John Tapp Racing

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.

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.