Kristen Buchanan lived in WA as a youngster and attained Uni Degrees in Biology and Exercise Physiology.  Those qualifications would have given her any number of job choices, but training racehorses was all she wanted to do.

When the website began in May of last year, Rodney Quinn was one of my very early podcast guests. He’d been retired for five years and was well entrenched in his new role as tutor of apprentices with Racing NSW.

In part 2 of the podcast Bob reminisces about horses like Danewin, Slight Chance and Shogun Lodge who won many Group 1 races.

Part 1 - Bob Thomsen taught himself the basics of horsemanship at a riding school, before becoming apprenticed to Tommy Smith in 1957.

In keeping with our plan to introduce country based trainers from time to time, we introduce the lady known as the “Baroness Of Bombala”.

This week we welcome another member of the famous Fitzpatrick clan - a dominant force on the Sydney harness racing scene for decades.

I’ve known few more passionate racing men than Louis Mihalyka, who founded Laurel Oak Thoroughbreds 32 years ago. Like most syndicators he would buy yearlings and then advertise heavily in the search for new owners.

Jodi Quinlan was pretty sore and sorry when we recorded this podcast, but you’d never pick it. Only a week earlier she had a confrontation with an ill-tempered maiden trotter in the Melton float parking area, and came off second best.

Had Glen Colless decided to remain in his native Coffs Harbour, he would have carved out a stellar career riding around the northern rivers.

This week we talk to Tamworth’s Sue Grills, who was NSW Country Trainer of the Year in the 2014/15 season. Sue brings an occasional horse to the “big smoke”, and is rarely far away.

In Part 2 Ron takes us through the tough transition to the ranks of Sydney trainers. He talks about the best horses he’s prepared, his role as a tutor of young jockeys, and his riding stints in Ireland.

In Part 1 Ron talks about his childhood on the family farm at Mendooran and his early introduction to horses. He recalls happy times during his apprenticeship to Theo Green, master tutor of jockeys.

Delighted to welcome Blake Shinn to the podcast. One of Australia’s riding elite, Blake has been out since August recovering from spinal injuries sustained in a Randwick barrier trial.

I had many a conversation with Richard Freedman at Sky Channel, and not once did he hint that he might train horses again. Two years ago the bug bit him when he pre-trained a few for brother Michael at Hawkesbury.

This week’s guest is former talented jockey Larry Olsen who tells the story of his nightmare struggle with weight.

He recalls his apprenticeship with Mal Barnes, and the horses that kick started his career.

Punters were completely puzzled when the name J. Van Overmeire started to appear in Sydney race fields, just over two years ago.

In Part 2 Fred Kersley talks about the struggle he had to gain his thoroughbred trainer’s licence. It’s a treat to hear the maestro reminisce about the champion Northerly, who catapulted him to the upper echelon of galloping trainers.

It’s hard to believe Fred Kersley is approaching his 80th birthday. The remarkable horseman is just as passionate today, as he was at any stage of his career.

This episode is Part 2 of Tappy chats with John Letts, former champion jockey. John continues to entertain us with his racing yarns.

John Letts deserves his ranking in the upper echelon of Australia’s jockeys. He won more than 2300 races including two Melbourne Cups, despite a couple of very serious injuries.