Racing royalty immortalised in Hall of Fame

From the unforgettable voice of John Tapp and the international triumphs of Zac Purton to Peter Moody’s training legacy, the 2024 class is rich with achievement. Joining them are the mighty Mahogany and Hydrogen, while two of the sport’s greatest mares – Black Caviar and Winx – are elevated to legend status. 

Race caller John Tapp, champion trainer Peter Moody, and outstanding international jockey Zac Purton represent six decades of excellence from three unique perspectives: the caller’s box, the trainer’s box, and the saddle. 

Each is thoroughly deserving of the highest honour in Australian racing. 

2024-45 Australian Racing Hall Of Fame Inductees

John Tapp reckons he must have called over 50,000 races during his sixty years as a caller, his voice iconic through the 1980s and 1990s as the lead caller on the Sydney racing scene. Inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Associate of the sport, Tapp was initially shocked by the news, given he spent his working life as he saw it, sharing his love of the sport with racing fans nationwide. 

“I am very privileged and very grateful that so many people allowed me into their homes for so long to talk about my favourite subject,” Tapp said. 

Among Tapp’s many memorable moments was the honour of calling Kingston Town’s 19 victories in Sydney. 

“He had a Rolls-Royce action, and that turn of acceleration was exciting to watch,” he said. 

Tapp becomes the second race caller to be inducted as an Associate, joining legendary caller Bill Collins, who was given the honour in 1988. 

Tapp retired from race calling in 1998, the very same year a young Peter Moody began his career as a trainer after coming through the ranks in Sydney under Tommy Smith and then mentoring Bill Mitchell. 

Of course, most famous as the trainer of the unbeaten superstar Black Caviar, Moody’s journey from the red dirt of Wyandra in outback Queensland to internationally respected Group 1 winning champion trainer is the stuff of racing dreams. 

Three thousand winners, 60 Group 1 winners and an international superstar to boot, Moody has lived a racing life to be envious of. 

“It’s been 25 or 30 years now, and we’ve had a little bit of luck along the way. It’s great to be recognised by your peers and people in the industry. I feel very honoured, very privileged,” Moody said. 

“Black Caviar, she changed my life. I think about her daily; obviously, she is a big part of this honour.” - Peter Moody

For Zac Purton, who will always call Australia home despite dominating the Hong Kong racing scene for 18 years, news of his induction into the Hall of Fame was incredibly humbling. 

Purton grew up in Coffs Harbour and started his apprenticeship under trainer Trevor Hardy as a 14-year-old, riding his first winner at Armidale in 2000. 

So skilled was the young jockey that within just seven years, Hong Kong offered him a riding contract. Since then, his star has grown in one of world racing’s most competitive landscapes, with 2800 winners, 47 Group 1 wins, and eight Hong Kong premierships. 

“Most jockeys worldwide aspire to be successful in Hong Kong, and proving myself on the world stage was important to me. It means a lot to be recognised by my peers, it is very humbling.” - Zac Purton

Purton sits comfortably among other jockey inductees of the modern era, such as Damien Oliver, Darren Beadman, Hugh Bowman, and Glen Boss. 

Joining Tapp, Moody and Purton as inductees are two outstanding racehorses.  

Mahogany could lay a strong claim to being the toughest and most versatile horse of the modern era. With eight Group 1 races to his name, he amazingly ran from 1000m to 2500m and from three to seven years of age, winning 19 of his 43 starts. 

Bought for $85,000 from the 1992 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale by agent Henry Plumptre on behalf of owners Lloyd Williams and Kerry Packer, Mahogany was trained by fellow Hall of Fame member Lee Freedman. 

“He was a horse that was capable of anything, really. Class got him through his three-year-old season, and then he excelled as a sprinter. He was a remarkable horse,” said Freedman. 

Weight for age star of the 1950s, Hydrogen joins Mahogany as an equine inductee. Winner of the 1952 and 1953 Cox Plate, Hydrogen only narrowly failed to become the first three-time Cox Plate winner when beaten a neck at his first attempt as a three-year-old in 1951, beaten by fellow three-year-old Bronton. 

Hydrogen broke the Australian prizemoney record at the time, surpassing the previous record held by Phar Lap. As well as his Cox Plate brace, Hydrogen won the 1951 Caulfield Guineas, Rosehill Guineas, Victoria Derby, VRC St Leger as a three-year-old, as well as the Mackinnon Stakes, Brisbane Cup and CB Fisher Plate, retiring to stud with a record of 26 wins from 60 starts for trainer Ted Hush. 

Completing the equine contingent are Black Caviar and Winx, arguably two of the finest racehorses to ever grace an Australian track, who become just the fourth and fifth horses, respectively, to be granted legend status following Phar Lap, Carbine, and Melbourne Cup hero Makybe Diva. 

The unbeaten Black Caviar, who thrilled racing fans worldwide during her mind-boggling 25-start flawless career, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. Sadly, Peter Moody’s great mare died due to complications from laminitis in August 2024, but will be forever remembered as a sprinter of unmatched talent.  

Winx, the four-time Cox Plate heroine, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, and it is only fitting that she joins Black Caviar as a legend in the same year. 

Winx redefined the racing phrase “picket fence” as she went unbeaten over a three-and-a-half-year stretch, totalling 33 races, including 25 Group 1 victories. Now rising 14, Winx lives a contented life in the Hunter Valley, a fitting retirement for one of racing’s true legends. Among her foals is a notably prized daughter – Quinceanera – who made headlines as a $10 million yearling.