Episode 467: John Sprague

Five winners in a week when you have only twelve horses in work is a notable effort for any trainer. Port Macquarie’s John Sprague did exactly that in the middle of March with doubles at Coffs Harbour and Grafton and a single at Kempsey. John kicked off as an apprentice jockey in the late 1970’s when Canterbury was still a busy training centre. His riding career didn’t get going until he relocated to Port Macquarie. Two hundred wins later he switched to the training business, and has  maintained a healthy strike rate for the last twenty eight years. John begins by talking about his recent winning trot. He clears up any confusion about the pronunciation of his surname. Renovations to Port Macquarie training facilities have made things difficult for local trainers of late. John discusses the problems. He takes us back to the days of his apprenticeship to Jim O’Connor at Canterbury and a switch to an Orange stable. Rides were almost non existent. He pays tribute to the Canterbury trainers of the era with special acknowledgement of a popular  jockey who gave great assistance to those trainers over many years. John talks of a move to Port Macquarie where his father had set up a training stable. John Snr wasn’t in the position to apprentice his son, but Glen Hodge came to the rescue. John looks back on the thrill of his first winning ride- it was Stairway trained by his boss on his hometrack. He remembers a winning run that brought him doubles and trebles. Sprague looks back on a Taree Gold Cup win on the Glen Hodge trained Just Prince in 1980. Still on his riding career Sprague fondly remembers a country cups treble on Bold Bazza. He talks of Bold Bazza’s trainer Harry Leroy and wife Betty who’d been one of the pioneer lady jockeys in NSW. John talks of his riding days on northern rivers tracks with special mention of the unusual Bowraville circuit. He rarely rode in the city and finished his career without a metro winner. He talks of the “one that got away”. John looks back on the news that his father was about to relinquish his trainer’s licence and sell the Port Macquarie stables. Sprague Snr came up with an offer he couldn’t refuse. The experienced horseman acknowledges some of the horses who’ve helped shape his training career. He pays tribute to wife Karen who held a trainer’s licence at one stage. John looks back on the lowest point of his life in racing- a shock disqualification when one of his horses returned a positive swab after a race at Tuncurry-Forster. He looks back on a nightmare experience and the cost of his spirited defence. He pays tribute to a handful of jockeys with whom he’s enjoyed continued success in the northern region. John and Karen are the proud parents of three sons. None of the boys have pursued a career in racing, but all have successful careers. The 62 year old trainer gives a pointer to his future plans.