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

Racing History

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A BOOK FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE A GALLANT HORSE. “THE VO ROGUE SHOW” BY LYNLEA SMALL

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A BOOK FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOVE A GALLANT HORSE. “THE VO ROGUE SHOW” BY LYNLEA SMALL

Authors have been writing books about the deeds of champion Australian racehorses for two centuries. None have attacked the task with more energy and purpose than Lynlea Small…

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BRUCE COX 1938-2022 - FAREWELL TO A FRIEND IN A MILLION

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BRUCE COX 1938-2022 - FAREWELL TO A FRIEND IN A MILLION

I was deeply saddened to learn of Bruce Cox’s passing last Friday evening at age 84. Bruce was my race day assistant. He painstakingly recorded the details of every race and answered phone calls from stewards, race club staff or the television and radio stations we were servicing on the day.

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IT WAS A DAY OF NOSTALGIA FOR RON QUINTON AT KEMBLA GRANGE

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IT WAS A DAY OF NOSTALGIA FOR RON QUINTON AT KEMBLA GRANGE

Ron Quinton is as sentimental as the next bloke when it comes to the important milestones in his long and distinguished career. The legendary horseman saddled up only one member of his twenty horse team on Saturday, and that was Miss Mya.

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A CHANCE MEETING WITH LESTER

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A CHANCE MEETING WITH LESTER

Those who had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Lester Piggott never forgot the occasion. The tall, gangly, poker faced horseman with the trademark mutter presented a countenance that gave little away.

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DANNY FRAHM 1946-2022 NSW COUNTRY RACING FAREWELLS A LEGEND.

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DANNY FRAHM 1946-2022 NSW COUNTRY RACING FAREWELLS A LEGEND.

Danny Frahm strolled through the Sky Channel car park hauling a king sized two wheeled suitcase. It was a Sunday morning in 2009…

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BOBBY LEWIS - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

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BOBBY LEWIS - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

George Moore told me in 2002 that his failure to win a Melbourne Cup in nineteen rides was of little concern to him. His wife Iris told me differently.

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THE WARWICK FARM WARRIORS!

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THE WARWICK FARM WARRIORS!

“Can you imagine the number of track gallops those blokes have ridden for Warwick Farm trainers over the years?” The question was posed by one of fifty guests at a recent Xmas gathering hosted by seafood restaurateur and racing devotee Mick Doyle.

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A TALE OF TWO THOMPSONS- THE LATTER PART OF A GREAT CAREER AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER

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A TALE OF TWO THOMPSONS- THE LATTER PART OF A GREAT CAREER AND THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER

Mark Bradley was kind enough to send me a photo he discovered recently in the Bradley Photographers archives. This is a precious piece of racing memorabilia from the Wyong jockeys room in 1973.

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VAIN - THE EXCITEMENT MACHINE

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VAIN - THE EXCITEMENT MACHINE

When Graham McNeice stumbles upon a piece of priceless racing footage, his reaction is something akin to that of Howard Carter when the British archaeologist found the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. “Shadow” came across some rarely seen black and white footage of Vain’s three Sydney race starts in 1969.

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A TRIBUTE TO BERT BRYANT

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A TRIBUTE TO BERT BRYANT

Great to see the Melbourne Racing Club pay homage to two great race callers of yesteryear at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting. Races were named after Bill Collins and Bert Bryant.

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NOTHIN’ LEICA DANE - ONE OF THE BEST OF HIS GENERATION

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NOTHIN’ LEICA DANE - ONE OF THE BEST OF HIS GENERATION

There’s nothing like looking at past results of major races to trigger a trip down memory lane. In glancing at Spring Champion Stakes history last week, I was reminded that twenty five years have passed since Nothin’ Leica Dane won the Randwick feature.

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STEPHEN SCHOFIELD’S STILL AS BUSY AS A BEAVER

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STEPHEN SCHOFIELD’S STILL AS BUSY AS A BEAVER

Anyone who’s been on the fringe of the Sydney racing scene for three or four decades would have given Mosht Up a cheer when the mare scrambled home for trainer Stephen “Beaver” Schofield at Newcastle on Saturday.