John Tapp Racing

With the Melbourne Cup only a month away the familiar trivia questions are starting to pop up in the pubs and clubs. One popular question is the one about the oldest person still living who has trained a Melbourne Cup winner. The answer of course is Mick Robins who won it twice with the great stayer Rain Lover in 1968 and 69. I’ve actually had a couple of recent emails requesting a podcast with the veteran trainer. The fact is I recorded an interview with Mick two and a half years ago, and he was a delight to talk to. Tell you what, why don’t we run it again at this special time of year. He begins by talking about his stint as an apprentice butcher in war time Broken Hill. Mick looks back on his days below the surface of the earth helping to mine the silver, zinc and lead that would bring great prosperity to Broken Hill. He talks of his early attraction to horses and a brief career as an amateur jockey. Mick remembers gaining his first trainer’s licence and a horse called Sir Haydon who got him up and running