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.

Jessica Owers was well established as a feature writer for several respected racing publications before being invited to tackle her first book in 2011. She knew the project would be a long and arduous one. She didn’t expect it to take all of six years. Her much admired “Peter Pan- The True Story Of Phar Lap’s Successor” was not only widely acclaimed but gave its author the incentive to follow up with a similar tribute to another iconic Australian racehorse. Just two years later she brought readers the fascinating story of 1940’s champion Shannon.

It’s taken Jessica twelve years to turn out her third book, and this one is on an entirely different theme. Encouraged by friends at the famous Magic Millions Sales organisation, the talented writer recently completed Magic Millions, The Rise, Fall and Extraordinary Rise Of An Iconic Australian Company. We welcome Jess to our podcast to tell us more about her new book and to share with us recollections of her fascinating journey in journalism thus far. The gifted writer says she was encouraged to tackle the Magic Millions story by a handful of longtime company stalwarts.

She explains that most of the people involved in the Magic Millions story are still living, which greatly enhanced her research. The central characters in the Peter Pan and Shannon stories had long passed on.

Jessica talks about the impression she gained during research about the late Carl Waugh, the man who first created the Magic Millions concept.

She says few realised how close the fledgling company came to receivership in the 1990’s.

The author talks of a meeting she had with a Gold Coast developer who owned the Magic Millions company for a couple of years before hitting his own financial crisis.

Jess says she also had the pleasure of recording a voice over for the audio version of her new book.

She talks of her Irish birthplace and a family relocation to Australia before her first birthday.

The mother of two looks back on a return to Ireland at age 10 and a subsequent university degree attained in Scotland.

Jess says she headed back to Australia with her new diploma in hand and has never considered leaving the harbour city.

She steadfastly declares that her love of thoroughbreds was triggered by the legend of Phar Lap.

Jess looks back on the six year slog required to complete her first book, “Peter Pan- The Forgotten Story Of Phar Lap’s Successor.”

She reflects on Peter Pan’s stellar racing career. Jessica explains why she selected 1940’s champion Shannon as the subject of her second thoroughbred biography.

She gives a brief outline of Shannon’s distinguished Australian racing career and the “one-off” Inglis sale convened to sell the great horse following the death of his owner and trainer Peter Riddle.

The author also looks back on the stallion’s subsequent sale to the US where he won several races before standing at Kentucky’s famous Spendthrift Farm.

Jess talks about her freelance roles with several racing platforms including her current contribution to “The Straight”- a recently introduced, subscription based digital publication founded and edited by respected journalist Bren O’Brien.

She talks about her Racing Writer Of the Year nomination at the . 2023 Kennedy Awards. She didn’t win but was deeply touched by the honour.

Jess talks about her own love of horse riding and pays a special tribute to Moxie’s Halo- the former racehorse who became her best equine friend. Moxie died much too soon.

She talks of the trauma experienced by the whole family when her sister Sonya was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2009. Her admiration for Sonya’s courage is boundless.

Jessica speaks with great affection of the two shining lights in her life- son Julien and daughter Charlotte.

Although there wasn’t a trace of racing in Clare Lindop’s family background, the little girl from Warrnambool was hellbent on becoming a jockey from age 10. Her parents finally relented and bought their youngest daughter a pony called Annie- the pony destined to teach her young companion the rudiments of riding. Whenever either of her parents could find the time to drive her to the St. Mary’s Pony Farm at Wangoom, little Clare would spend every available minute putting Annie through her paces. From these unpretentious beginnings, Clare Lindop forged a career that would take her to racing’s biggest stage. She quit the saddle in 2018 with 1432 winners on her CV, including 4 Gr 1’s and another 50 stakes races. Now in a full time role with Racing South Australia, Clare takes time out to revisit her stellar career for our podcast regulars. She admits to the occasional nostalgic flutter when she watches Adelaide’s feature races each year.

Clare says she went to great pains to play her retirement down in 2018. She didn’t want the fuss.

She does admit that she gradually weaned herself off horses by riding trackwork for quite some time.

Clare reaffirms that nobody in her family had the slightest connection to horses. Her parents were not overly impressed with her persistent pleas to invest in a pony, but finally relented.

The four time Gr 1 winning jockey looks back on her initial apprenticeship to Warrnambool trainer Frank Byrne.

She recalls her first race ride at Warrnambool and her first winning ride at Dunkeld.

Clare vividly recalls her first metropolitan win on Mondilibi at Moonee Valley.

She talks about a transfer of her indentures to Jack Barling at Hamilton in 1997.

The retired jockey looks back on her life changing relocation to Adelaide in 1999 and the beginning of a long time association with trainer Byron Cozamanis.

Clare recalls the thrill of her first Adelaide metro win on Odysseus at Cheltenham.

She remembers with affection her first metro win as a fully fledged jockey at the famous Victoria Park track. The horse was one of her all time favourites.

Clare looks back on the occasion of her first Adelaide stakes win for great supporter Leon McDonald.

She looks back on an amazing sequence of wins- four timers at three consecutive race meetings.

Clare remembers with great clarity the unforgettable experience of her first Melbourne Cup ride.

The former top lightweight is proud of her three Adelaide jockeys premierships.

She remembers her first Gr 1 win- an all the way victory in the 2006 Adelaide Cup..

Lindop takes us back to her second Melbourne Cup appearance in 2007.

Not surprisingly Clare takes great pleasure in looking back on her association with outstanding 2YO filly Augusta Proud. She takes us back to her Magic Millions win in 2008.

Now to the horse who took the talented rider to racing’s biggest stage with a Victoria Derby win at odds of $101. She takes us through the Rebel Raider story.

Like most Adelaide based jockeys Clare wanted to win a Goodwood Hcp. Her turn came in 2011 when Robert Smerdon chased her services for Lone Rock in the famous sprint. She got the job done.

Clare managed to fit in two separate trips to the UK in 2009 and again in 2011. She looks back on a great experience and the four winners she landed on some famous tracks.

She talks of the multiple injuries sustained in a fall at Morphettville in 2014.

Clare looks back on a business meeting with leading jockey manager Damian Wilton who is now her husband of seven years.

This is a reminiscent chat with one of Australia’s most successful female jockeys.

Young trainer Cameron Crockett completely dominated the recent Dubbo Cup programme with three wins and one dead heat on the ten race programme- easily his best day since going solo as a trainer in 2011. To say he was born to be a trainer is probably a misnomer, because he showed little interest in horses until mid teens. Today he’s adamant that training racehorses is all he wants to do. Cameron begins our podcast by reviewing his red letter day at Dubbo.

Ashley Morgan was the jockey to ride all of Cameron’s winners on the day. He pays tribute to the Welsh born horseman.

The trainer is understandably chuffed with his current strike rate.

He talks of his relocation from Mudgee to Scone in 2019.

Cameron speaks glowingly of his current location at the former Clovelly Vet Centre in the heart of Scone.

He looks back on early days when he learned the art of breaking-in from his father Max, a noted yearling educator.

Cameron looks back on his dad’s role as full time breaker at the famous Gooree Stud. Max’s assistant was another legendary horseman in Harry Meyer.

Young Crockett looks back on a broken femur sustained when a yearling reared over and landed on top of him. By the time he was ready to return to work he’d lost the passion for the horse breaking business, and immediately changed direction.

He acknowledges the horse to set him on the road as a trainer. Are You Sure was a quirky gelding who was shunned by other horsemen at the time. Cameron saw something in the horse and won 9 races with him.

The trainer runs through a number of the horses who shaped his early training career with special mention of Ori On Fire.

Cameron recalls a rare word of praise from his father following a flurry of winners on western tracks. He’s never forgotten the moment.

He looks back on his continued success in the TAB Highway series.

Predictably Cam spends extra time in acknowledging the deeds of Commando Hunt, the horse he says is the best to come through his hands so far.

The successful Scone trainer talks of his own particular slant on the training business.

Cameron talks of the five special kids shared by he and wife Elizabeth. His mother Cheryl also gets an honourable mention.

The trainer pays tribute to several jockeys who’ve contributed to his success in the training ranks. He makes special mention of Brooke Stower who’s currently absent from the riding ranks and working on a Queensland cattle station.

“I’ll just wake up one day and say to myself that’ll do me,” was the reply given by Greg Ryan when quizzed about a likely retirement date on a podcast posted on October 27th 2020. He was then 54 years old and still riding in races. The winners were flowing and so were the opportunities from a wide range of prominent stables.

That fateful day was to arrive just six weeks later. Greg was booked for six rides at a Mudgee meeting on Friday December 4th, including three for Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker. As he drove away from his Dubbo home for the 126km trip to Mudgee, not even wife Pauline knew this was to be her husband’s final day as a professional jockey.

The punter’s favourite had to settle for a fourth and a third on his first two mounts, but was quietly chuffed when he came from well back to win a 1200m maiden on Without Shame for longtime supporter Sue Grills. His final three rides all finished out of a place, and still he hadn’t breathed a word to anybody about his impending retirement. The fact that he hadn’t taken a ride beyond the Mudgee meeting should have aroused suspicion. Perhaps people thought he’d been suspended or was simply taking a short break. Inevitably it wasn’t long before participants and punters alike were all asking the same question- where the hell is Greg Ryan?”

Greg Ryan had retired, that’s where the hell he was!- no bells and whistles, no fuss, no elaborate farewells. Despite self confessed withdrawal symptoms, the jockey with the second largest win tally in Australian racing history has stayed retired. He’s about 12 kilograms heavier than he was in riding days, but quietly chuffed that he still doesn’t carry an ounce of fat on that wiry frame- the direct result of an ongoing work schedule, and regular activity.

Greg had begun assisting son Isaac in his growing Dubbo tree services business, even before calling time on his riding career. He continues to work full time with Isaac and valued staff member Andrew Cook, although he’s currently threatening to scale back, as his 60th birthday approaches.

I’ve had several emails in the last six months about Greg Ryan’s current whereabouts and lifestyle. I recall the earthy way in which he shared his story in that 2020 podcast, and I’d love to give it another run. If you missed it last time I know you’ll enjoy the reminiscences of a former automotive mechanic who rode 4,035 winners and 5,825 place getters in a career that was very late getting started. During the podcast Greg makes loving reference to grandmother Betsy who was still going strong at age 94.The remarkable veteran, a classic example of the stoic and hard working women of her generation, had turned 98 shortly before her recent passing. For Greg Ryan fans this is a comprehensive summary of the career of a legendary country jockey.

Plagued with chronic hoof issues in his early life, Carioca won only three of his first nine starts and spent long periods on the sidelines.

As his foot problems slowly improved Carioca began his path to greatness. He won another 17 races including a Sydney Cup and an AJC Metropolitan. Many fascinating stories surrounded the great horse on his climb to the top.

If you appreciate a champion from any generation you’ll enjoy the story of Carioca. At the peak of his powers he was one of Australia’s favourite racehorses.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome a member of the country training ranks to the podcast. This week it’s Sally Taylor from the busy Coffs Harbour training hub, home to more than 100 horses. Sally’s training career began with a bang in 2016 when she won the time honoured Grafton Cup with former Victorian galloper Rednav. She bases her training technique on giving horses a change of environment as often as possible. The thirty two year old joins us on the podcast to look back on her journey from pony club to the show ring and later to a six months stint with dual Melbourne Cup winning trainer Sheila Laxon in Victoria. The decision to train in her own right was encouraged by Peter Wood, owner of the Coffs Harbour Telstra shop in which Sally was working a decade ago.

The lifetime horse lover talks of the benefits of keeping her team numbers under control.

Sally acknowledges three recent wins by Mission To Win.

She speaks of regular trips to nearby Boambee Beach where her horses enjoy working on “nature’s racecourse.”

Sally has been riding from an early age and still handles 10-12 horses in trackwork six days a week.

She talks about two nearby properties where she’s able to give her horses frequent changes of routine.

Sally talks of childhood days at Corindi Beach and early tuition from her father Brian, owner and part time trainer.

The thirty two year old remembers her six months with successful trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon at Seymour.

The talented trainer remembers her stint with expat Victorian Jim Jarvis who’d relocated to Coffs. She wonders how she ever found the time to complete an online course in vet nursing.

Sally acknowledges the support of Peter Wood who encouraged her to train in her own right. She was working at the time in Peter’s Coffs Harbour Telstra shop.

She looks back on Peter’s acquisition of the unsound Rednav, formerly a member of the Greg Eurell team in Melbourne.

Sally takes us through Rednav’s progression to the Grafton Cup and the thrill of winning one of country racing’s most coveted prizes.

Almost as thrilling as the Grafton Cup win was Rednav’s success at Doomben sixteen days later, her first metropolitan win as a trainer.

She pays tribute to another great favourite Zanardee’s Lane whose owner is a member of the Sally Taylor Racing team.

Sally looks back on Coffs Harbour Cup day 2024 when her only two runners scored impressive wins.

She acknowledges a few other horses who’ve helped to get her training career off the ground.

Taylor talks of Brett Dodson, fellow Coffs Harbour trainer and her partner of seven years.

Sally pays special tribute to the staff members who contribute to the smooth running of Sally Taylor Racing.

She talks about the online nursing degree she’s currently undertaking.

It’s a laid back chat with a young horse devotee who’s made a rapid impact in the NSW country training ranks.