Saw a bloke called Dale Smith ride a few Brisbane winners over the last month and was curious about his background. It was obvious he’d had plenty of experience so I tracked him down for a podcast. Dale and his partner Melissa Taylor made a snap decision to move to Queensland a couple of years ago. He talks about the reason for such an important move after two decades in Victoria. He acknowledges the trainers who immediately offered him support once he started riding work at Eagle Farm. Dale tal...
Jul 28, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 233
The young trainer looks back on his first Saturday night Menangle double recently. He talks of his annual migration to sunny Queensland to escape the southern winter. Dean looks at the four horse team he’s taken north this year. The trainer pays tribute to Game Set Major, a horse he helped deliver at birth. He’s lost plenty of sleep over the gelding in recent times. Dean goes back to childhood days at Moss Vale and his introduction to the standardbred horse. He speaks with great affection of his...
Jul 21, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 232
Adrian begins with his assessment of a first starter he rode for Gerald Ryan at Kembla last week. He was pretty impressed. The jockey talks of the massive amount of travelling he undertakes each week. Despite a huge workload he tries to get to trackwork regularly. He explains why he chooses to take on this extra commitment. Adrian takes us back to schooldays, his apprenticeship to his father Neville and precious memories of his early years as a jockey. He recalls a happy two years with the Les B...
Jul 21, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 231
Ron recalls the telegram he received from famous Irish trainer Paddy Prendergast offering him a stable retainer. He remembers his early months in Ireland and an Irish 2000 Guineas win on Kythnos to get the ball rolling. Ron looks back on a successful Royal Ascot week in 1960, and a surprise offer from one of England’s most high profile owners. He pays tribute to the loyalty of the Duke Of Norfolk who retained him for seventeen years. Ron looks back on the day he was able to deliver the Duke’s de...
Jul 14, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 230
In Part 1 the former legendary jockey talks about the frustrations of Covid 19. He loves to drive himself around Melbourne but just lately never gets his car out of the garage. Ron talks about his present day racing interests. He delights in telling us about his frequent visits to the track. “ Hutchy” talks about his four children, daughters Susan and Sally, sons Peter and Raymond. Peter was a Gr 1 winning jockey- Ray a former trainer and nowadays a busy vet. Ron looks back on early days when hi...
Jul 14, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 229
Great to catch up with likeable Michael Rodd who talks of his recent return to Melbourne, where he’s enjoyed some of his greatest moments in racing. He says it’s been a battle to re- establish against some strong opposition. Michael hints at his likely plans for the future. He does confirm that he’d like to stay in Melbourne for the duration of the Spring carnival pending Covid 19 developments. The top jockey looks back on a happy childhood on the Central Coast where he began a building trade ap...
Jul 07, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 228
Good to catch up with successful Queensland trainer Stuart Kendrick who made a life changing move from Mackay to the Sunny Coast in 2013.He currently has a 60 strong team. Stuart talks of the benefits of a 40 acre farm close to town where he’s able to give his horses a break from stable life. It’s something he always wanted to do. He talks of the involvement of family. Sons Nathan and Bayley are involved in the business. Daughter Paige has other interests. Stuart’s wife Trudy plays a major role....
Jul 07, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 227
In Part 2 Michael profiles two wonderful horses sent to Australia by Sheikh Hamdan. He reflects on his association with At Talaq- a Melbourne Cup winner who could sprint like an Everest horse. He remembers the brilliant but unsound Almaarad, one of his two Cox Plate winners. Michael reminisces about his role model, the late Roy Higgins. This is a lovely trip down memory lane with a jockey who was one of Australian racing’s main players during the heady days of the. 80’s and 90’s....
Jun 30, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 226
Despite having posted a podcast with Michael Clarke 15 months ago, we’re still getting inquiries about the whereabouts of the former top jockey. It’s our pleasure to give that podcast another run this week.Michael retired in 2002 , but actually spent the last few years of his career overseas. He talks of his final years out of Australia. He talks of the emergence of his son Michael Poy as one of Australia’s best apprentices. Michael reflects on the accidental association with Colin Hayes which w...
Jun 30, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 225
Shane looks back on his association with a very good horse called Prince Salieri, who gave him 2 Gr 1 wins. He said Prince Salieri raced in a tough era, but held his own against some outstanding horses. He talks of his fleeting association with champion Rough Habit. He had one ride for one unforgettable win on the legendary galloper. He can remember every step of the 1995 P.J.O’Shea Stakes- Rough Habit’s last run in Australia. Shane looks back on his association with the last top liner he got to...
Jun 23, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 224
In Part 1 the former champion jockey talks about life out of the saddle. He has spent almost 8 years with Racing Queensland, counselling and mentoring jockeys in need of a helping hand. Shane looks back on the days when he had to take short breaks from riding in order to retain his enthusiasm. He looks back on his childhood involvement with horses. His sister loved the more elegant riding disciplines. Shane loved the speed events at pony club. Shane recalls the first trainer he approached about ...
Jun 23, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 223
Sydney’s lone race caller reflects on a happy association with the Moss Vale Greyhound Club. They raced 40 Saturdays a year with morning and afternoon sessions. Darren looks back on his first job with 2KY( now Sky Sports Radio). He and the late Steve Cairns co hosted the Saturday night trotting and greyhound service. It wasn’t long before he was calling Nowra dogs, and the trots at Bathurst and Lithgow. He reminisces about a two year stint with the famous publication Greyhound Recorder. Darren h...
Jun 16, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 222
Sky’s chief Sydney caller talks of the circumstances behind his return to Australia in 2014, after 16 years in Hong Kong. He talks of his first race call back in Sydney, and the budding top liner who happened to win it. Darren looks back on the unfavourable comment he received at the hands of tweeters in the first few months of his new career in Sydney. The race caller’s return to Sydney coincided with the beginning of the Winx era. He got to call the wonder mare in 24 of her 33 straight wins. H...
Jun 16, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 221
Josh recalls those frightening moments when he lost the strength in his left arm after passing the post on a winner at Warwick Farm in May. He talks of the extensive tests the following day which revealed a rare condition called Brachial Neuritis. The jockey explains that he’s not a good patient when injury keeps him out of the saddle for any length of time. Josh talks of the added problem created by increasing weight during long layoffs. He’s well known for his unabashed reaction when he wins a...
Jun 16, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 220
David talks of his association with owner/breeder John Camilleri and his cousin John Cordina who still has horses in the stable. Their association began with a bonny mare called Gallant Tess. The trainer remembers the ill conformed Centennial Park who belied his problems to win 8 races with 12 placings and $1 million in prize money. David recalls a Gr 1 win with a horse nobody wanted. Australian Bloodstock took the gamble and purchased the horse from WA. David won the T.J.Smith with Master Of De...
Jun 09, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 219
In segment 1 David talks about his many moments of doubt when he arrived in Sydney in 2002. He didn’t have a single horse on his books, and stabling was almost impossible to find. He talks of the tough early years as he struggled to re establish with average horses. David takes us back to childhood days in South Africa and recalls the moment he fell in love with thoroughbreds. The respected horseman shares memories of his apprenticeship to Herman Brown and the highlights of his riding career. He...
Jun 09, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 218
It’s a pleasure to catch up with a quiet achiever in South Australian racing. Todd Pannell talks about his best ever season in 2019/2020. He’s got the SA premiership all tied up, and with ordinary luck will win the metro title as well. Todd talks about the giant horse Behemoth who’s rarely far away in top grade races. The jockey says the gelding was desperately unlucky in the recent Goodwood Hcp. Pannell profiles Bella Vella winner of the Gr 1 TAB Classic over the recent Adelaide carnival. He pa...
Jun 02, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 217
This is a comprehensive look at the life of one of the brightest young men in the Australian riding ranks. Sam Clipperton talks firstly about the three riding zones created by RNSW to help combat the spread of Covid 19. He looks back on a last stride defeat in the recent Doncaster Hcp. He agrees a Gr 1 win would have had a positive impact on his career. He looks back on almost three years under contract in Hong Kong. He was only 22 when the offer came from the Jockey club- an offer too good to r...
Jun 02, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 216
In this segment Craig talks about his sudden emergence as a TV star. He was one of a group of apprentice jockeys who auditioned for the principal role in a new Telecom TV commercial. He got the part. Craig remembers the very first time he sat on a horse at Tamworth. He was instantly hooked. He looks back on his apprenticeship to Rod Craig and the friendship which is stronger than ever today. Craig reflects on his association with trainer Les Bridge - an association destined to lead him to his fi...
May 26, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 215
In the first segment Craig reflects on his decision to quit the saddle after returning from Singapore in 2005. He talks of his entry into the Randwick training ranks, and his current operation based in the Les Bridge training complex. Craig speaks of the plight of the smaller trainers who don’t have access to the spending power of wealthy owners when the yearling sales roll around. The former outstanding jockey looks back on a few special horses who’ve earned many times their modest purchase pri...
May 26, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 214
In this segment Maurice looks back on his exciting association with champion two year old colt Sir Dapper. After four straight wins he was beaten under unusual circumstances in the Todman Slipper Trial. He remembers his disappointment when he lost the Golden Slipper ride to Ron Quinton. Maurice reflects on the unexpected consolation that came his way not long after the Sir Dapper episode. His ability to ride at a featherweight earned him the winning ride on Lord Seaman in the Group 1 Doomben Cup...
May 19, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 213
Great to catch up with an eminently successful jockey who quit the saddle in 1995 when niggling injuries caught up with him. Maurice Logue went straight into a tutorial role with the Australian Jockey Club. He talks of his recent appointment to the team at Harness Racing NSW as Education and Welfare Officer. Maurice outlines the establishment of Mates4Harness, a new initiative designed to help participants with any kind of emotional issue. The former successful jockey explains the concept of the...
May 19, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 212
Great to catch up with the voice of NSW central west racing. Col Hodges covers meetings at 25 venues and is a living legend in the region. He talks of a happy childhood at Bogan Gate (NSW) and school days at the curiously named Gunning Gap, a push bike ride from the family farm. The veteran commentator recalls his fascination with the ABC race callers of the 1950’s. Col looks back on his admiration for the shearing contractors who visited the family property. He reminisces about his thirty years...
May 19, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 211
It was a delight to catch up with an elder statesman of the Australian training ranks. Mick Robins is turning 90 in July, but sounds years younger as he takes us on a sentimental journey. Mick talks of his recent stint in hospital after a heavy fall at the Mornington stables of Tony Noonan. The grand old horseman takes us back to his first job as an apprentice butcher in wartime Broken Hill. Mick reflects on his days below the surface of the earth as he helped to mine the silver, zinc and lead t...
May 12, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 210
In this segment Brad recalls his association with trainers like Malcolm Johnston, Gerald Ryan and Les Bridge. He talks of the offer he got from champion Queensland trainer Bruce McLachlan who was anxious to get him back to Brisbane. Brad remembers with affection his big pay day when he won the 2008 Magic Millions Guineas on Heart Of The Citi for trainer Pat Duff. He talks of his frustration that a Group 1 win has eluded him. He’s gone close a couple of times. Brad speaks of his admiration for th...
May 05, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 209
This podcast was recorded two days before Brad was hurt in a starting gate incident at Rockhampton. He escaped serious injury but was taken to hospital complaining of some neck pain. We wish him well. In Part 1 the popular jockey talks of his current winning streak and the trainers who are giving him continuing support. Brad, always on the heavy side, talks of his current situation with weight. The jockey looks back on his original apprenticeship to his father Phil, who’s still training horses s...
May 05, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 208
John talks of the tough road back as an independent trainer after three years heading up the powerful Godolphin operation. He reflects on his feelings when the Godolphin job was offered to him, and the reaction of his family. John reminisces about a quick dash to Dubai to officially meet Sheikh Mohammed. Of the hundreds of horses to pass through his hands in the Godolphin days, he was smitten by the remarkable Hartnell. He remembers a great horse. John recalls the moment he knew it was time to l...
May 05, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 207
In this segment Steve reflects on a short riding stint in Mauritius which ended on a very sour note. He looks back on his return to the saddle after knee surgery and his new association with trainer Terry Courtney. The top horseman has never forgotten his wonderful partnership with powerhouse sprinter Mighty Avalanche. He takes us through a last to first win in the Gr 1 Oakleigh Plate. Steve remembers with affection a wonderful six year stay in Macau. He rode 300 winners and bagged a Macau Gold ...
Apr 28, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 206
We talk to Steve about the lockdown of Singapore racing and the interim progress of his horses. He talks of the biosecurity situation and the mood of the locals as the weeks wear on. We go right back to Steve’s younger days in Melbourne and his passion for football. He was promising but way too small to make a career of it. He talks of his father Harold, a successful jumps jockey. Steve recalls his apprenticeship to Jim Cerchi and his first winning ride at Echuca. He remembers with affection his...
Apr 28, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 205
I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Phillip Stokes so we did the next best thing and chatted on the podcast. The trainer talks of his runners in two states last Saturday. No winners but a few super efforts. Phillip talks of the fruition of a long term plan to establish a Victorian stable, and the reason he settled on the new Pakenham complex. He describes the available facilities and the 16 acre property he purchased just 5 minutes down the road. Phillip reflects on a happy childhood growing u...
Apr 21, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 204
