When the website began in May of last year, Rodney Quinn was one of my very early podcast guests. He’d been retired for five years, and was well entrenched in his new role as tutor of apprentices with Racing NSW.

What a magnificent career he had. Forty years in the saddle, and success at the highest level, but most importantly the profound respect of all sections of the industry.

If you missed this very early podcast, I’m delighted to give it another run.

Here comes Rodney Quinn Take 2.

Bob reminisces about horses like Danewin, Slight Chance and Shogun Lodge who won many Group 1 races.

He talks of the jockeys who helped him along the way, and the apprentices he tutored .

Bob Thomsen taught himself the basics of horsemanship at a riding school, before becoming apprenticed to Tommy Smith in 1957. He rode 40 winners, most of them on metropolitan tracks before a disagreement with TJ  changed his life.

Bob took out his own trainer’s licence, and after a modest start went on to reach the pinnacle of the profession. He talks frankly about those early days.

In keeping with our plan to introduce country based trainers from time to time, we introduce the lady known as the “Baroness Of Bombala”.

Barbara Joseph started with a $600 horse at Bombala 40 years ago. Her journey has taken her to a Group 1 Doncaster at Royal Randwick, and 1200 other winners along the way.

Barb talks about her new training partnership with her sons Paul and Matthew.

This week we welcome another member of the famous Fitzpatrick clan-a  dominant force on the Sydney harness racing scene for decades. 

Thirty five year old Blake Fitzpatrick won a Harold Park premiership at 18, and has driven more than a hundred winners in a season 8 times on NSW tracks. Blake reviews a great career.

I’ve known few more passionate racing men than Louis Mihalyka, who founded Laurel Oak Thoroughbreds 32 years ago. Like most syndicators he would buy yearlings, and then advertise heavily in the search for new owners.

Fourteen years ago he changed direction and renamed the company Laurel Oak Bloodstock. He realised he should service existing clients exclusively, and give them whatever they wanted- yearlings, stallions, broodmares and various other racing involvements. Louis handles every request, and nobody does it better.

It’s a treat to listen to a man who just lives racing.

Jodi Quinlan was pretty sore and sorry when we recorded this podcast, but you’d never pick it. Only a week earlier she had a confrontation with an ill tempered maiden trotter in the Melton float parking area, and came off second best.

We’re talking about a tough little lady who’s had several race falls in a twenty eight year career, but none of them hurt as much as this one did.

Jodi talks about the accident, and the career that has brought her 2300 wins in the sulky.

Had Glen Colless decided to remain in his native Coffs Harbour, he would have carved out a stellar career riding around the northern rivers.

As soon as his apprenticeship finished with the Trevor Hardy stable, he decided to pull up stakes and head for the Gold Coast- a decision he has never regretted.

He forged a spectacular association with trainer Alan Bailey, and got to ride many talented horses. Glen has more than 1000 wins behind him, and multiple Gr 1 success. He’s had to overcome the rigours of a couple of freak accidents, but is keener than ever. Great to catch up with one of Queensland’s best.

I’m planning to talk to several country based trainers during 2019. The emergence of the TAB Highway races in Sydney, has brought many new training faces into the spotlight.

This week we talk to Tamworth’s Sue Grills, who was NSW country trainer of the year in the 2014/15 season. Sue brings an occasional horse to the “big smoke”, and is rarely far away.

She tried her hand as a jockey, at a time when nobody wanted female riders. Lack of opportunity finally led her to the training ranks, and she has greeted the judge close to 700 times.

Sue begins with her strong family background in racing.

In Part 2 Ron takes us through the tough transition to the ranks of Sydney trainers. He talks about the best horses he’s prepared, his role as a tutor of young jockeys, and his riding stints in Ireland. Ron Quinton OAM is a welcome guest on the Xmas podcast.