Gallops, Horse Racing, John Tapp Racing, Racing History, Racing NSW, Sky Racing
John Tapp
1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

There were 78,500 people at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day 1976. Those still living, hold indelible memories of their visit to the historic course on the day mother nature threw a tantrum.

1976 - A MELBOURNE CUP TO REMEMBER

Female Jockey

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THEY DON’T MAKE ‘EM ANY TOUGHER THAN KATH BELL-PITOMAC

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THEY DON’T MAKE ‘EM ANY TOUGHER THAN KATH BELL-PITOMAC

“Luck never gives, it only lends” - just ask Kath Bell-Pitomac who long ago gave up trying to understand the vagaries of a jockey’s life.

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ANNA ROPER RETURNS WITH A WINNER AT KEMPSEY

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ANNA ROPER RETURNS WITH A WINNER AT KEMPSEY

Some jockeys do nothing more than politely raise their whips or doff their caps as they return to scale on a Group 1 winner.  Others look likely to execute a double somersault at any moment.

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WENDY PEEL RETURNS TO HER HOME STATE AS A FULLY FLEDGED JOCKEY

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WENDY PEEL RETURNS TO HER HOME STATE AS A FULLY FLEDGED JOCKEY

Keen observers of NSW western districts racing were surprised when Wendy Peel made the trip from Brisbane to ride at Coonamble’s Country Championship Qualifier Sunday meeting on March 12th.

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FROM THE RACETRACK TO THE SHOW RING IN ONE WEEKEND ISN’T UNUSUAL FOR RACHEL KING.

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FROM THE RACETRACK TO THE SHOW RING IN ONE WEEKEND ISN’T UNUSUAL FOR RACHEL KING.

Thanks largely to her ability to ride at a featherweight, Rachel King is one of Sydney’s busiest jockeys. When acceptances were declared for last Saturday’s Rosehill meeting she’d been locked in for a whopping nine rides.

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AMY McLUCAS MAKES THE MOST OF THE FINAL MONTHS OF HER APPRENTICESHIP

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AMY McLUCAS MAKES THE MOST OF THE FINAL MONTHS OF HER APPRENTICESHIP

The Roman playwright who penned the words “Fortune Favours The Brave” would have been honoured to know that his iconic proverb would still be ringing true on Sydney racecourses more than 2000 years later.

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A TRIP HOME TO SWEDEN WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED FOR JENNY DUGGAN

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A TRIP HOME TO SWEDEN WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED FOR JENNY DUGGAN

Jockeys returning from lengthy injury layoffs are always hopeful of an early win. It’s an accepted practice for owners and trainers to observe the progress of a comeback jockey before making rides available.

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STEVE HART CATCHES UP WITH JENNY DUGGAN

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STEVE HART CATCHES UP WITH JENNY DUGGAN

Some time ago Steve Hart called in on talented jockey Jenny Duggan who was waiting for a medical clearance to resume riding after an injury enforced layoff.

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BROOKE BOUNCES BACK WITH A GRAFTON DOUBLE!

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BROOKE BOUNCES BACK WITH A GRAFTON DOUBLE!

Brooke, who hadn’t ridden a winner in seven attempts at Gilgandra and Tamworth in the previous week, arrived at Grafton with a book of six rides in as many races.

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JENNY DUGGAN BOUNCES BACK - THEY BREED ‘EM TOUGH IN SWEDEN

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JENNY DUGGAN BOUNCES BACK - THEY BREED ‘EM TOUGH IN SWEDEN

Jenny Duggan wanted her return to race riding to be as low key as possible. After all she’d been off the scene for more than a year and knew her fitness and racecraft would need some fine tuning.

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BATTLE OF THE BUSH WAS A TRIUMPH FOR A LOYAL TRAINER AND DETERMINED JOCKEY

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BATTLE OF THE BUSH WAS A TRIUMPH FOR A LOYAL TRAINER AND DETERMINED JOCKEY

Wendy Peel was paid the ultimate compliment by David Reynolds when he elected to entrust her with the ride on Rather Salubrious in Saturday’s Battle Of The Bush Final, even though apprentices were unable to claim.

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JESS GETS THE CALL TO RIDE THE FILLY WITH THE FUNNY MOUTH AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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JESS GETS THE CALL TO RIDE THE FILLY WITH THE FUNNY MOUTH AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

A light mouthed horse can be a nuisance on a trail ride, let alone in a high pressure thoroughbred race. The first challenge for the rider of a “bit shy” galloper comes the moment the gates open.

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CEJAY GRAHAM’S ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

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CEJAY GRAHAM’S ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

The last thing Cejay Graham wanted to do was disobey instructions when she had one of her rare rides for the Waller stable at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

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WENDY PEEL RIDES THREE TRACKS IN A DAY! MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW WHERE OR WHEN

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WENDY PEEL RIDES THREE TRACKS IN A DAY! MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW WHERE OR WHEN

No jockey in Australia was more “pumped” than Wendy Peel when she walked onto the Gold Coast racecourse on Saturday. For a start she was pretty chuffed to have won on French Ocean the day before at Gatton for her new boss Paul Butterworth - one of several wins for the combination since Paul took over her indentures from Nyngan (NSW) trainer Rodney Robb six weeks earlier.

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BELINDA HODDER - ONE OF THE GOLDEN GIRLS OF NORTHERN NSW RACING!

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BELINDA HODDER - ONE OF THE GOLDEN GIRLS OF NORTHERN NSW RACING!

Belinda Hodder sounded remarkably chipper on Sunday for a jockey who’s had a frenetic start to the new racing season. At the time of our phone conversation, she’d had 31 rides since August 1st at seven meetings on six different racetracks for three wins and five placings.

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JESS TAYLOR FOUND OUT YOU CAN GET HURT WHEN YOU’RE NOT EVEN TRYING!

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JESS TAYLOR FOUND OUT YOU CAN GET HURT WHEN YOU’RE NOT EVEN TRYING!

“He’s the last horse I would have expected to do something like that,” said Jess Taylor as she reflected on the bizarre accident that will keep her out of the saddle until the middle of September.

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MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS

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MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS

I’m a keen watcher of Sky’s harness racing coverage on Saturday nights, which incorporates all races from Clifford Park, Toowoomba.  For several years now, I’ve been aware of the impressive strike rate of jockey Skye Bogenhuber. Rarely does a meeting go by that she doesn’t win at least one race, while doubles and trebles are common.