It’s always good to head out of town for a podcast chat and this week we go to Grafton to catch up with John Shelton. A multiple premiership winner in northern NSW, John made his mark on the big stage when he prepared Belflyer to win the inaugural Kosciuszko. John talks of his concerns on the day when the track was classified a Heavy 10. The Grafton trainer talks of the immediate impact of the occasion and the many emotions he experienced. He talks of his association with winning jockey Adam Hye...
May 11, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 293
Great to catch up with one of the most consistent performers among the Sydney riding ranks. Brenton talks of his lightning visit to Brisbane on the weekend which brought a Gr 2 winner. He reflects on his recent Gr 1 All Aged Stakes win on the Chris Waller trained Kolding. The young jockey remembers his introduction to racing by his bookmaker father Peter, and his early role model among the Melbourne jockeys. Brenton talks of school days and the classmate whose father happened to be a horse train...
May 04, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 292
Brad talks about his very first trip to Perth in 1997 when he won an Apprentice’s Cup. He’s loved the place ever since. He talks of his very first Gr 1 win on Niconero for David Hayes. It just happened to be in Perth. He recalls a WA Derby win for the same stable. Brad talks of his deep racing background and the achievements of his father Keith who’s still riding trackwork in his mid 70’s. He talks of brother Todd who’s now out of racing and sister Stacey who opted for motherhood after a success...
May 04, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 291
Thoroughly enjoyed my first chat with Bill Mitchell since he left the training ranks in 2005. He begins by outlining his reasons for relocating to Melbourne in his final years as a trainer. Bill talks of his surprise decision to relinquish his licence and the establishment of his own bloodstock consultancy business. The multiple Group 1 winning trainer looks back on nine years as racing manager for the Segenhoe Group. Bill reflects on the excitement of migrating from England with his family at a...
Apr 27, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 290
At last we catch up with one of the superstars of the Australian riding ranks. We launch straight into Glen’s memories of the freakish mare Makybe Diva who gave him three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories. He still gets goosebumps when he talks about the amazing staying mare. He talks of the 1998 Melbourne Cup when he hit the front on Champagne and thought he was home. Glen couldn’t believe it when Jezabeel fought back to win. The great jockey takes us back to childhood days at Beaudesert and ...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 289
Great to catch up with a young horseman who has already made his mark as a trainer and driver at the top level. Brad begins by pointing out the many advantages of being based at Goulburn. He reflects on the tutelage he received from his late grandfather Tom Hewitt, one of the most respected horsemen of his generation. Brad talks of the influence Tom had on his sons- David, Bernie and Mark, all highly successful in their own right. He says his Aunt Jenna, the only girl in the Hewitt family wasn’t...
Apr 20, 2021•41 min•Season 7Ep. 288
Great to catch up with John Morrisey, one of the most astute trainers of his generation. John talks about the move from Canberra to the Gold Coast which came as a surprise to many. The former trainer talks of his time at the well known Capricorn Park training property near Yass. John takes us back to his childhood on the Northern Rivers and his father’s Ramornie Hcp win with Flecked Marble. He looks back on the thrill of his own Ramornie win many years later. John remembers that Ramornie winner,...
Apr 13, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 287
It’s unlikely there’s a busier jockey in Australia currently than Hunter Valley based Mikayla Weir. As this podcast is posted Mikayla has had 32 race rides on 8 different race tracks in 10 days. Just for practice she rode in 11 barrier trials at Scone last Wednesday. In an interview recorded on Good Friday she takes us through that horrendous schedule. The young jockey logs enormous mileage to honour commitments in the North Eastern corner of the state. She explains how she comes to terms with t...
Apr 06, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 286
I’ve had several requests over a period of time to organise a podcast with former high profile bookie Bruce McHugh. We actually did just that in August of 2019, but in those early days of the website many missed it. In the 1980’s this was the time of year when Bruce and Kerry Packer would go toe to toe at the big Randwick carnival. It’s an appropriate time to repost that podcast. Bruce talks of his current interest in racing, and the thoroughbred stallion he stands commercially- the fashionably ...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 285
Great to catch up with one of Sydney’s most popular jockeys. Tim talks of his recent Coolmore Classic win on Queensland mare Krone- his 16th Gr 1 success. Tim looks at his tremendous record with fillies and mares. He says he really hadn’t thought about it too much. The jockey looks back on his country upbringing and his first apprenticeship to Peter Clancy in the Riverina. Tim talks about the transfer of his indentures to John O’Shea at Randwick with whom he spent the last 18 months of his appre...
Mar 23, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 284
A timely podcast with John Messara as the Inglis Easter Sale approaches. John expresses his sadness that this sale will see the auctioning of the last yearlings by his iconic stallion Redoute’s Choice. John talks of three year old filly Miravalle whose recent success in the Kembla Classic gave Redoute’s Choice his 178th stakes winner. He talks of Arrowfield’s presence at the Inglis Easter Sale, and his long term association with the famous auction house. John looks back on the reasons he identif...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 283
I first interviewed Bev Buckingham at her Latrobe home in Tasmania during her rehabilitation from injuries received in the Hobart race fall that ended her career in 1998. I saw her again on three occasions over the next few years, but lost touch thereafter. When I spotted a photo of Bev on Twitter recently I launched a successful search for her phone number and thankfully she agreed to this podcast. The trailblazing jockey explains how that photo materialised. Right off the top I should apologis...
Mar 16, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 282
Jon Grisedale tried to quit the saddle when he suffered a complicated leg break at Kembla Grange in 2013. He actually announced his retirement but couldn’t resist the urge to start riding trackwork again. Eight years down the track he’s enjoying his job more than ever. He begins by acknowledging the long priced winner he rode on the Gold Coast on Saturday for veteran trainer Lennie Wheeler. Jon explains the reason he and his wife Donna moved from Kembla to Coffs Harbour in 2018. He talks of the ...
Mar 09, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 281
Now in her final season as an apprentice 27 year old Jessica is totally focused on maintaining her current lead over Todd Pannell on the SA premiership ladder. She transferred from Melbourne to Adelaide in the hope she might pick up a few more rides. She has to pinch herself to realise she’s Adelaide’s top jockey halfway through the season. Jess says she’d received a few offers from Michael Hickmott to move to Murray Bridge before she finally bit the bullet. The young jockey reflects on her chil...
Mar 09, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 280
Great to catch up with Bart Sinclair OAM who retired from his role as Racing Editor of the Brisbane Courier Mail in 2012, after four decades of trusted racing journalism. The Racing Queensland Hall of Fame Inductee begins by outlining his current role with the Brisbane Racing Club. Bart pays tribute to his father and namesake Bart Sinclair Snr who had great success as a jockey and trainer. Young Bart never saw his father ride, but learned of his talents from old time racing men as he was growing...
Mar 02, 2021•50 min•Ep. 279
Danny’s family and friends were surprised in 2017 when the popular jockey quit the saddle with 2000 wins under his belt. They were even more surprised recently when he announced a comeback. He talks of his reasons for returning to the saddle, and reviews his first day back at Kranji on Saturday. He explains that he’s been riding trackwork and in barrier trials during his four year hiatus, enabling him to keep his weight in check. Dan talks about some of the great riding talent he’ll be facing ev...
Feb 23, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 278
Great to talk to Tony Erhart who could be the only 73 year old in Australia who’s still riding regular trackwork on a metropolitan racecourse. He says he’s never enjoyed it more. He talks of his unexpected heart bypass surgery in 2014. He didn’t see it coming! A year after his major surgery, Tony went close to becoming the oldest winning rider on a Queensland metropolitan track when he was beaten narrowly on Top Tone at Doomben. Tony retired from race riding to become chief work rider for his wi...
Feb 23, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 277
Great to catch up with one of Australian racing’s most respected figures. Sandy speaks to us from Gunnong- Jugrawah, the family property near Gundagai where all of the Tait champions first saw the light of day. Please note this interview was recorded on Sunday Feb 7th prior to Cherry Tortoni racing in the C.S.Hayes at Flemington in which he finished fourth. Sandy begins by summarising the career thus far of the promising Cherry Tortoni, the most recent metropolitan winner to carry the famous red...
Feb 16, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 276
Great to catch up with a man who’s been a household name in the Queensland training ranks. He begins by dismissing the popular belief that he’s close to retirement. Rex talks of his love for the Darling Downs and the reasons he’s never wanted to train elsewhere. He looks back on a rural childhood and his three earliest pursuits- dairying, the raising of beef cattle and the harvesting of grain. The veteran trainer talks of his twenty years in a variety of roles at Queensland’s well known Eureka S...
Feb 09, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 275
Hard to believe it’s coming up 13 years since Greg Childs brought down the curtain on a career that brought him a special place among the top riders of his generation. He begins by outlining his current role as a manufacturer and distributor of equine safety vests. Greg takes us back to his apprenticeship at Hawera on the North Island, and pays tribute to the first top horse he got to ride. He also makes mention of another “gun” apprentice who was rising rapidly through the ranks. He talks of hi...
Feb 09, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 274
Great to catch up with 83 year old Les Bridge who has maintained an amazing winning strike rate throughout his long career. Les found an unattended TV monitor to watch the running of the TAB Everest by himself. He talks of the circumstances that brought Classique Legend into his stable and the short but spectacular racing career of the horse he rates the best he’s ever trained. Les says he knew he’d be losing the horse after The Everest but will now concentrate on other horses in his stable owne...
Feb 02, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 273
There was plenty of excitement at the Inglis Classic sale a few years ago, when a new vendor sold a sale topping grey colt by Not A Single Doubt. That colt has since won 6 races including last year’s TAB Everest. That seller Linda Monds is much better known today. Linda talks of the apprehension she and husband Laurence felt when they took on the well established breeders. She talks of her original purchase of broodmares which included Pinocchio, the grey mare destined to become Classique Legend...
Jan 26, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 272
Great to catch up with a trailblazer of the early Sydney female training ranks. Helen talks about her move from Warwick Farm to the Gold Coast in 1997- a decision she has never regretted. She talks of the loyal new owners who supported the stable when she arrived in Queensland, and three new acquisitions from the Gold Coast Sale. The talented horsewoman highlights two outstanding horses she’s had the pleasure to train from her Gold Coast stables. Helen takes us back to her childhood days at Wari...
Jan 26, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 271
Great to catch up with 78 year old Leon Fox now in retirement in his hometown of Inverell. Leon trained horses for 20 years following a stellar riding career which saw him dubbed the “George Moore of the bush”. Leon begins by paying tribute to his father Les Fox to whom he was apprenticed. He talks of his ordinary effort on the occasion of his first race ride, and the thrill of his first win in a little border town called Texas. He talks of a very successful apprenticeship and the approaches he ...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 270
It’s great to catch up with Tommy Berry who’s currently in second place on both the NSW and metropolitan jockeys premierships. Tom talks about the fierce competition in the Sydney riding ranks. He outlines his very busy trackwork format. Tom talks about his apprenticeship to his father and chief tutor Kevin Berry. The champion young jockey looks back on a frightening accident which could have turned him off horses forever. He looks back on his inauspicious debut at Hawkesbury, and an exciting ma...
Jan 12, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 269
It’s now twelve years since Norm Lang put away the harness and hopples for the last time. The game of bowls now commands his full attention. The eighty five year old has vivid memories of his exciting journey with Steel Jaw- the $5000 horse he took from a maiden pace to a NZ Cup in a very short time. He covers the whole Steel Jaw story, and for trots fans it’s riveting listening. Norm takes us back to his days as an Ampol agent at Mittagong, and his introduction to trotting by local trainer Geor...
Jan 12, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 268
Great to catch up with the man who co-founded OTI Racing and Bloodstock in 1999 with high profile sportsman and TV personality Simon O’Donnell. He talks of his early life in Melbourne and the pacer who triggered his fascination with horses. Terry looks back on the creation of his company Pacers Australia which syndicated two horses destined for greatness. The duo won three Miracle Miles and many Gr 1 races between them. Terry talks of his good fortune in being invited to join the ownership syndi...
Jan 05, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 267
Pat says this may well be his final interview. I doubt that strongly, but either way it’s a tribute to a man who endeared himself to the Sydney racing world for almost 6 decades. He reviews an emotional day at Newcastle on Dec 5th when he saddled his final runner. He talks of the heartfelt tribute paid to him by the ATC at a Randwick meeting the following week. Pat talks about his long time role as a drugs and alcohol consultant for Racing NSW- a role he hopes to continue for a long time to come...
Dec 29, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 266
Great to catch up with one of Australia’s ever increasing number of female jockeys. The lady with a name that catches the eye, is 37 years old and could be the nation’s oldest apprentice. Kath Bell-Pitomac talks about the gruelling travelling she undertakes to ride at meetings all over the state. Kath reminisces about her nomadic childhood. She talks of early days in South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. Horses were always her chief interest. She recalls her first introduction t...
Dec 22, 2020•57 min•Season 14Ep. 265
An overdue chat with one of Australia’s best known trainers. Clarry discloses his reasons for selling Victory Lodge- the landmark stables from which he produced a stunning 39 Gr 1 winners. He admits it was quite a wrench when the reality sunk in. He talks of his relocation with fifteen horses to the nearby stables of his son Marc. He hints at the possibility of an official partnership down the track. Clarry takes us on a trip down memory lane to the days when he and his father Clarry Senior were...
Dec 15, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 264
