Great to catch up with the popular Kembla Grange trainer who is enjoying a magical ride with Think It Over, the horse rated by many as Australia’s most improved galloper. He begins by heaping praise on Kembla Grange as a training centre, but doesn’t dismiss the possibility of a move to town if the right opportunity comes along. Kerry talks of Think It Over’s first win for the stable in a Cl 2 at Hawkesbury. The horse was unimpressive in winning and had to be spelled immediately. He reviews Think...
Mar 08, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 353
Great to catch up with 88 year old Brian Forrester, one of the elite harness drivers of his generation. NZ born Forrester learned his craft from master Christchurch trainer George Noble before going on to work for several leading horsemen. He fondly remembers his first winning drive at Blenheim, and his initial metro win at Addington. Brian pays tribute to two close relatives who emerged from World War 2 with distinction. He’s never forgotten a frightening trip to Sydney in mountainous seas on t...
Feb 28, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 352
We present a replay of one of our favourite interviews from the early days of the website. Our guest is that great raconteur Johnny Letts whose stellar riding career brought him 2300 wins including two Melbourne Cups. John talks of his recovery from some serious health issues. John reminisces about his twenty one years as post race interviewer for two networks over the four days of the Melbourne Cup carnival. He talks of the jockeys who showed the most emotion in the wake of their Cup victories ...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 351
This is a podcast for older racing enthusiasts and for younger fans who are simply curious about the deeds of previous generations. I’ve always been aware that a man called Lou Robertson was one helluva horse trainer, but I really didn’t know why history has treated him so kindly. Lou’s grandson David Robertson knows the story better than anyone and is happy to share it with us. David explains his position in the family lineage. He talks about his upcoming book on the legend of Lou Robertson, an...
Feb 21, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 350
Maddie Raymond has been training in her own right for just two years but has already given notice that she has arrived in the Victorian training ranks. A Gr 3 with Earlswood, a Gr 2 with Turaath and a sequence of country Cups with Wentwood have brought her under notice in recent months. Maddie joins us on the podcast to talk about her journey with horses, from Warrnambool pony club to racing’s big stage. She talks firstly of her acquisition of Earlswood and the way she got him fit enough to win ...
Feb 21, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 349
We catch up with Bryan Guy who called time on his training career recently when Gold Coast developers secured his training property at Bundall. Bryan explains his decision to retire earlier than expected. He talks of his twenty two year training partnership with son Daniel. Should Daniel not proceed Bryan is acutely aware that the Guy training dynasty will evaporate. The 67 year old goes back to early days when he was riding trackwork at Rosehill for his father Ray. He talks of Ray’s battle to g...
Feb 15, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 348
Great to catch up with the young jockey who’s been breaking records since his career began in NZ in 2007. James begins by assessing the merits of Coolangatta’s win in the recent Magic Millions. He says he hasn’t yet committed to the Golden Slipper ride. He talks of the enviable choice of rides he has in the Gr 1 Lightning Stakes between Nature Strip and Home Affairs. James explains that Nature Strip has transformed from an uncontrollable “bolter” to a very tractable horse. He reviews the gelding...
Feb 08, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 347
Nobody was happier than Jean Van Overmeire when the NSW adult population hit the 80% double vaccinated mark last October. It meant the hard working jockey was able to get out of Sydney and ride wherever he wanted. Jean talks of a rapid increase in his workload. He talks of his busy trackwork schedule at Randwick and other city tracks. The expat South African looks back on the shock offer he received to ride in last year’s TAB Everest. He reviews his two rides in the Golden Slipper. Jean looks ba...
Feb 01, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 346
Regular Sky Racing watchers are familiar with the striking cerise and white racing colours of legendary WA owner/breeder Bob Peters. Those colours are seen in the winner’s circle at Ascot and Belmont on a regular basis. Bob’s strike rate in major WA races has been extraordinary. He shares with us his journey from the tiny wheatbelt town of Dalwallinu to his current ranking as the world’s 4th most successful racehorse owner. In the podcast Bob gets all of his bad news out of the way first. He tal...
Jan 25, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 345
Great to catch up with Bathurst based harness horseman Mat Rue who at age 32 is already nearing 1000 career driving wins. He begins by acknowledging the brilliant win by his favourite Fouroeight in the recent Shirley Turnbull Memorial. Mat talks of his admiration for Fouroeight who shattered his pelvis as a 3YO. Mat says the gelding’s attitude to racing is astonishing. He talks of a handful of special horses who saved his sanity during Fouroeight’s long absence. Mat looks back on his early life ...
Jan 18, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 344
Great to catch up with top Victorian lightweight jockey Dean Yendall who’s feeling a little sorry for himself at the moment. Dean talks about the frustrations of endless weeks in a neck brace. He’s grateful no surgery was required. Dean reflects on the Terang fall that put him out of business just before Xmas. He says his mount Saintly Rose had the race won when she went sideways. He talks of his choice of lifestyle at rural Horsham in Victoria’s Wimmera district. Dean looks back on his apprenti...
Jan 18, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 343
Ian begins by looking back on his emotion- charged final day of calling at Gosford in 2009. He recalls his final metropolitan race call at Randwick just five days earlier. The former ace broadcaster talks about the post racing life of retired callers like Bryan Martin and Greg Miles. Ian talks of school days at Sydney Grammar, and the difficulties associated with having the same name as a previous Australian cricket captain. He looks back on his introduction to race broadcasts when laid up with ...
Jan 11, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 342
In keeping with our nostalgia format over the holiday break, here comes one of our favourite podcasts from 2019 with much loved Sydney media icon Graham McNeice. At the time this interview was recorded, Shadow had just finished his latest documentary The Masters Apprentice- the career of legendary jockey mentor Theo Green. He says the doco had been twenty years in the making. Graham explains how a copy of The Masters Apprentice can be accessed from the website. The man’s famous nickname The Shad...
Jan 04, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 341
The former outstanding Randwick trainer talks about his introduction to horses at an Oatley riding school, and his interest in becoming an apprentice jockey. Bob recalls that his interview with Tommy Smith was arranged by his father’s friend Arthur Davies, better known as Channel 9’s Clarence The Clocker. He looks back on 40 winners as an apprentice- most trained by his master, and all on metropolitan tracks. He acknowledges other great horsemen who helped him along the way. Bob spent 17 years a...
Dec 28, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 340
The former trailblazing jockey talks of her childhood involvement with horses in the Brisbane suburb of Ascot. Pam remembers how she bristled when trying to lead a racehorse onto Eagle Farm racecourse before having to hand it over to a male. She recalls her first battle- the right to ride trackwork. Eventually she got the authorities to agree to the staging of ladies races only. Pam talks of the historic Gold Coast meeting when she became the first woman to compete against men. There were a few ...
Dec 21, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 339
Peter begins by talking about the Central Coast stationary business he started with wife Donna after quitting the saddle in 2005. They’ve opened the doors again after the endless covid closure. Peter talks of his love for the NSW central coast where he learned to ride on a local dairy farm. He remembers the school teacher who encouraged him to consider an apprenticeship as a jockey. Peter recalls his first trip to Sydney and the homesickness that sent him scurrying home after two days. He talks ...
Dec 14, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 338
Introducing a nice chat with one of Australia’s most consistent jockeys. Andrew Gibbons works hard, travels far and wide and rides winners on a regular basis. Andrew talks of the freakish fall at Newcastle in July which saw him miss the first three months of the current season. He outlines the injuries incurred and the long road back to race riding. Andrew pays tribute to his twenty year old son Dylan who ranks among Australia’s most promising apprentices. He says he actually discouraged Dylan f...
Dec 07, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 337
Great to catch up with a lady whose continued success is bringing her under notice as a very serious horse trainer. Theresa Bateup announced her presence with a metro double on Gong day. She talks about a great winning trot in the month of November. Theresa talks of the horses who made her first metropolitan double a reality. She looks back on an amazing success rate with horses purchased cheaply at the Inglis Scone sale. Theresa reviews a brilliant Sapphire Coast win by Inglis On Line purchase ...
Dec 07, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 336
Had a phone call recently from former top jockey Gordon Spinks to tell me that Bruce Compton was in retirement with wife Marina on a Moreton Bay island in Queensland. A quick phone call and we had Bruce locked in for a chat. We check out where he’s living and what he’s doing in retirement. Bruce begins by talking about the final years of his riding career in northern NSW, and a couple of business ventures he and Marina operated when he quit the saddle. He highlights a few smart bush gallopers he...
Nov 30, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 335
This is the first podcast we’ve conducted with a non racing participant, but the man in question rates among Australia’s best horsemen. Scott Brodie begins by explaining his role as manager of the Prestige Equestrian Training Centre at Helensburgh. He outlines the facilities available on the property. Scott talks of the riding instruction component of the operation, and the therapy he supervises for Australian Defence Force personnel whose involvement in war zones has left them with emotional pr...
Nov 23, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 334
The CEO of the state’s controlling body talks about the 2021 edition of the Interdominion series, to be held over four exciting nights at three top class racetracks. He answers criticism of the decision to conduct two rounds of heats on regional tracks. John talks of his upbringing in a legendary western districts trotting family. He talks of Ruby Vale Stud at Alectown, a famous breeding farm established by his grandfather William in 1943. The administrator remembers his early experience with ho...
Nov 23, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 333
It’s always a delight to chat with Darren Gauci who won a million friends during his magnificent riding career. He begins by looking back on his twilight years in the saddle when opportunities were diminishing. Darren will long remember the send off he was accorded at Caulfield in Feb 2017. He responded in the best possible way by riding a winner. Emotions ran high through the day. He talks of his current routine as a jockey mentor for Racing Victoria, and the services available to up and coming...
Nov 16, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 332
Great to catch up with a 31 year old jockey who’s nudging 1000 career wins. Ben was sitting in his car at the Armidale racecourse when we tracked him down for this interview. He begins by singing the praises of a promising mare he rode at Grafton recently. He makes mention of a recent addition to the Port Macquarie training ranks. He’s already forged an association with Paul Shailer, a former Chris Waller Gold Coast stable manager. Ben pays tribute to the riding talents of his wife Priscilla who...
Nov 09, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 331
Great to catch up with a doyen of western districts racing! Gayna recalls the thrill of her first training win with Scarlet Vixen at Orange in 1985. She paid $1400 for the filly at an Inglis sale. She talks of her marriage to Frank Williams and a sudden move to Grafton in 2010. She may still be there had Frank not been offered a job at Gulgong. Gayna talks about seven successful years of training at Mudgee, and a return to Bathurst as recently as 2020. The talented horsewoman rode trackwork for ...
Nov 09, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 330
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. Allan takes us back to his childhood in Gravesend near Warialda when radio was a way of life to country people. He fell in love with the theatre of racing, the day he listened to the broadcast of the 1956 Melbourne Cup. He talks of school days in Invere...
Nov 01, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 329
Delighted to catch up with a bloke who boasts a racing pedigree to match that of any thoroughbred blueblood. Alan Gollogly is the son of the former successful Queensland jockey of the same name, and the grandson of Fred Best who won 17 Brisbane trainer’s premierships. Throw in his uncle, champion jockey Noel Best for good measure. “Jock” talks of his current role as official track clocker for top Newcastle trainer Kris Lees. He talks of the few hectic hours six mornings a week when he has to ide...
Oct 26, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 328
Thanks to a devoted Melbourne racing historian we were able to access fifty year old recordings of race wins by Dual Choice. Listening to the calls I was reminded of the talents of this flying daughter of Showdown. A quick spot of research, a scripting of the Dual Choice story and some good work from Supernova Sound and we had ourselves a podcast- a podcast for old timers like me, and those who like to hear about a good horse from any era. My thanks to Dennis Najim, Bert Bryant and John Russell....
Oct 26, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 327
Keagan is counting down the minutes to a specialist appointment on November 10th when he hopes to gain a clearance to ride again. He talks about the seemingly harmless tumble at Hawkesbury that left him with multiple injuries. He reflects on a wonderful season that brought him more than a century of winners and a provincial premiership. Keagan talks of his South African childhood and induction into the famed Durban Jockeys Academy. He reminisces about his very first winning ride for his master D...
Oct 19, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 326
Kylie Gavenlock’s early life revolved around her devotion to horses and her love for the NSW Central Coast. Now at age 57 Kylie is still based at Gosford, and is in her fourth decade as a professional trainer. She begins by talking about the Gosford Race Club’s plans for expansion as a training centre. Kylie talks of the 75 acre property at nearby Somersby which gives her horses the “best of both worlds”. The trainer pays tribute to her elderly Mum who still helps out around the farm. Kylie look...
Oct 12, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 325
TAB punters who fancy a flutter on NSW southern meetings are familiar with the riding of Brendan Ward. The Victorian born jockey had 700 winners on his CV when he moved to Canberra twenty years ago. He’s since added another 820. Brendan talks about his involvement in Canberra trackwork. He talks of the endless travelling country jockeys have to endure in the modern age. Brendan talks of his lifelong addiction to exercise and training. He talks of childhood days in Melbourne and the work experien...
Oct 12, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 324
