Richard Litt’s entry into the Sydney training ranks materialised under very sad circumstances. He’d barely settled into a training partnership at Warwick Farm with his father Jim when news came from NZ of the premature death of his older brother Jay. Jim Litt made an immediate decision to return to NZ but resolved to leave his small team of horses in Sydney.

Richard was quickly granted a training licence by Racing NSW and launched his training career under less than ideal circumstances. Some months later he paid his first visit to the winner’s circle when a mare called Klissta won the Braidwood Cup. As Richard gratefully received the Cup trophy he couldn’t have imagined that just two years later he’d be on the dais at Royal Randwick receiving the trainer’s trophy after the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes.

That trophy was won by Castelvecchio, the Dundeel colt who’d catapulted Richard Litt to racing’s biggest stage. He joins us on the podcast to talk about his first magical decade in Australian racing. He talks about an encouraging first half of the current season and his expectations for the promising Caffe Florian.

The trainer looks back on early Sydny stints with trainers like Graham Rogerson, Bart Cummings and John O’Shea.

Richard looks back on his father’s decision to try his luck in Sydney with a small team of NZ horses.

He remembers the impact of his brother’s sudden death in Hawera.

Richard says he won’t forget the thrill of his Braidwood Cup win in 2017.

He looks back on the thrill of landing his first city win albeit a midweek event. His first Saturday metro win was another special occasion.

Richard reflects on the luck he’s had with a string of online purchases from the Godolphin operation.

The trainer shares the story about the beginning of his association with owners Ottavio and Wendy Galletta. He was given the formidable task of winning a race or two with a horse previously trained by Chris Waller.

Richard says he was surprised and delighted when Ottavio and Wendy gave him their new Dundeel colt to train. Castelvecchio began with a flourish by winning first up at Canterbury before repeating the dose in spectacular fashion in the Inglis Millenium.

He looks back on Castelvecchio’s wins in the Champagne Stakes and Rosehill Guineas and his stunning second in the Cox Plate.

Richard looks back on a monumental disappointment when Castelvecchio was brought undone on a very heavy track in the ATC Derby.

The trainer was humbled when the Gallettas gave him the job of training the $1.9 million colt known as Profondo. Richard talks about the highs and lows of the Deep Impact colt’s short career.

He talks of Ottavio’s acquisition of the Victory Lodge training stables at Warwick Farm, formerly home to several Gr 1 winners trained by Clarrie Conners.

Richard acknowledges a few more handy winners for the stable in recent years.

Former champion jockey Wayne Harris speaks glowingly of his former “stablemate” Neil Rae. Both were apprenticed to the late Pat Farrell, and while Harris concentrated on metropolitan racing for most of his career Rae opted to stay in the Hunter region where he enjoyed a productive 23 years- productive enough to give him a total of 8 Hunter and North West riding premierships. Wayne Harris suggested I call the former lightweight jockey and talk to him about a possible podcast. A little reluctant at first, Neil finally agreed to join us for a chat about a career that brought him a very impressive 1370 wins.

He begins by talking about the excavators and compactors he operates for the Lake Macquarie City Council.

Always a natural lightweight, Neil says he’s still pretty fit.

Rae was given a nickname by workmates very early in his career. He says it’s still widely used by racing people.

Neil talks about a racing accident at Gosford that left him with a shocking ankle injury.

He talks about a short lived comeback. He was delighted to ride a winner on his final day in the saddle.

Neil talks about early days in Newcastle and his intense dislike of school.

He talks of his first experience in a racing stable followed by his indentureship to the late Pat Farrell.

The retired jockey clearly remembers his first race ride at Muswellbrook, and the thrill of his first win just a few weeks later. He actually landed a double on the day.

Neil remembers his first provincial and metropolitan wins on the same horse.

He recalls being driven to the races by Wayne Harris on the occasion of his first city win, little realising he’d later buy the car in question.

He talks about the valuable tutelage he received from Harris, one of the greatest riders of his generation.

Neil talks affectionately of Irish Flyer, perhaps the most important horse in his early career.

He remembers the brilliant but headstrong Proud Knight. The son of Vain had enormous ability but often refused to race tractably around the turns. There was one unforgettable occasion at Randwick when Proud Knight’s gate opened prematurely.

Neil says his tendency to try too hard early in his career resulted in many suspensions.

He talks of successful associations with leading Newcastle trainers like Paul Perry, Max Lees and later Kris Lees.

Neil says his ability to ride at a featherweight sometimes cost him rides.

He looks back on his eight riding premierships, three of them as an apprentice.

Neil says he was thrilled to be invited to ride two former champion racehorses in exhibition gallops. One was a legend, the other a dominant two year old in the early 80’s.

Neil had only a handful of Gr 1 rides. He was pretty chuffed to ride the third placegetter in the 1989 Sydney Cup. He says the race was run under deplorable conditions.

He talks about fatherhood and the inevitable progression to grandfatherhood.

Neil Rae is well remembered as a jockey of unwavering work ethic. His career win tally of 1370 tells the story. Great to have him on the podcast.