It’s a great pleasure to welcome to the podcast former jockey Alan Cowie, currently one of Australia’s best known jockey managers. If you call him Alan you’ll be lucky to get a response- if you call him Pup you’ll get an instant reaction. That’s the nickname given him by a friend in Rockhampton many years ago, a nickname he’s been unable to shake over several decades.

Alan Cowie had 760 winners and a Gold Coast premiership under his belt when he was involved in a three horse fall on the first turn in a fillies and mares race on Magic Millions day 2002. He was in a bad way by the time he arrived at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital where his impending paraplegia was diagnosed.

Pup’s acceptance of his fate and an amazing ongoing attitude have become legendary in Queensland racing. He graciously accepted our invitation to join us on the podcast, and was happy to revisit the highs and lows of his life so far. Alan says he was always going to stay in the racing game after a long and trying rehabilitation.

He talks about the demands of modern day jockey management.

Alan acknowledges the talents of the three jockeys under his management at the moment.

He looks back on some of the fine riders he’s managed since commencing operations more than twenty years ago.

Life in a wheelchair isn’t without its hazards. Alan talks about a freakish recent accident which left him with a broken femur.

He says regular exercise is of paramount importance in keeping ahead of his problems. He continues to play golf thanks to the wonders of technology.

Pup takes us back to early days in his hometown of Rockhampton, and talks of three other jockeys in his family background.

He talks of his original apprenticeship to a rural Queensland trainer who was reluctant to use up his weight claims too quickly.

Alan’s famous nickname of “Pup” was bestowed upon him by an older friend in Rockhampton.

He hasn’t forgotten the influence of two legendary jockeys who won multiple Rockhampton premierships between them.

Pup remembers two great bush horses who got him up and running in the local riding ranks.

He says a well known stipendiary steward instigated his transfer to Sydney trainer Jack Denham.

Alan looks back on an exciting twelve months in the famous Denham stable at Rosehill.

He has a soft spot for one consistent Denham trained horse he got to ride.

Alan looks back on the eighteen months he spent at Rosehill after the termination of his apprenticeship. He enjoyed a great trot with the late Ray Guy.

He finally headed home with the opportunity of a regular riding job with Brisbane trainer Colin O’Neill. An amazing twist of fate changed all of that.

Alan looks back on his valuable stint with master trainer Jim Griffiths.

He hasn’t forgotten the winning run he had with the Toby Edmonds trained Chappel Dancer. He travelled with the horse to several country Cup carnivals.

We set aside ample time for Alan’s review of his exciting association with Kinjite, a horse he rode in 22 races. He says Kinjite was the best horse he rode by a country mile.

Alan looks back on several feature wins on Kinjite and the thrill of riding him in some famous Melbourne features.

He remembers the disappointment of losing the ride to champion jockey Mick Dittman. Alan talks of sons Jarrod and Dylan.

He remembers the torturous eight year wait for legal proceedings to be sorted out following his accident.

It’s an entertaining chat with an inspirational human being.

Many young people born into racing families develop an affinity with horses from a very early age. Not the case with Craig Widdison. Despite the fact that his father Col had ridden and trained successfully, young Craig didn’t want to know about the sleek thoroughbreds that had dominated his early years. His original goal was to become a physical education teacher. He later became involved in roller hockey and immediately showed potential. He had enough ability to play for Australia in the junior ranks, and looked a certainty to represent his country as a senior until fate intervened. A nagging knee problem brought an end to his hockey dreams, and that’s when the racing bug finally took hold. Craig takes us through his twenty five years in racing. He talks about the highs, and one devastating low for which he blames nobody but himself. The Wodonga trainer begins by talking about a trip to Randwick on Melbourne Cup day when The Prodigal Son ‘s chances were thwarted by a H8 track.

Craig revisits a win by the same horse on Melbourne Cup day last year.

The trainer talks about his Wodonga base and easy access to southern NSW meetings.

Craig talks about father Col’s days as a jockey and trainer, and subsequent involvement in the horse transport business.

He admits to having zero interest in racehorses early days, and looks back on his ambition to become a PE teacher.

Craig looks back on his fascination with roller hockey and his selection for the Australian junior representative side.

It's always a pleasure to welcome a bush trainer to the podcast. Our guest this week is Stephen Lee who chips away diligently from his Ballina base season after season with consistent results. He’s currently ably assisted by son Jordan with whom he’ll soon form an official partnership. Lee has posted 850 winners since his solo career began in 1986, and has two NRRA training premierships on his CV.

Stephen rotates his horses between a dual barn complex on Ballina racecourse, and a nearby 60 acre property which gives him access to a pristine stretch of beach. Whenever one of the team warrants an opportunity in a metropolitan environment, he heads to Eagle Farm or Doomben just two hours away. He rarely tackles the arduous road trip to Sydney although he did venture to Randwick on November 1st with smart sprinter The Astronomer. This podcast was recorded twenty four hours before The Astronomer raced.

Stephen talks of the easy access to Brisbane tracks as opposed to the marathon trip to Sydney.

He acknowledges son Jordan’s entry into the NSW training ranks and says he’s looking forward to their proposed partnership.

Stephen talks about the luxury of being able to give horses a complete change of environment at his beachside property. He says the new routine works wonders with highly strung horses.

He talks about the large paddock set aside for retired racehorses or horses who’ve fallen on hard times. His partner Amanda would have even more if space allowed.

The trainer talks about his two NRRA premierships. In winning the first one he unseated long time incumbent John Shelton.

Stephen looks back on his early education under the tutelage of his late father Bruce. He says Bruce was a capable racehorse trainer but was best known as an all rounder constantly called upon to sort out other people’s troublesome horses.

He talks of his father’s early association with iconic trainer Maurice McCarten.

The Ballina horseman pays tribute to his elderly Mum.

Stephen says his early aspirations to become a jockey were quickly negated by increasing weight.

He talks of a brief flirtation with the harness racing sport.

Stephen has vivid recollections of his first training win on the defunct White ParK track at Scone.

He talks of a brief training stint at Coffs Harbour and a subsequent move to Ballina, a move he hasn’t regretted.

Stephen pays tribute to daughter Maddison who was his valued trackwork rider for a number of years. Maddison put a lot of time into Anton En Avant, a prolific winner for the Lee stable. As a yearling Anton En Avant appeared unlikely to ever make it to the races.

He talks about the gelding’s amazing race record which included a win in the Gr 3 Chairman’s Hcp at Doomben.

Stephen talks of former jockey Cassandra Schmidt who won a string of races on Anton En Avant.

The trainer pays tribute to several handy horses who’ve flown the flag for the Ballina stable over the years - Zoukina, Lasting Kiss, Minassi, Felix Trinidad, Song Time, Bavosa, and Espiritu.

Stephen tells us more about his current apprentice Siabh Wrigley who still has a number of trial rides to complete before gaining her licence to ride in races. The signs are promising.

It’s a laid back chat with a top country horseman.