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John Tapp Racing

John Tapp Racing

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John Tapp interviews the people who make racing tick.Copyright 2018 All rights reserved.
Episodios
  • Episode 537: Lindsay Hatch
    Jul 22 2025

    Early in life Lindsay Hatch was totally focused on becoming a jockey and was able to make that happen, albeit for a very short time. Apprenticed to his father Geoff, young Lindsay lasted only 3 years before his weight got out of control but it’s fair to say he left his mark with more than 80 wins, including 30 in Brisbane and a Gold Coast apprentices premiership. He later learned the training craft from some of Australia’s most successful horsemen before settling into a full time solo career at Toowoomba- a career that has so far brought him two Toowoomba premierships. The Lindsay Hatch story makes for a very interesting podcast, and we’re delighted to present it this week.

    Lindsay begins by singing the praises of his talented mare Wanda Rox who scored a dashing win at EF on Sat July 19th. It was her fourth win at headquarters.

    Lindsay talks about his dual operation in Queensland with stables at Toowoomba and Townsville. He outlines the reason for the establishment of a northern base.

    He acknowledges the professionalism of his Townsville stable manager Martin Haley.

    Lindsay says the toughest part of the job is the endless travelling between coastal racing venues.

    He talks of his 40 horse team at Toowoomba.

    Lindsay remembers childhood days at Blackall and a subsequent move to Ayr in sugar cane country.

    He looks back on his low key job with top trainer Bruce McLachlan in Brisbane. All he wanted to do was become a jockey. At this point his father Geoff made the important decision to apprentice his son.

    Lindsay looks back on a fleeting riding career before rapidly increasing weight brought an end to his dream. His three years in the saddle were not without rewards.

    He looks back on the freakish stroke of luck that would change his life. With the help of a friend, Lindsay became a trackwork rider for Tommy Smith who was a regular in Brisbane at carnival time. That association was destined to last for several years. He remembers one outstanding horse he got to ride in trackwork.

    Lindsay talks of a move back to Brisbane and a job with talented trainer Kelso Wood.

    He looks back on a trip to the famous Cairns Amateurs with a few mates. He intended to stay for a week, but was still there three years later. During that time his training career had a low key start.

    On returning to Brisbane Lindsay would meet the lady destined to become his wife and the mother of his two children. Tracey wasn’t from a racing background but quickly learned the ropes.

    Lindsay brings us up to date with the current activities of son Thomas and daughter Jade.

    The trainer looks back on a fateful decision he made in 2010. Unhappy with the Toowoomba Turf Club’s decision to install a synthetic track, he applied for a job with John Sadler in Melbourne. He landed that job and loved every minute of the experience.

    Lindsay takes us back to the second phase of his Victorian experience- a stint with Team Snowden during which time he worked with some classy horses.

    He recalls his return to Queensland and a whole new career experience courtesy of old friend Tony Gollan.

    The talented trainer acknowledges some of the horses who’ve helped shape his career.

    Lindsay recalls the thrill of his recent win in the Battle Of The Bush Final with Peshwa ridden by his former apprentice Angela Jones.

    He pays tribute to the young lady who’s on the brink of history as the current season draws to a close. He speaks highly of Angela’s partner Kyle Wilson-Taylor who spent part of his apprenticeship with the Hatch stable.

    Lindsay looks back on the two lowest points of his fifty year involvement in racing. He talks of the shock bowel cancer diagnosis he was handed by doctors in 2017, and the twelve months disqualification he incurred when one of his horses returned a swab positive to cobalt in 2024. The disqualification was eventually replaced by a hefty fine.

    It’s a laid back chat with a true blue Queenslander who wouldn’t swap his lot in life for “quids”.

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    42 m
  • Episode 536: Alf Matthews
    Jul 15 2025

    Racing Victoria has always placed enormous importance on the education and welfare of the state’s junior jockeys. No stone is left unturned in developing the talents of promising young riders, at the same time closely monitoring any potential mental health issues that may arise. The governing body chose carefully a few years ago in selecting Darren Gauci and Alf Matthews to head up their jockey coaching initiative. Alf brought the curtain down on his riding career as far back as 1999 and has spent the ensuing 26 years working in apprentice jockey tuition and mainstream racing media. Adelaide born Alf Matthews has crammed a heck of a lot into his 69 years, and his story makes for an absorbing podcast. Great to have him on board this week.

    Alf begins by talking about the high number of female apprentices coming through the system. He agrees the girls will comprise a high percentage of Australia’s jockey ranks in the years ahead.

    He talks of the benefits of Racing Victoria’s “mechanical horse” in schooling budding riders.

    Alf takes us through a day at the races with young riders in his group.

    He takes us back to his final race ride in 1998 when Craig Williams on Prime Address robbed him of victory in the Eclipse Stakes.

    Alf looks back on his very happy apprenticeship with optician turned horse trainer John Riggs at Morphettville.

    He’s never forgotten his first day at the races in 1972. He thought he had only one ride but finished up with a couple. He met an English riding legend during the day.

    Jockeys who win their first race on a metropolitan track are few and far between. Alf was one of them.

    He looks back on an early association with Bart Cummings and the opportunity to ride a classy 3 year old for the maestro.

    Alf still can’t believe his luck in winning his first Gr 1 at home in the Adelaide Cup of 1975.

    He only had to wait a couple of months for his second Gr 1, this time down the historic Flemington straight six.

    Alf says he was chuffed to win the Blue Diamond Stakes for legendary trainer Colin Hayes.

    He looks back on a transfer of his indentures to Randwick trainer “Skeeter” Bentley in 1976.

    Not long after Alf arrived in Sydney Bart Cummings came looking for him to ride one of his runners in the time honoured Epsom Hcp. It was a roughly run Epsom, but Alf missed the trouble to land outsider La Neige a narrow winner.

    He looks back on his association with classy mare Maybe Mahal in the 1977/1978 season. At his second ride on the bonny mare Alf got her home in the Craven A Stakes, his second win in that high profile Derby day sprint. He has fond memories of the mare.

    Alf looks back on a memorable Adelaide carnival in 1986 when he landed the winners of both the Oaks and SA Derby.

    He looks back on another Oaks win on the grey filly Pindi.

    The former jockey was elated to win the famous Oakleigh Plate on Khaptingly for his great supporter David Hall.

    Alf says he brought his Gr 1 tally to an even 10 on Minegold in the Australasian Oaks for old friend Leon Macdonald.

    He pays tribute to one of his favourites Blue Boss. He won seven races on the old warhorse including four at stakes level.

    Alf looks back on three overseas stints. He was all set to spend a season in Hong Kong but an Adelaide fall saw his contract cancelled.

    He pays tribute to one Adelaide rider who had a marked impact on his early career.

    Alf reviews his long association with Racing Victoria.

    The former outstanding jockey looks back on his 15 years with the Skychannel organisation and several other TV and radio experiences.

    Alf pays tribute to daughters April and Krystal and the three grandsons the girls have brought into the world.

    He acknowledges the undying support of wife Kellie.

    I can still see young Alf Matthews charging along the fence on La Neige to snatch victory in the last stride of the 1976 Epsom. It was one of an amazing tally of 1603 career winners. Those Victorian apprentices are indeed fortunate to have a former rider of such great talent as their official coach and adviser. Delighted to have Alf on this week’s podcast edition.

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    1 h y 7 m
  • Episode 535: Luke Currie
    Jul 8 2025

    Many punters have noted the absence of Luke Currie from the Melbourne riding ranks in recent weeks. The popular jockey has simply taken advantage of the off-season period to attend to a nagging knee issue he’s been dealing with for quite some time. He’s making great progress and hopes to return to the saddle in just a few weeks. Luke Currie has had a presence among Victoria’s top bracket of riders for close to three decades posting more than 1500 winners with 13 Gr 1’s prominent on his CV. He’s been on our podcast shortlist for a long time and we’ve been able to make it happen during his current layoff. Luke begins by tendering a full report on his troublesome knee.

    He says the timing of his hiatus wasn’t ideal. He’d been riding winners everywhere.

    The jockey looks back on his Tasmanian upbringing and an early apprenticeship to his father Ricky.

    He looks back on a couple of winners in his home state. The system was such that any Tasmanian wins would have had an effect on his Victorian claim. He had to relocate as soon as possible.

    Luke looks back on his time with trainer and former champion jockey Pat Hyland.

    He talks of a transfer to Robbie Griffiths in the latter stages of his apprenticeship, and the golden opportunity he was given by his new boss.

    The high profile jockey looks back on a six race association with champion mare Makybe Diva.

    Luke remembers his first Gr 1 success on hardy gelding Roman Arch in the famous Toorak Hcp.

    He pays tribute to mentor, confidant and friend the late Deane Lester.

    He reminisces about two C.F Orr victories on Suavito and Manuel.

    The jockey pays a heartfelt tribute to brilliant mare Sunlight who provided him with ten wins including two Gr 1’s. He recalls her fighting effort to beat some star colts in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

    Luke marvels at the mind boggling money generated by Sunlight and her relatives in the sale ring.

    Currie will always have a soft spot for Hey Doc. He rode the sprinter-miler 27 times for 8 wins including 4 Gr 1’s.

    He reviews his two memorable Blue Diamond wins on Lyre and Artorius.

    Luke says he was thrilled to win the 2021 Newmarket for old friend Matthew Ellerton.

    He agrees his McKinnon Stakes win on Arcadia Queen was perhaps the easiest elite level win he’s ever been involved with.

    Luke looks back on his Hong Kong experience at the height of the covid pandemic. He won at his first race ride, but everything went “belly up” from there.

    He says there was one memorable development during his time in Hong Kong when invited to fly home to ride Mr. Brightside in the All Star Mile at Moonee Valley. The story had a happy ending.

    Luke pays tribute to his girls- wife Sophia and daughters Mia and Miley.

    This is a laid back chat with a Melbourne jockey whose reputation for hard work and reliability precedes him wherever he goes.

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    51 m
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