John Tapp, Bert Bryant and Doug Barrie.
Here’s an oldie!
This was the day I got to meet one of my idols, the legendary Melbourne race caller Bert Bryant who is standing on my left.
I’d been listening to Bert for many years, never dreaming the day would come when he and I would be working on the same network. It was an unforgettable moment for a young Sydney caller.
On Bert’s left is author Doug Barrie who wrote several wonderful books on Australian racing including Turf Cavalcade. Watch out for a copy on E-Bay.
The bespectacled gentleman standing at the rear is Clif Cary, the much revered sporting editor of the powerful Macquarie Network. Clif was the man to me give me my first job in radio. He became a valued friend and mentor.
The racing media today isn’t short of tipsters and form analysts. Way back then the punters only wanted Clif Cary’s tips. He commanded a massive national audience every Saturday morning at 10.00am when he gave his selections for the Sydney meeting.
He was very scientific in his form analysis and was popularly known as “weights and measures”.
Clif and Bert are long gone, but I’ve got this old photo to remind me of a special day.