We had our podcast interview with Keith Ballard safely “in the can” before he reported for duty at Saturday’s Julia Creek Cup fixture at Mount Isa. It’s now history that the legendary jockey went out a winner on the final ride of his 55 year career. Keith was winless in the first four races, but turned it around in the last when he went straight to the lead on Metal Bar and romped home by more than five lengths in the Julia Creek Cup. The fairy tale was enhanced by the fact that Keith’s wife Denise trains the winner. Two days earlier we caught up with the 71 year old to reminisce a little about his remarkable career. He began by revealing that Denise had been trying to get him to retire for quite some time.

He talks about a recent Cloncurry win on Capiteel for his trainer wife and acknowledges the support of trainer Tanya Parry.

Keith talks about Denise’s former riding career in an era when female jockeys were battling for recognition.

He says Denise isn’t too tough on him when his judgement is astray.

The veteran says he was humbled in the extreme when the Ballards of Mount Isa were inducted into the Racing Queensland Hall Of Fame in 2021.

Keith talks about the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms in the months ahead.

The evergreen horseman says his nerve has remained intact.

He gives a few reasons for his longevity as a professional jockey.

The Longreach born horseman says he was initially inspired by the riding success of his uncle Jim Ballard.

Keith pays tribute to his stoic and hard working mother, and speaks of his six brothers.

He recalls his very first race ride, and an unforgettable first win on the very same horse.

Keith says he’s been relatively lucky when it comes to race falls, but he looks back on one bad buster at age 62- the worst fall in his long career.

That fall occurred at remote McKinlay best known as the venue for many scenes in the famous Crocodile Dundee movies.

Keith remembers some of the best horses he’s ridden over more than half a century. His number one vote goes to Mr Ziesel, big by stature and big on ability.

He pays tribute to the consistent Kerr Street. He won nine races on the horse in one season including the 1983 Darwin Cup.

Keith remembers King Wells. He won 17 races on the former Victorian.

The veteran says his career wouldn’t have been complete without a Birdsville Cup win. He ticked that one off the bucket list in 2009.

Keith talks about Sahara Canadian. He won 11 races on the grey, including one at faraway Ballina.

He talks about another prolific winner in Be Somebody. He once drove 1000km to ride the horse at Darwin even though he knew the gelding couldn’t win.

Keith pays tribute to a handful of jockeys for whom he had special admiration.

He makes special mention of a talented bush trainer.

Keith pays a heartfelt tribute to son Dan, a very talented jockey whose career has been terminated by weight problems.

Ballard says his failure to ride a metropolitan winner doesn’t faze him too much.

He talks about a handful of other jockeys who rode into advanced years.

It was a great pleasure to talk to a genuine Queensland racing icon.

It was mid October when I invited Ray Hadley to be special guest on the occasion of our 500th podcast episode. Never once during the conversation did the legendary broadcaster so much as hint that he was contemplating calling time on his 2GB morning programme. We made arrangements to record the interview on the afternoon of Thursday November 5th. Like many of his listeners and colleagues I was stunned, when less than an hour into his programme on Thursday Ray made the shock announcement that December 13th is to be his final day in the 2GB studios. Television news crews were setting up in the building long before he finished his on air shift at midday. The broadcaster was inevitably “swamped” by media outlets for several hours. I wouldn’t have been one bit surprised had he requested a postponement of our podcast interview, but I should have known better. True to his word Ray was ready to go when I called him as arranged at 4.30pm. I reminded him that nobody had seen this coming.

He admitted it was a surreal experience to be announcing his own retirement from mainstream radio.

I asked Ray to identify the likely reasons he was able to win 160 consecutive surveys.

He nominated one particular story where his on air comments contributed to a better outcome.

Ray made no secret of the fact that he won’t be lost to media, but says the days of 3.30am wake up calls are over.

He takes us back to childhood days as the son of hard working parents Morris and Elsie Hadley.

Ray looks back on the massive impact of his father’s death at just 46 years of age.

He shares some funny stories from his eight years with Steers Auctions at Parramatta. He believes his experience as an auctioneer helped to develop his commentary skills.

Ray says he was chuffed beyond belief in the early 80’s when offered the role of Harold Park course broadcaster following the retirement of Ray Conroy.

He takes us back to the days immediately after the Super League war when 2UE lost its Rugby League broadcast rights. 2UE’s Continuous Call team made history when it continued to win the ratings without broadcasting the game.

Ray pays a special tribute to the man they called “The Starmaker.” 2UE Programme Director the late John Brennan was lauded in the industry for his unique ability to spot potential talent from a mile off.

Ray Hadley’s career took a life changing turn in 2002 when John Singleton purchased 2GB. He initially poached Ray from 2UE to call Rugby League, but changed his mind soon after. The broadcaster was stunned when “Singo” asked him to take over the morning programme in opposition to 2UE’s John Laws. Ray shares the full story.

The multiple award winning broadcaster says he has no regrets about missing the opportunity to call 100 State Of Origins.

Ray was privileged to be a member of the commentary team for seven Olympic Games. He says Cathy Freeman’s unforgettable win in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics remains his fondest memory.

He was agreeable to looking back on what he describes as the lowest point in his long career- the 2019 bullying allegations from a small group of staff members. He looks back with candour on a very unhappy time in his life.

Ray talks with great affection of his children and grandchildren. Today he’s the quintessential doting grandfather.

It’s a massive coincidence that Ray’s retirement announcement came just a few hours before this podcast was recorded. No wonder he was in the mood to reminisce. Great to have him on our 500th podcast episode.

The story of the Freedman era is one of racing’s all time best - four enthusiastic young brothers who made an amazing journey from the family stud farm at Yass to the establishment of a Victorian based training powerhouse. Lee held sway as trainer with Anthony, Richard and Michael handling crucial roles in the background. Together they had an enormous impact on Australian racing for three decades. Lee won seven Melbourne trainer’s premierships and was runner up six times. Today the boys are all training under their own banners with Lee opting for a much quieter life on the Gold Coast. The former leader of the FBI was very gracious with his time on this week’s podcast. He begins by berating his talents as a golfer.

Lee talks about his current 31 horse team, a fraction of the number he trained in the busiest days of the FBI.

He talks of the wide choice of race meetings he has from his Gold Coast base.

Lee takes us back to early days at Hardwicke Stud near Yass, where he and his siblings gained sound education under the supervision of father Tony.

He delights in telling the story of his first win as a trainer with a quirky but very talented grey called Sitting Bull. It was hard to keep news of the horse’s talent under wraps.

Lee says his training career actually began at Warwick Farm.

He looks back on a relocation to Flemington and a mare called Sauna - the daughter of Loosen Up who put the Freedmans on the map.

Lee hasn’t forgotten the thrill of a maiden Gr 1 win.

He reflects on the rapid rise of the FBI and the simple theory he had about stress management.

We needed to get started on Lee’s reminiscences of the many wonderful horses to come through the Freedman operation. Who better to begin with than the incomparable Makybe Diva. She arrived in the Freedman camp having won 8 races for David Hall including her first Melbourne Cup. Lee recalls his expectations.

He reflects on his first win with the mighty mare, the 2004 Melbourne Cup.

The trainer recalls the mare’s dominance in the autumn and spring of 2005, and the memorable comments he made in a TV interview after her third Cup win- comments which have passed into folklore.

Lee gives his view on why she was such an athlete.

The great trainer looks back on wonderful journeys with crowd favourites Subzero and Doriemus, two more Melbourne Cup winners.

It’s not hard to tell Super Impose was one of Lee’s great favourites. He shares some special memories.

Lee puts into words his enormous admiration for Naturalism.

The list of good horses to pass through the Freedman’s hands is seemingly endless. He sings the praises of Mahogany and Schillaci.

The Golden Slipper was a mighty race for the Freedmans in the 1990’s. Lee talks about their four consecutive wins in the famous two year old race.

Durbridge is another marvellous horse to get the thumbs up from his former trainer.

The legendary trainer will surprise some when he says his greatest racetrack thrill came outside Australia. He looks back on his Royal Ascot journey with Miss Andretti.

Lee used some of Australia’s greatest jockeys during the golden years of the Freedman reign. He’s prepared to single one of them out for special praise.

He speaks with pride of daughters Emma and Georgia.

Lee pays tribute to his greatest ever supporter, late mother Del who passed just two years ago.

He pays tribute to Anthony, Richard and Michael who have each forged great individual careers.

A podcast with Lee Freedman is long overdue. We’re delighted to finally get it done.