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 NSW

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TERRY CROFT WOULDN’T CHANGE A THING ABOUT HIS LIFE WITH HORSES

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TERRY CROFT WOULDN’T CHANGE A THING ABOUT HIS LIFE WITH HORSES

With rarely more than fifteen horses in work at his long-time Hawkesbury base, Terry Croft doesn’t expect to win premierships. He’s happy to simply identify the capabilities of every horse that comes his way, and leave no stone unturned in finding the right races for them.

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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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PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR MAY 2024

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PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR MAY 2024

In a month marred by an unusually high number of “washouts” Taree trainer Glen Milligan did well to notch four wins from just fifteen starts.

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NIPOTINO GIVES DANIELLE SEIB HER SEVENTH TAB HIGHWAY SUCCESS

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NIPOTINO GIVES DANIELLE SEIB HER SEVENTH TAB HIGHWAY SUCCESS

Last week brought a gamut of emotion to emerging training talent Danielle Seib. Few people were aware of her innermost thoughts as she watched two year old filly Sweet Treats

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DANNY BEASLEY’S IN RARE FORM BUT IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON

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DANNY BEASLEY’S IN RARE FORM BUT IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON

Danny Beasley may well have had second thoughts about his impending retirement as he politely reeled off a winning treble at Wagga on Friday.

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GORDON SPINKS PREDICTS A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GOLD COAST APPRENTICE JACE McMURRAY

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GORDON SPINKS PREDICTS A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GOLD COAST APPRENTICE JACE McMURRAY

When someone as eminently qualified as Gordon Spinks heaps praise on a new apprentice, you tend to take it on board. The former star Sydney jockey was on the phone last week to spread the word about a seventeen year old Gold Coast rookie called Jace McMurray.

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TOUGH AS TEAK ELSON BOY MAKES IT FIVE STRAIGHT AT SCONE.

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TOUGH AS TEAK ELSON BOY MAKES IT FIVE STRAIGHT AT SCONE.

Elson Boy’s effortless win in a Mudgee barrier trial on Sunday March 31st, gave veteran trainer Dar Lunn almost as big a thrill as an official race win.

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TANGLEWOOD HITS THE RIGHT CHORD AT NEWCASTLE

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TANGLEWOOD HITS THE RIGHT CHORD AT NEWCASTLE

Todd Howlett was in buoyant mood on December 2nd last year as he parked his four horse angle loader at Rosehill Gardens. The float was occupied by his trio of TAB Highway runners Tanglewood, King Rupert and Talons.

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CEJAY AND GARY DELIVER A GROUP 2 FOR YET ANOTHER HAPPY LAUREL OAK SYNDICATE

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CEJAY AND GARY DELIVER A GROUP 2 FOR YET ANOTHER HAPPY LAUREL OAK SYNDICATE

When Jamie Kah elected to ride in Adelaide on Saturday, trainer Gary Portelli wasted no time in recommending Cejay Graham to Kintyre’s many owners as a worthy replacement jockey in the Gr 2 Queensland Guineas.

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PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2024

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PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2024

Cindy Monaghan can be justifiably proud of her training statistics for the month just gone. The Dubbo trainer had only five horses in the stable during April and all earned their keep.

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TO HONG KONG AND BACK - FATE BROUGHT DIAMOND DIESEL TO THE DUGGAN STABLE

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TO HONG KONG AND BACK - FATE BROUGHT DIAMOND DIESEL TO THE DUGGAN STABLE

Adam Duggan was watching his eleven year old son Jack competing in a Central Coast basketball match when distracted by the shrill ringtone of his mobile phone.

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WET OR DRY - IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO MAGIC TIME

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WET OR DRY - IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO MAGIC TIME

 What a comforting thing it is for any owner, trainer or jockey to be involved with a horse capable of delivering a peak performance no matter what the conditions.

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FORMER JOURNALIST DOUG GORREL WAS HAPPY TO LET OTHERS WRITE HIS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP STORY.

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FORMER JOURNALIST DOUG GORREL WAS HAPPY TO LET OTHERS WRITE HIS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP STORY.

When you’ve trained the winner of a one million dollar Country Championship Final at Royal Randwick you’re entitled to celebrate accordingly…

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BANDI’S BOY COMES OFF A GR 3 WIN TO THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

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BANDI’S BOY COMES OFF A GR 3 WIN TO THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

When Shelby Sixtysix grabbed Gr 1 glory in the 2022 Galaxy, trainer Danny Williams was confident he had another one at home likely to tread a similar path.

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CLIFF CLARE 1930-2024. ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD BRIGADE

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CLIFF CLARE 1930-2024. ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD BRIGADE

Ray Selkrig, Bill Camer and Cliff Clare were close in age and carved out distinguished careers for themselves in an era when the Sydney riding ranks were as strong as they’ve ever been.

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EVERGREEN GRISEDALE DOMINATES AT KEMPSEY

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EVERGREEN GRISEDALE DOMINATES AT KEMPSEY

Chris Parnham’s four win haul at Ascot on Saturday was almost certainly Australia’s best riding performance numerically. At Rosehill Gardens James McDonald calmly snared a black type treble including the Gr 1 Coolmore Classic on Zougotcha.

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PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE HAS NO PLANS TO BE A MOTHER JUST YET

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PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE HAS NO PLANS TO BE A MOTHER JUST YET

When Passive Aggressive went off to Yarraman Park Stud last spring, trainer Grahame Begg was probably hoping he’d get to train some of her progeny down the track.

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STEVE HART CHATS WITH KERRIN McEVOY

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STEVE HART CHATS WITH KERRIN McEVOY

Steve Hart recently caught up with Kerrin McEvoy who added another Gr 1 to his impressive CV by winning Saturday’s Randwick Guineas on Celestial Legend.