John Tapp Racing

It’s always a pleasure to talk to a dedicated bush trainer from any part of the nation. This week we go to the busy training hub at Dubbo and to one of its most respected participants. Dar (that’s his official christian name) was one of a family of jockeys from the tiny village of Carinda in the Walgett Shire. He spent more than 35 years as a respected member of the western riding ranks before having to quit following a serious kick from a nervous young horse. Dar has been training for some 14 years from a Dubbo base and has  no intention of trying any other job. Right off the top he appeases the curiosity about his first name. Dar talks about his infrequent trips to town and says it takes a pretty handy horse to warrant a  crack at the city slickers.  He made a rare appearance at Randwick on Saturday where his two runners were out of a place, Saint  Philomena and Elson Boy who had a pretty tough run. Dar says he travelled the horses to Sydney the day before in heatwave conditions. He talks about a horse called Green Run who might earn a trip to the big smoke in the near future. The horse’s regular rider is out of action following a freak mounting yard accident recently. Dar talks about his birthplace of Carinda which boasted a population of 200 during his childhood.  The Dubbo based trainer reflects on the riding activities of four brothers. Dar looks back on school days in Carinda and a move to Walgett as he reached a higher grade.This was when his association with thoroughbreds began under the tutelage of a veteran trainer. He makes the frank confession that he wasn’t licensed at the time of his first few race rides. He looks back on his first legitimate race ride and his first winner  way out west at Bourke. Dar says he wasn’t dedicated to looking after his weight early days, but mended his ways soon after. He talks of the shortage of race meetings in the west and the distances he had to travel to carve out a livelihood as a bush jockey. Dar says he rarely rode on metropolitan tracks, but recalls one exciting win at Eagle Farm in Brisbane. He says he could count his Sydney rides on one hand but reflects on a two year old race at Rosehill when he ran into a rising topliner. The 64 year old remembers his final winning ride on the spacious Warren track on a horse trained by brother Garry. Dar talks about the freakish accident that ended his riding career. The experienced horseman takes us through the Elson Boy story- the unraced horse identified on line by one of his most supportive owners. Dar admits he made a few mistakes before working the gelding out. He takes us through some exciting wins and one heartbreaking setback. Dar looks back on a horse he felt was going places before going amiss. He looks back on a great association with a western trainer who was destined to become his father-in-law. This was Dar’s cue to acknowledge the unwavering support of Jill, his wife of 39 years. He and Jill are the proud parents of daughters Brianna and Layne. Brianna has in turn presented her parents with three grandchildren- all girls. Dar speaks candidly of the sudden stroke that stopped him in his tracks just over two years ago. He hated the inactivity of his recovery but opted to do everything the doctors ordered. Dar Lunn has earned the respect of all in NSW country racing. It’s a pleasure to have him on the podcast.

Ray Thomas’ recent decision to quit his high pressure role triggered a flood of tributes for the hugely popular media identity. Ray’s many fans were pleased to learn he’ll still be appearing on Sky Thoroughbred Central programmes “This Week Next Week” and “News Central” and intends to continue his long time hosting role on the Sunday morning edition of Sky Racing Radio’s “Big Sports Breakfast”. Ray’s passion for multiple sports was evident from an early age, but horse racing  prevailed when it was time for the aspiring journalist to settle on a career path. That career has been well documented, but I’d like to add my tribute to the many he’s already received from colleagues and followers. He’s our podcast guest this week. Ray begins by revisiting his final day in the Sydney Press Room, and the touching tribute accorded him in the Newscorp office a few days later. The popular journalist talks about the effects of his sudden departure from a very busy role. Ray talks about a 2023 health scare and the i decision to take stock of his hectic lifestyle.  He talks of his late father’s career as an RAAF communications operator, a job that took him to several parts of the world. Young Raymond Grant was born during David Thomas’ Hong Kong stint in the early 1960’s.  Ray looks back on his dad’s transfer to Perth where his love of sport began. His interest in horse racing was triggered by the deeds of two notable thoroughbred mares and one freakishly talented harness horse. Ray says one particular race call had an amazing impact on him. The multimedia personality looks back on his own participation in Aussie Rules and cricket  during those early years in WA. He talks of the decision to follow his father into the air force.  Ray acknowledges his elderly mother Marlene and siblings Tony and Stacey. He talks about his own nine year career with the RAAF. Ray takes us through the progression of roles with the Melbourne Herald Sun, the Sydney based Sportsman and finally his transition to Daily Telegraph Racing Editor, an appointment that came out of the blue. Ray takes us back to some of the biggest stories he covered from the mid nineties up to his recent retirement. From a media viewpoint some of them were veritable “bombshells”. The sixty one year old takes delight in revisiting the five races he rates as the most memorable he got to cover for Newscorp. Ray talks about the heartbreaking Friday afternoon in the Newscorp office when much loved Rugby League writer Peter Frilingos suffered a fatal heart attack at his desk. The legendary journalist was enormously thrilled when appointed to the Daily Telegraph team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. To this day he savours memories of Cathy Freeman’s dash for gold in the 400m. He was thrilled to have what he called “the best seat in the house”. Ian Thorpe’s unforgettable final leg in the 4x100m relay remains another indelible memory. (Beat American Gary Hall Jnr who’d been making some idle threats in the media) Perhaps the major sporting event Ray enjoyed the most as a working journalist was the Wimbledon men’s final of 2012 when Roger Federer won his seventh title at the All England Club. This was a bittersweet occasion for Ray whose father had passed away the previous year.  He’s currently enjoying his new found role of grandfather to eighteen months old Charlotte. That role will soon be expanded. This is a lovely stroll down memory lane with a legend of the Australian racing media.

My thanks to Luke Berger who suggested we should take a trip down memory lane with his grandfather John, who’s remembered as one of the best country trainers of his generation. The veteran was in his early 80’s when he relinquished his licence in 2014, but spent another five years helping out on the ground for grandson Luke. John had no special ambition when he began his training career in …. He simply loved horses and knew there was nothing else he wanted to do. Over the next three and a half decades John Berger became a trainer of great repute in northern NSW. John says he continues to enjoy reasonably good health. He talks of the special anniversary he and wife Val celebrated recently. John talks of his retirement from the training ranks and an enjoyable five years assisting grandson Luke. The veteran takes a keen interest in Luke’s current role as a racehorse owner’s group manager. John says he’d never been on a horse’s back at the time he walked into the stables of Glen Innes trainer Reg Madgewick in the 1950’s. He looks back on Madgewick’s talents as a horseman. John reflects on a long period away from horses and a move to Sydney with his young family in search of job opportunities. He stayed for seventeen years. The former trainer remembers his move back to the country and a sapphire mining venture with brother Tony. John recalls the acquisition of his trainer’s licence and the thrill of his first win at Bingara. The respected horseman shares his memories of the handy bush horses he got to train over more than three decades, with special mention of his all time favourite Main Supply.  John looks back on the methods he preferred to use in the training of thoroughbreds. The veteran pays tribute to the country trainers and jockeys he most admired. He looks back on the many bush race clubs he supported over the years. You rarely get to talk to horsemen of John’s generation. It was a pleasure to have him on our podcast.

Clint Lundholm stands 182 cm and weighs in at 80kgs, but continues to ride regular trackwork at Dubbo. It’s hard to believe the same bloke was a professional jockey for close to three years in which time he posted 218 wins including a handful of country Cup successes. An eighteen month stint followed in the amateur ranks before he finally followed the family tradition of training racehorses. In just thirteen years in the role, Cint has posted 1012 wins and has a NSW country trainer’s premiership on his CV. At one stage his team grew to almost fifty horses, creating an unmanageable workload. Today he rarely has more than twenty in work and is thoroughly enjoying the job.  Clint joins us on the podcast and begins by talking about his frenetic 2022/2023 season. He says the results were gratifying but the toll was high. He takes us right back to early days in Coonamble under the tutelage of his grandfather, legendary country trainer John Lundholm Snr. Clint reflects on the lessons learned from the elder Lundholm. He reflects on the stories he heard about his grandfather’s association with champion country jockey Dennis Firth. The trainer looks back on his first day as a professional jockey when he had five rides at a Nyngan meeting.Clint hasn’t forgotten the thrill of his first winning ride. He looks back on a three month loan out to Gai Waterhouse at Randwick. He recalls being gobsmacked by the enormity of the Tulloch Lodge operation. Unable to adapt to city life, Clint says he returned to the bush to finish his apprenticeship with a new boss. Lundholm understands why people are surprised to learn he was once a professional jockey. He pays tribute to the horse he regards as the best he rode in his short time in the saddle. Clint looks back on a very happy eighteen months in the amateur riding ranks. He remembers the commencement of his solo training career and his father’s decision to join the team. Clint was chuffed to join the ranks of trainers who were able to win with their very first starter. He’s not a regular in the city but is thrilled to have a couple of TAB Highway winners on the  board. Clint is adamant that Listen To the Band is the best horse he’s trained to date. He talks of the talented but injury plagued Quasimoto who’ll shortly return to work. Clint says he had a lot of fun with ten time winner Any Blinkin’ Day. The trainer speaks of former metropolitan galloper Notabadidea who won a country Cups tre le after entering his stable. He acknowledges the support he’s had from a select group of prominent western districts jockeys with a special shout out to his partner Zoe Hunt who’s been in top form of late. This is a nice chat with a …year old who was destined to forge a career in the racing game.

Racing’s best judges were predicting a big future for Braith Nock long before he ever rode in a race. How right they were! The third generation jockey won at his first ever race ride, and hasn’t stopped riding winners since. Braith made a huge statement last season when he became champion Sydney apprentice with 40 metropolitan winners. The quietly spoken twenty four year old honed his balance with several years as a bull rider, before taking up an apprenticeship under the watchful eye of Brett Cavanough.There are many other things Braith would rather be doing than recording interviews, but he kindly consented to join us this week on the podcast. He talks about his punishing recent schedule. Braith is delighted to have the support of his former master Brett Cavanough. He explains the recent addition of his trademark moustache. The young jockey takes us back to his bull riding years and the serious accident that stopped him in his tracks. Braith remembers the thrill of winning at his very first race ride. He says he enjoyed a three month stint with top Randwick trainer Peter Snowden despite a bout of homesickness. Braith looks at some of his favourite city winners including a trio of mares from the Maher stable. He looks back on a healthy number of doubles and trebles, and one spectacular four timer at Gilgandra. The young jockey speaks of the thrill of riding a Wellington Boot winner. Braith speaks of Brett Cavanough’s recently formulated training partnership with daughter Georgie. He’s thrilled to report his elder sister Dana is also apprenticed to Brett Cavanough. Braith pays tribute to his trainer/Mum Jane Clement. He says he was beginning to think he’d never ride a winner for his mother. It finally happened at Kempsey. Braith talks of his passion for fishing.