It’s just over six years since Scott Darby last appeared on our podcast. At the time his popular racehorse syndication company was gathering momentum. Today Darby Racing is a front runner in a very tough business. Seventeen and a half years after its launch, the company looks back on 1500 wins by syndicated horses including 79 at stakes level and 9 at Gr 1.

To mark Darby Racing’s first week as one of our valued sponsors it makes good sense to get its founder and managing director back on the podcast. He takes us back to early days when he was overpowered by an ambition to become a jockey.

When his riding aspirations fell by the wayside Scott looked for an activity that would keep him in the framework of the racing industry. He got involved in the syndication of two horses owned by friends, and enjoyed the experience. The rest is history.

When Scott joined us on the podcast on Monday March 9th he was still walking on air after a Gr 1 Newmarket win with Caballus at Flemington -Gr 1 number nine for Darby Racing. He admits to being a little nervous when he shelled out $315,000 to acquire the gelding online in 2023.

Scott remembers Darby Racing’s first yearling sale purchase- a Choisir colt at a NZ Ready To Run sale. Registered in Australia as Estalane he failed to win on a metropolitan track but was successful 8 times in north Queensland. The new company was up and running.

Today Darby Racing boasts a full time staff of 5 headquartered at Narellan south-west of Sydney. Scott pays tribute to the team.

He acknowledges the support of wife Edwina who was a late starter in the racing game but quickly fell in love with the sport.

Scott talks of an early ambition to become a jockey. He remembers an unsuccessful visit to Tulloch Lodge and his first experience in a racing stable.

He pays tribute to the $15000 filly whose two black type wins catapulted the new syndication company into the spotlight.

Scott talks of another cheap filly from a Gold Coast sale destined to take her large ownership group on an exciting ride.

Darby Racing came up with another “price buster” at the 2015 Inglis Classic Sale. As Yankee Rose that $10,000 filly was a precocious two year old and won the Golden Gift before beating all but Capitalist in the Golden Slipper. She later won the ATC Sires Produce Stakes to give the company its first taste of Gr 1 glory. There was more to come in the filly’s three year old season.

Darby Racing “swooped” again at the 2016 Inglis Classic Sale when they landed a Manhattan Rain filly for $20,000. That filly was syndicated to twenty owners and would go on to win six races from twelve starts accumulating $3.2 million in prize money. Imagine the reaction of the “terrific twenty” the day She Will Reign won the Golden Slipper.

Scott pays tribute to the special horses who’ve taken Darby Racing to another level in the field of racehorse syndication.

He acknowledges the talents of his current group of “go-to” trainers.

Scott talks of the racing colours that have become instantly recognisable to punters around Australia.

Blake Spriggs answered immediately when I tried his mobile number one day last week. What a delight it was to hear such clarity, sparkle and fluency in the voice of a man who this time last year had his Doctors gravely concerned. Medical professionals who played even the smallest part in the former jockey’s rehabilitation continue to marvel at his attitude, determination and rate of recovery from an endless list of injuries.

Blake had prepared himself well by the time neurosurgeons delivered the heartbreaking news that his riding career was over. The articulate thirty three year old joins us on the podcast, to look back on an ordeal that all jockeys hope will never befall them.

Blake says every member of his medical team has expressed surprise at the rate of his recovery.

You’ll be amazed to learn what he can do just one year on from the worst kind of race fall.

He says more than two weeks passed before he had any knowledge of the damage to his body. You might feel squirmish as Blake recounts the long list of injuries.

Blake focuses on the brain bleed that convinced Doctors he would be wise to abandon any thoughts of a comeback.

He pays homage to his dedicated physiotherapist and reveals some amazing coincidences about his stay in Canberra Hospital.

Not surprisingly a few months into his rehabilitation he started to think about the horse or horses he’d miss the most. Blake says one horse stood out.

Blake was happy to reminisce about his 17 year career as a jockey. He begins by paying tribute to his father Dale Spriggs who rode close to 3000 winners in a 40 year career.

He remembers riding in many races with Dale and one particular quinella they provided.

The former jockey talks of his sporting prowess during schooldays.

Blake pays tribute to his late grandfather who taught him valuable lessons about horse management.

He talks of his initial apprenticeship to Newcastle trainer Steve Hodge and the thrill of winning on the occasion of his very first race ride. He looks back on a transfer to the Waterhouse stable and a short time with Jason Deamer at Newcastle,

Blake fondly remembers the magical day at Rosehill as a 3kg claiming apprentice when he rode five winners. He takes us through all five wins.

He acknowledges some of the horses who helped him along the way with special mention of his Gr 1 Metropolitan win on Sir John Hawkwood.

Blake acknowledges the support of his mother Leanda who managed him during the early part of his career. Brother Dustin and sister Dimity also receive an honourable mention.

He looks back on a Moree Cup win viewed by his late grandfather.

Blake says he was inspired by many during his long and lonely recovery, none more than son Brooklyn who only recently turned three.

He’s currently contemplating life after racing and is happy to have gained some business knowledge during his time as co-owner of a Sydney used-car dealership. He hopes to put that knowledge to good use going forward.

This is an uplifting chat with a very gutsy former jockey.

This week we catch up with another member of the “bush trainer brigade” - those remarkable people who continue to bring the very best out of horses of limited ability while paying just as much for chaff, oats and associated supplements as their city counterparts. This week’s podcast guest recently relocated from one country location to another. After many successful years at Bendemeer near Tamworth, Jane Clement and husband Rob recently moved to a 50 acre farm at Mendooran. The new location will afford Jane and Rob easy access to many western and northern meetings. The Jane Clement story makes for a very interesting podcast and we’re delighted to have her join us this week. Jane explains the reasons she chose to move out west after a lifetime at Bendemeer.

She says her previous training property embraced most of the long defunct Bendemeer racecourse. Undulating terrain gave her horses a beneficial change from flat track training.

Jane looks back on childhood days on the family farm at Bendemeer where horses were a major part of her life. She began riding trackwork at an early age for her maternal grandfather, the legendary Tamworth trainer Merv Corless.

She talks of the lessons learned from her late grandfather.

Jane remembers the “iron gelding” Akwazoff who was trained throughout his long career by Merv Corless.

She looks back on a short stint as an amateur rider which yielded 25 wins. Her first day as a picnic jockey brought an unexpected surprise.

Jane hasn’t forgotten her first win as a professional trainer. She had to go through a fair bit of anguish before the numbers went up.

She looks back on her first and only win on a Sydney track. She’s rarely seen in town.

Jane talks affectionately of her all time favourite Chrysolaus who posted 6 wins and 7 placings. The trainer looks back on his most important wins.

Jane pays tribute to the late John Clift, owner of Chrysolaus and the breeder of champion Gunsynd.

The trainer explains her unrelenting loyalty to female jockeys. She acknowledges some of the girls who’ve helped her along the way.

Like many bush trainers Jane is a regular user of the bi-monthly Inglis Digital auction. She talks of several bargain buys sourced in recent years.

Jane is justifiably proud of her son Braith Nock, last season’s champion Sydney apprentice jockey. She looks back on his early experience as a bull rider.

She brings us up to date on the progress of Braith’s sister Dana who’s apprenticed to Brett and Georgie Cavanough Cavanough at Scone.

Jane talks of the wide range of tracks within reach of her new training property at Mendooran.

She talks of the mode of transport used to get her horses to the races.

Jane says a recent win at Tamworth tugged her heartstrings.

A nice chat with a trainer who’s been in the company of horses most days of her life.