Cover image courtesy of Racing Queensland
On Friday, the Australian Racing Hall of Fame announced five inductees for 2025; John Tapp, Peter Moody, and Zac Purton are all set to be inducted at the August ceremony alongside racehorse inductees Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Hydrogen. The ceremony, including the announcement of Champion Racehorse of the Year, will take place on Sunday, August 31 at The Star in Brisbane.
“Induction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame acknowledges equine and human heroes of the turf who have achieved greatness throughout their careers,” Racing Australia CEO Paul Eriksson said. “We are thrilled to honour the greats both past and present on what will be a very momentous occasion, and (we) look forward to seeing you in Brisbane.”
Legendary race caller and media personality John Tapp will be inducted into the Associate category as a reward for over six decades of dedication to racing. Officially calling his first race in 1964 and becoming Ken Howard’s understudy the following year, Tapp would become a recognisable voice across the nation, calling three G1 Melbourne Cups amongst over 50,000 races on his record until hanging up the microphone in 1998.
John Tapp | Image courtesy of John Tapp Racing
He spent almost the next two decades at Sky Racing, Channel Nine, and broadcasting on course, until retirement in 2015, and has continued to be active in the industry with his own podcast.
“Fancy receiving an honour of this magnitude for being given the privilege of sharing my love of racing with Australian race fans for such a long time,'' Tapp told Racenet on Friday. "I am very privileged and I regard it as a great compliment to the Australian race calling profession. I'm deeply touched.''
“I am very privileged and I regard it as a great compliment to the Australian race calling profession.” - John Tapp
Peter Moody is another man who needs little introduction; best known for his stewardship of the career of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), he is closing fast on 3000 career wins, having originally taken out his license in 1998 and most recently in partnership with Katherine Coleman since 2023. Among his other great training feats include five-time Group 1 winner Dissident, six-time Group 1 winner Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), and 2021’s staying sensation Incentivise (Shamus Award).
Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“It’s an absolute honour when you look at the trainers who have come before me, and no doubt those who will follow,’‘ Moody told 7News. “To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, to be recognised in this way, is probably the highlight of my career, to be quite honest.’‘
“To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, to be recognised in this way, is probably the highlight of my career.” - Peter Moody
Long reigning as the top jockey in Hong Kong, Zac Purton took out the Sydney Jockeys’ title in the 2003/04 racing season before making the move overseas in 2007. He has since dominated the Hong Kong racing scene, securing seven jockeys’ premierships, and ventured to Royal Ascot in 2012 to secure the G1 King’s Stand Stakes on Hong Kong-trained Little Bridge (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}) for Danny Shum.
A four-time winner of the G1 Hong Kong Mile, he has also amassed 47 top flight wins across Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Macau, and has notched up over 2800 wins in the saddle to date. Purton joins his father-in-law Jim Cassidy in the Hall Of Fame.
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“It means a lot to me to be recognised by my peers, it is very humbling,” Purton said to 7News. “I’ve been away from Australia for so long, but I have been flying the Aussie flag in Hong Kong. Most of the world’s leading jockeys and trainers aspire to be successful in Hong Kong, so being able to prove myself on the world stage was important to me.
“It would have been easier to stay in Australia, but I felt it was more of a challenge for me take on the world, so to speak.”
“It would have been easier to stay in Australia, but I felt it was more of a challenge for me take on the world, so to speak.” - Zac Purton
Trained by Lee Freedman in the 1990s, the eight-time Group 1 winner Mahogany will be inducted in recognition of his long and versatile career, from an interstate Derby triple as a 3-year-old to claiming win number 19 in the G2 Chirnside Stakes (now the G2 Schillaci Stakes) over 1000 metres as a 7-year-old.
Racing four decades earlier, Hydrogen, the son of 1940s staying talent Delville Wood (GB), was lauded as just as versatile, recording 24 Principle race victories over seven to 14 furlongs in a three year period, including two Cox Plates.
“The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is a testament to those who achieved the pinnacle in the sport, and the calibre of this year's inductees is nothing short of remarkable,” Australian Racing Hall of Fame Committee Chair Jason Scott said.
Mahogany | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Mahogany as an eight-time Group 1 winner sits in the top echelon of Australia's modern-day greats, and dual Cox Plate champion Hydrogen is recognised as one of our most versatile thoroughbreds, winning anywhere from six furlongs to two miles.
“Zac Purton is still to this day breaking records both at home and abroad in Hong Kong, where he now reigns supreme as the jurisdiction's most successful hoop in terms of outright wins, claiming a total of seven jockey premierships.
“It's fitting that in a year where the Sunshine State will host the evening, we induct one of Queensland's finest in Peter Moody, alongside one of the sport's most iconic broadcasters and recognisable voices in John Tapp.”
Jason Scott | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
The 2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards will be sponsored by Sportsbet.
“We’re proud to support racing across Australia and look forward to acknowledging the 2024/25 Hall of Fame and Legends class,” said Sportsbet’s Chief Commercial Officer Nathan Arundell. The announcement of which Hall Of Fame inductees will be elevated to Legend status will be made next week.
