John Tapp Racing

Thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Sheila Laxon ONZM who’s now training in tandem with her partner John Symons on the Sunshine Coast.Welsh born Sheila was riding ponies on the family farm at age three, a precursor to a fascinating life with horses.  She begins by recalling her first meeting with John Symons when she brought Ethereal over for the 2001 Victorian spring carnival. Sheila says John was training a pretty good two year old colt at the time who would go on to spectacular racetrack and stud success. She talks of life on the Sunshine Coast and a Magic Millions Country Cup success. Welsh born Sheila recalls her early childhood in Pontypridd where she learned to ride bareback. She looks back on early experience with the Ted Long stables at Eltham and a subsequent job with John Dunlop at the Duke Of Norfolk’s famous Arundel training centre. Sheila remembers her world trip at age 18 and her fascination with NZ racing. On returning to NZ later she was able to gain an amateur jockey’s licence. She was a winn