560: Allan Gainey - Remembering Hyperion Thoroughbreds
Great to chat with a man who co-founded Hyperion Thoroughbreds, one of the very earliest racehorse syndication companies in Australia. We find out what Allan’s been doing since a crippling recession brought Hyperion’s operation to a halt in 1990.