Unlike many of us, John Tapp's purpose became clear at a young age in the 1940s while listening to the legendary race caller Ken Howard on the radio. Coming from a poor family, John occupied his days with cost-free activities to avoid burdening his working mother with extra expenses.
One of his favourite activities was painting paddle pop sticks in the colours of well-known racehorses of the era and throwing them into a nearby storm water channel. Young John would walk for miles, calling the progress of the paddle pop sticks as if they were real racehorses. He became well known to local residents whose backyards adjoined the channel.
John vividly recalls his first day at the races. His grandfather, a keen punter, took him to Randwick for the Sydney Cup. The big race was won by Talisman, ridden by John's favourite jockey, Stan Cassidy.
Throughout his career, John called over 50,000 races and became a familiar voice to Australian sports fans through the Nine Network and various radio stations. He was Channel Nine's racing presenter for over thirty years, delivering a Saturday night news racing segment for 22 years and contributing to programs like Wide World of Sports and Sports Sunday.
John also co-hosted the popular Lotto draw for seven years alongside Karen Pini. His radio career began with 2GB in 1965, and he later moved to 2UE in 1981. It was at 2GB that John met his wife, Ann. For a decade, he was the official course broadcaster at Sydney’s four metro racetracks. In 2015, John retired from the media world after an impressive 50-year career.
Despite his successful career, John faced personal hardships. His son was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes at the age of seven and eventually lost his eyesight due to the disease. John has since made it his mission to raise awareness and funds for a cure. He is passionate about providing children with opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. Alongside his wife Ann, John has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations such as The Variety Club of Australia, Bear Cottage, The Ted Noffs Foundation, and Hands Across the Water.
While he is best known for race calling, it is John's heartfelt commitment to social change that stands out. He has used his legendary voice to address significant social issues and seek solutions.
As a speaker or MC, John is charismatic, wise, yet humble and authentic. He believes that hard work brings luck and is renowned in the media industry for his thorough research before any engagement. Drawing on half a century of experience behind the microphone, John captivates and inspires his audience.
