John Tapp

YET ANOTHER RANDO ANSWERS THE CALL TO HARNESS RACING

YET ANOTHER RANDO ANSWERS THE CALL TO HARNESS RACING

You could have knocked me over with a feather the night an immaculately dressed twelve year old boy wearing a pork pie hat bowled up to me at Penrith trots, declaring one of my horses a “good thing”.

CLUB MENANGLE TO HONOUR HARNESS RACING’S FALLEN

CLUB MENANGLE TO HONOUR HARNESS RACING’S FALLEN

I was surprised when Club Menangle historian Peter Collier told me that forty trotting trainers and drivers have died in accidents since the sport began in Australia. In conjunction with his Victorian counterpart John Peck, Peter has worked tirelessly for years to identify the people involved and to trace the circumstances of their fatal accidents.

HONDO GRATTAN - GO GO GO YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

HONDO GRATTAN - GO GO GO YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

Stumbled upon a couple of photos of Hondo Grattan the other day. That’s all it takes to trigger memories of one of the most charismatic harness horses of all time. Did a quick check to learn that it’s coming up twenty five years since the little champ passed away at the Turnbull family’s Loyal Stud near Bathurst.

HOWARD JAMES - HARNESS RACING’S QUIET ACHIEVER

HOWARD JAMES - HARNESS RACING’S QUIET ACHIEVER

Howard James was twelve years old when he first met Brian Hancock. Young Howard spent most weekends and school holidays with brothers, Brian and Richard Hancock, who were rapidly establishing their commercial training operation.

HARNESS RACING ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE - EVEN THE OCCASIONAL POLICEMAN

HARNESS RACING ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE - EVEN THE OCCASIONAL POLICEMAN

Joe Conolly isn’t the first policeman to have trained harness horses. The question was raised by trot fans after the Conolly trained ten year old All About Art, won the opening race at Penrith last week.

BROOKE WILKINS IS INSPIRED BY THE DEEDS OF HER DAD, AND A GRANDFATHER SHE NEVER KNEW

BROOKE WILKINS IS INSPIRED BY THE DEEDS OF HER DAD, AND A GRANDFATHER SHE NEVER KNEW

The hereditary factor in the families of harness horsemen and horsewomen, has been prevalent since the sport began in Australia.

Twenty one year old Menangle trainer Brooke Wilkins, is a third generation trotting devotee.

REBECCA AND SAN CARLO- VICTORIAN HARNESS RACING’S DYNAMIC DUO

REBECCA AND SAN CARLO-  VICTORIAN HARNESS RACING’S DYNAMIC DUO

The last few months of 2008 passed very slowly for a certain Shepparton schoolgirl, who couldn’t wait to follow her dream.

MACCA'S ALWAYS THERE TO LEND A HAND - The Glenn McElhinney Story

MACCA'S ALWAYS THERE TO LEND A HAND - The Glenn McElhinney Story

There’s nothing Glenn McElhinney enjoys more than driving a winner for one of the smaller stables. The veteran freelancer, always identifiable with his bright yellow helmet, has been a familiar face on Sydney tracks for more than four decades.

THE BEST HORSE NEVER TO WIN AN INTER DOMINION

THE BEST HORSE NEVER TO WIN AN INTER DOMINION

When it comes to horses I’m a hopeless sentimentalist.

I had the pleasure of calling all of the wins of the great Halwes at Harold Park in the late 1960’s, and he left an indelible impression on me. He was a horse with high speed, great reserves of stamina and a terrific will to win.