Cameron reviews his recent trip to NZ when he finished second on the points table in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship. He talks of his reaction to the news that he will represent Australia in a World Junior Drivers Series in Sweden later this year. Cameron talks of his Riverina upbringing and the strong trotting background from which he descends. The young driver looks back on his days in the popular mini trots, and his champion pony Energiser. He pays tribute to the uncle who taught ...
Jan 14, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 173
To mark the festive season I’d like to present one of our favourite podcasts from the early days of the website. Wayne no longer manages jockey Travis Wolfgram as he did when the podcast was recorded in 2018. He has however taken over the management of visiting Irish apprentice Tom Sherry, who’s showing plenty of promise. Tom joins Robbie Dolan and Chris O’Brien on the Wayne Harris team. The former champion jockey takes us through his roller coaster career, which brought him many dazzling highs ...
Jan 07, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 172
In Part 2 Scott reflects on the $20,000 Inglis Classic filly who went on to win $3.2 million including a Golden Slipper and a Moir Stakes. She Will Reign was a tremendous advertisement for Darby Racing. The syndicator pays tribute to his “surprise packet” Samadoubt who looked like being a handy Benchmark horse, but suddenly snatched Group 1 glory. He pays tribute to several regular Darby Racing trainers including Mark Newnham who currently has twenty horses in work for the company. Scott elabora...
Dec 30, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 171
In Part 1 Scott Darby talks of the yearling sale selection criteria, which has led him to many winners. He talks of his early fascination with racing and his desire to become a jockey. Scott reflects on the intimidating experience of an interview with Tommy Smith. He looks back on a job with trainer Clarrie Conners in the early 90’s. He talks of his earliest attempts in the field of syndication. Scott remembers with affection his flying start as a syndicator. A Gimcrack Stakes win with a $15,000...
Dec 30, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 170
HRNSW presents a chat with respected trainer/driver Ashlee Grives who’s currently going through a very sad time. Ashlee explains the debilitating colic attack which struck her wonderful race mare Ameretto, and two subsequent surgical procedures. Ash reflects on the day she paid $3500 for a filly destined to win $565,000, and a coveted Gr 1 The Queen Of The Pacific. The talented trainer explains her decision to move Ameretto to a Melbourne stable at the height of the mare’s powers. Ash reveals sh...
Dec 24, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 169
The talented Victorian jockey takes us through the freak accident which fractured both his legs. He describes the extent of the injuries. Jamie talks of a family background which has produced jockeys and trainers for several generations. He reflects on his apprenticeship to grandmother Janet and later to Leon Corstens. Jamie speaks candidly about his failure to pass two random jockeys room drug tests. During the second disqualification he got his weight under control, and couldn’t wait to get ba...
Dec 24, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 168
In part 2 the legendary trainer pays tribute to his all time favourite Emancipation, winner of 19 races. He draws comparisons with Sunline and Winx. Neville has good things to say about Dalmacia, a horse he was offered over the birdcage fence at a race meeting. He looks back on his Golden Slipper win with Dark Eclipse in 1980 with his former apprentice Kevin Moses in the saddle. Neville looks back on a 20 year association with Ron Quinton. They were one of the strongest combinations ever seen in...
Dec 17, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 167
In Part 1 the veteran horseman talks of his interest in thoroughbred breeding and his current involvement with Written By’s new life at the famous Widden Stud. Neville talks of two year old filly Mildred winner of two juvenile races in Melbourne. He manages the Hinchinbrook filly who’s trained by his son Graeme. He takes us back a long time to his apprenticeship with the legendary Maurice McCarten who had been a wonderful jockey and was on his way to a stellar training career. Neville talks of h...
Dec 17, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 166
The popular Gold Coast trainer recalls the horror accident a month ago when he was slammed onto the concrete pavement by a runaway horse. Toby talks of early days in the NSW Hunter Valley and the wonderful foster family who reared him. The successful horseman looks back on his modest beginnings as a professional trainer, and one special horse who got him started. Toby talks of his move to the Gold Coast and the owner who persuaded him to become his private trainer at Warwick Farm. Edmonds has ne...
Dec 10, 2019•42 min•Season 1Ep. 165
In the second segment the champion jockey looks back on his first Group 1 winner as a fully fledged jockey- again provided by T.J.Smith. Gordon pays tribute to Black Onyx, a great sprinter of the early seventies who gave him a Doomben $10,000 win. He looks back on his retainer as number two jockey for the powerful Stan Fox stable at Rosehill. He talks of his admiration for the stable’s number one rider, the legendary Athol Mulley. Gordon talks of a working holiday in England where he rode for le...
Dec 10, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 164
In part 1 Gordon talks of the heart attack he suffered while driving from Longreach to Brisbane. He didn’t realise he’d had a cardiac issue. The 72 year old reveals that his heart problems aren’t over yet. The former outstanding jockey looks back on childhood days in Sydney, and the neighbour’s pony he couldn’t wait to ride. Gordon reflects on the newspaper advertisement which lured him to Theo Green’s Rosehill stables. He recalls the track gallops with Theo by his side, and the start of his mat...
Dec 10, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 163
In Part 2 Matthew talks of his participation on the 4 man commentary team used by the BBC at the Aintree Grand National. He got to call from the commentary position at Becher’s Brook-perhaps the most famous of all the Aintree obstacles. He talks of his love for tennis and his nine year association with Tennis Australia, as a caller and courtside interviewer. Matt looks back on the amazing number of sports he’s covered at Summer and Winter olympics. He speaks with great honesty about the lethal v...
Dec 02, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 162
The outstanding young sports commentator talks of the pressures associated with the job during the famous Melbourne Cup Carnival. Matt outlines his reasons for leaving the top race caller’s job in Sydney, to become an AFL commentator for ABC radio in Melbourne. He recalls the shock he received when he heard of Greg Miles’ impending retirement on a news broadcast. He was on holiday in England when he learned the job was his. Matt recalls school days in Melbourne and his role as race day assistant...
Dec 02, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 161
We catch up with Stephen Baster whose infectious smile has been a part of Victorian racing for almost thirty years. The popular jockey explains his decision to quit the saddle recently for a new career in real estate. Steve talks of the fairy tale ending when he won a Group 3 race at his very last ride. He reveals that he’s been thinking of a career change for some time. Steve looks back on his first apprenticeship with Mark Riley who put him on a Group 1 winner as a 3KG claiming apprentice. He ...
Nov 26, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 160
Great to catch up with popular Malcolm Fitzgerald who looks back on a horror two weeks in which the bushfires came dangerously close to the Racing NSW property he manages near Taree. Mal talks of the job he loves, as he and partner Holly supervise the welfare of 60 former racehorses at Oxley Island. The couple assess and place suitable horses in the right homes. Mal reflects on his childhood with foster parents and the ambition to become a jockey. He talks of early days as a bush apprentice and ...
Nov 26, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 159
An absorbing chat with a Nyngan based jockey who turns 27 this week. She explains the reason for her move from Tamworth to drought ravaged Nyngan. Wendy talks about her endless trip from Nyngan to ride at a recent Toowoomba meeting, and the return trip to the Warren (NSW) races the following day. She recalls her early introduction to horses and the many disciplines she learned in the saddle. Wendy takes us through her experiences on stud farms at home and overseas. She identifies the turning poi...
Nov 19, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 158
This is a different kind of podcast. Rather than talk to an established racehorse syndicator, we introduce a man who has just started out in a tough business. David Thompson talks of a love of racing born when he struck a profitable Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double in 1993. He recalls the win by Fraar and the dream that led him to coupling the horse with a bank of Melbourne Cup runners. He bought a car out of the winnings. Dave talks of a job redundancy and a sudden illness that laid him low for a...
Nov 12, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 157
The talented jockey talks of his busy life and the arduous travelling he does to attend country and provincial meetings. Christian talks of school days in Queensland and the unlikely subject he took a liking to. He talks of his apprenticeship to the man destined to become his father in law. He looks back on an accident that could have finished his career before it started. Christian talks of his very first race ride, and the thrill of his first win. The popular jockey reveals that he was diagnos...
Nov 12, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 156
Blake looks back on school holidays at Moree with his late grandfather, one of his valued tutors. The young jockey reflects on his apprenticeship to Newcastle trainer Steve Hodge. He talks of the magic moment when he won at his very first race ride. Blake looks back on the unforgettable day at Rosehill when he rode five winners on a Saturday programme. He pays tribute to Sir John Hawkwood, the imported English horse who gave him a maiden Group 1 victory. He looks back on the days when his manage...
Nov 05, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 155
Blake talks of the nasty fall at Hawkesbury which cost him many months of race riding. He expands on his current situation at the regular Newcastle and Kembla Saturday meetings where his services are being used by Godolphin and other high profile stables. Blake talks of his impending marriage to Rachel King and the way in which he popped the question. Blake reflects on his childhood as the son of busy jockey Dale Spriggs who refused some tempting offers to come to town. He reflects on school day...
Nov 05, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 154
Anybody who watches Sky Racing on Saturday nights will be aware of the achievements of Skye Bogenhuber at the regular Toowoomba meetings in recent years. The thoroughly professional jockey has won 5 Toowoomba premierships, and went very close to a sixth. Skye talks of her recent return to the saddle following a six months enforced lay off. She suffered a bleed to the brain in a nasty fall at the Toowoomba jump outs, and faced a long period of rehabilitation. You’ll enjoy her recollections of lif...
Oct 29, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 153
Just on a year ago I had the pleasure of recording a lengthy chat with a man who has been a major player in the ranks of Australia’s harness racing drivers for 45 years. Gavin Lang at age 60 is currently battling a rare form of lymphoma at Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital. He’s a week into his second round of chemotherapy, and is uppermost in the thoughts of his fans and friends around the nation. If you missed the podcast on its initial posting, I hope you can tune in this time to hear the legendar...
Oct 29, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 152
In part one Craig talks about his recent haul of winners at the two day Kalgoorlie Cup carnival. He explains why he made the surprise move to return to his home state of Tasmania after many successful years in Melbourne. Her remembers his early days as an apprentice in Tasmania. Craig recalls the surprise phone call from Lee Freedman offering him a job that any apprentice in Australia would have died for. He talks of his very first Gr 1 winner, and the disqualification that turned his life upsid...
Oct 22, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 151
In this segment Bernie reflects on his search for the ideal standardbred training property. He found the place of his dreams at George’s Plains. He pays tribute to the talented horses who’ve helped him along in a tough business. Bernie elaborates on his liking for younger horses. He’s never been one to hang onto older horses forever. He prefers to move them on in order to try a new batch.
Oct 15, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 150
Bernie recalls his freakish fall at Eugowra recently, and the injuries he sustained. He looks back on early days on the farm at Crookwell (NSW) and the lessons he learned from his late father Tom. Bernie reflects on the neighbor’s horse that gave him his first winning drive. The master horseman remembers Nikalong Shadow the first really good horse he got to drive. Tom Hewitt trained Nikalong Shadow but Bernie drove him to 43 wins. Bernie talks about the offer from a prominent owner/breeder which...
Oct 15, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 149
Brilliant WA apprentice Jade McNaught reflects on her history making feat at the Belmont track on September 14th 2019, when she became the first apprentice in the state to win six races in one day on a metro track. Jade talks of her decision to become an apprentice jockey at age 30, twice the age of most junior riders. She reflects on her first two ponies and her achievements at pony club and in the show ring. Jade remembers the experience she gained working with performance horses and on a well...
Oct 15, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 148
Suman looks back on his time with Woodside Park Stud, and a request from Sheriff Iskander which led him to the purchase of a Northern Meteor colt later to be known as Zoustar. He talks of his decision to leave the breeding side of the business to concentrate on yearlings, weanlings and overseas horses. Suman talks of the backing he’s getting from loyal supporters who are prepared to back his judgement. He discusses the upsurge in weanling sales and the new concept known as ‘pin hooking”. Suman t...
Oct 08, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 147
In Part 1 Suman talks about the shattering disappointment of losing two promising European imports to injury. He updates the progress of Django Freeman and Schabau and looks to the future with both horses. Suman recalls his days at school and a stint at University, but much prefers to talk about his early visits to the Inglis Yearling sales. He takes us through his chance meeting with businessman Sheriff Iskander- a meeting destined to shape his destiny. Suman reflects on his time as racing mana...
Oct 08, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Greg begins by talking about his dream horse Pierata and the proposed stud venture which seemed likely to terminate the stallion’s racing career. He talks of the surprise decision to put him back into work. The popular Warwick Farm trainer reflects on his early days at Gunnedah, and his first involvement with horses. Greg talks about his fleeting career as an amateur jockey, and his early days as a trainer when stabled on the Boggabri Showground. He talks of his association with trainers Geoff S...
Oct 01, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 145
Glenn talks of his childhood days living at Rosehill when there was only one trotting trainer in a bustling thoroughbred precinct. That trainer took young Glenn under his wing and had him in the sulky from a very early age. Glenn recalls the closure of the Granville Showground to make way for the Parramatta Speedway. He and his brothers had to move their horses to Bankstown which turned out to be a life changing move for the budding harness driver. He reflects on five incredible years in the ear...
Oct 01, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 144
