John Tapp Racing

After 24 years in the employ of other trainers, Brad Widdup was coaxed into training in his own right as recently as 2017. Two years later he endured a setback that would have discouraged most horsemen in the same position. This man’s recovery has been spectacular. We begin by getting Brad’s reaction to his best season ever in 2021/2022. He talks of a flying start in the new season. Brad says his recent success has brought increased support to his Hawksbury operation. This interview was recorded before Saturday’s Randwick meeting when stable star Icebath was unplaced in The Invitation after a hopeless start. Brad takes us through his remarkable journey with the classy mare. Brad takes us back to early days in Albury when his father Pat was his greatest inspiration. Brad says his dad, who is still training a small team, is an outstanding all round horseman. He recalls his introduction to Sydney racing when he gained a start with Warwick Farm trainer Rod Craig. He then talks about a succession of jobs with some outstanding horsemen. Brad could have applied for his licence much earlier, but chose to keep gaining experience. Brad was working for Crown Lodge when word filtered through that Bob Ingham had decided to sell the entire operation to Sheikh Mohammed. He recalls the moment. Brad looks back on the commencement of his own training career and acknowledges some of the horses who got him up and running. He talks of his association with jockeys, and echoes the sentiments of most trainers who experience difficulty in securing the regular service of capable work riders. Brad pays tribute to the training facilities offered by the Hawkesbury Race Club with special mention of the Polytrack. He talks of his wife Milissa and three teenage children. Brad had twenty four years of experience under the belt when he was cajoled into training horses in his own right. After a shaky start through no fault of his own, Widdup has bounced back in spectacular fashion.

Great to catch up with one of Australia’s ever increasing number of female jockeys. The lady with a name that catches the eye, is 37 years old and could be the nation’s oldest apprentice. Kath Bell-Pitomac talks about the gruelling travelling she undertakes to ride at meetings all over the state. Kath reminisces about her nomadic childhood. She talks of early days in South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. Horses were always her chief interest. She recalls her first introduction to racehorses at Pioneer Park racetrack Alice Springs. Kath recalls her first job as a professional trackwork rider. She talks of a move to Newcastle and the trainer who signed her to an apprenticeship.  The mature age apprentice remembers her early winners and the beginning of her relationship with the fellow jockey who would become her husband. Kath looks back on her break away from racing. She lost the desire completely and didn’t ride a racehorse for ten years.   She talks of her return to trackwork at Wellington(NSW). Slowly the passion returned and she began a new career as an amateur jockey. It wasn’t long before she got her weight down and re applied for her professional licence. Kath talks openly about her horror run of accidents, the extent of her many injuries  and the frustrating months out of the saddle. The thirty seven year old acknowledges her favourite horses and favourite races. Bell-Pitomac pays tribute to the special people who’ve inspired her to pursue a lifelong passion for horses, including her dedicated manager. The remarkable horse person talks of husband Daniel and two wonderful kids- the son and daughter who look forward to the fashions in the field promotions at country race meetings.

Great to catch up with a man who has been part of the fabric of SA racing for more than four decades. He talks of his passion for race riding at age 59. David talks about the dual jockey/trainer licence which enables him to train a small team at Morphettville. He reflects on a recent Gawler win on a horse trained by his son David Jnr. Some said it would have been the perfect time to quit the saddle. David talks of his apprenticeship in 1976 to the emerging legend Bart Cummings. He looks back on his first winning ride just 24 hours after gaining his “ticket”. The evergreen jockey remembers his transfer from Cummings to the Colin Hayes training empire at Angaston, and the discouraging advice given to him by Peter Hayes. He reminisces about his two coveted Gr 1 wins- two editions of the South Australian Oaks. “Toot” takes us back to his one and only Melbourne Cup ride. He reflects on his role as stable jockey for an up and coming young trainer called John Hawkes. David looks back on his association with three of Australia’s best gallopers of the 80’s and 90’s.

Great to catch up with a young horseman who has already made his mark as a trainer and driver at the top level. Brad begins by pointing out the many advantages of being based at Goulburn. He reflects on the tutelage he received from his late grandfather Tom Hewitt, one of the most respected horsemen of his generation. Brad talks of the influence Tom had on his sons- David, Bernie and Mark, all highly successful in their own right. He says his Aunt Jenna, the only girl in the Hewitt family wasn’t allowed to drive in races. The young horseman talks of the trotting genes to be found on the maternal side of his family. Brad says his brothers have also chosen harness racing as their preferred livelihood- Sam as a trainer and breaker, Scott as a trainer and farrier. Sister Jess also gets a mention. The thirty year old looks back on the thrill of his first winning drive and his handful of winners at historic Harold Park.   Brad pays tribute to the special horses who’ve helped to launch his career. He speaks with great reverence of his all time favourite Spare Me Days.   He speaks of his great friendship with Canberra Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker, an avid harness racing fan. For the trots punters Brad highlights a couple of promising young horses in his stable. He talks of his only Gr 1 winning drive to date. It was Rockin’ Marty in a Breeders Challenge Final. The horse was trained by his father David. Brad says his partner Milly had no interest in horses when they met but quickly adapted. He and Milly are the proud parents of Ruby who’s almost two and William who arrived only a few weeks ago.

Had Billy Charles elected to stay in his very first job with the National Bank he would have soon been up to his knees in carpet in the CEO’s office. But, as much as he enjoyed the challenge the eighteen year old couldn’t shake the unrelenting urge to seek employment in the racing industry. He broke every record getting to Elizabeth St in the city when the progressive Sydney Turf Club advertised for a clerk in the racing office. Bill landed the job, and for the next seven years earned recognition as a burgeoning talent.  His journey through to 1996 brought him into great repute as a versatile administrator in Australia and overseas. He opted for a change of direction in that year when Bart Cummings “head-hunted” the 49 year old for the role of Leilani Lodge Racing Manager. He was destined to stay with the maestro for 17 years. Bill is now semi-retired but continues to assist behind the scenes for high profile trainers John Thompson and Matthew Smith. His journey in the racing game makes for a very interesting podcast chat. He begins by talking about his current association with John Thompson and Matthew Smith. Bill  says he’s a regular visitor to the Thompson stable with a big supply of carrots. He talks of Matthew Smith’s brilliant sprinter Headwall who’s chasing a long overdue Gr 1 success.  Bill takes us right back to the late 1950’s when his dad William Snr regularly took him to Sydney metropolitan meetings. He says one particular race at Randwick sparked his fascination with the racing game. He looks back on his first job with the Castle Hill branch of the National Bank. His heart wasn’t in it. Bill remembers the day his father informed him of a job opportunity with the Sydney Turf Club.  He looks back on the duties assigned to him at the Elizabeth St headquarters of Sydney’s second race club. In 1970 the opportunity to widen his racing knowledge attracted him to a role with the Australian Jockey Club. He gained the job and stayed for seven rewarding years. During that time he was invited to put forward suggestions for the naming of a brand new sprint race introduced by the AJC Committee. Bill’s recommendation gained the nod of approval.  Bill talks about his passion for memorising pedigrees and racing colours during his years as an administrator. He was both surprised and chuffed in late 1977 to be offered a role on the administration team put together to introduce horse racing in Tehran. He was exactly the right age to be taking on this kind of challenge. Bill acknowledges some of the fellow Australians who were involved in the launch of racing on the new Farahabad dirt circuit. They included a high profile Adelaide racing writer and a former champion Victorian jumps jockey.  He remembers the big representation of Aussie jockeys who were prepared to try their luck in the Middle East. The supreme highlight of Bill’s eight months in Tehran was his marriage to Barbara at the Australian Embassy. He looks back on a wonderful occasion. Bill says he left Iran immediately after the first race meeting was staged. He says the signs of impending trouble in the region were already evident. The racing experiment in Iran didn’t work. It folded after just eighteen months. The track’s all gone now. The experienced racing aficionado says he was approached by the AJC immediately after arriving home. He grabbed the opportunity and stayed for eleven years. Halfway through he was promoted to an executive role. Bill says his itchy feet returned in 1989. He felt due for a change at the precise time an offer turned up from the Macau Jockey Club. The former banker embarked on another exciting adventure. On returning to Australia he was offered a job by the Queensland Principal Club supervising licenced persons in the state.  Back in Sydney a new offer came from an unexpected source. Bill says he was offered the role of Secretary Manager of the Greyhound Breeders Owners And Trainers Association. He decided to take on a brand new challenge. May 1995 saw Charles go to work for well known owner, breeder and punter John Poletti. He says his timing was astray on this occasion. Poletti hit a financial hurdle just three months later forcing the abandonment of his racing interests.  One door closed and another one opened. Bill says Bart Cummings was making overtures to him before the Poletti operation wound down.    His association with Leilani Lodge was destined to last for 17 years. He says his duties were many and varied. Bill looks back on Bart’s attributes as a horseman and his well known penchant for a “one liner.”  Bill pays tribute to his personal favourites on the Cummings team. He pays special tribute to a former racing administrator who taught him many tricks of the trade. Bill Charles has worn many hats in his six decades in racing at home and overseas. Great to have him share his reminiscences with us.