Happy Clapper dies: Trainer Pat Webster mourns Group 1 winner
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Happy Clapper, the racehorse who was the epitome of the phrase the 'people's champion', has died after suffering from colic.
The multiple Group 1 winner's former trainer, Pat Webster, learned of the passing of his former stable star on Thursday morning.
'It's a sad day,'' Webster said. 'But when I think of 'The Clapper' there are so many great memories.
'He might not have been a champion but he was the best horse I ever trained.''
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Happy Clapper won 12 of his 48 races and earned more than $7.2 million prizemoney including Group 1 wins in the 2016 Doncaster Mile, 2017 Epsom Handicap and 2018 Canterbury Stakes.
'He is the only horse to win the Villiers Stakes (2015), Doncaster and Epsom Handicaps,'' Webster said.
Happy Clapper also ran placings in another 10 Group 1 races including four seconds behind the great Winx.
• What's in a name? Plenty of history … and unwanted pressure
In the 2019 Chipping Norton Stakes, Happy Clapper famously attempted an all-the-way win and dashed five lengths clear on the turn. He maintained his advantage until near the 100m when, inevitably, Winx reeled in her old rival to win by more than a length in an epic finish.
'I remember the crowd gave him almost as big a reception as Winx after that race,'' Webster said.
'My family always tells me that they will be talking about Happy Clapper in 100 years' time because of Winx.''
• Clinton Payne's 2025 Australasian Oaks tips, runner-by-runner form analysis
Webster's ever-reliable gelding was so popular with racing fans that the Australian Turf Club named a bar after him in the Winx Stand at Royal Randwick.
Happy Clapper had been enjoying a leisurely retirement until falling ill this week and despite the best veterinary care, could not be saved. He was 14 years old.
Originally published as 'It's a sad day': Trainer Pat Webster mourns the passing of Group 1-winner Happy Clapper
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
8 minutes ago
- Herald Sun
‘One for the ages': UFC rocked as icon retires on the spot
Don't miss out on the headlines from UFC. Followed categories will be added to My News. Jon Jones, regarded as the greatest mixed martial arts champion of all time, has retired, UFC CEO Dana White announced on Sunday morning Australian time. White said that 37-year-old Jones informed the UFC of his decision to retire the day prior. A heavyweight title unification bout between Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall had been touted, but Jones' decision elevates Aspinall to undisputed champion. UFC 317 Topuria vs. Oliveira | SUN 29 JUN 12PM AEST | One of the biggest fight cards of the year has arrived. Spain's Ilia Topuria looks to capture the vacant lightweight title against former champion, Charles Oliveira | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. 'Jon Jones called us last night and retired,' White said at a press conference in Azerbaijan. 'Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.' White went on to say that the UFC will work with Aspinall on finding him his first title defence, but Jones is yet to comment publicly on the announcement. The American (28-1) moved up from the light heavyweight division to become the heavyweight champion in 2023. Jon Jones took the heavyweight belt. Photo by Sarah Stier / Getty Images via AFP. He defended his belt once during his time on top, against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November last year, and had repeatedly played down talk about an impending fight against Aspinall. The potential matchup would have been one of the biggest in UFC history, but Jones continually suggested it would not change his legacy. Fans accused him of ducking the 32-year-old Englishman, and there was so much outrage that an online petition to strip Jones of the title collated more than 200,000 signatures. 'I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and money, but we'll make it up to him,' White said. 'Tom Aspinall is a good guy. He's been incredible through this whole process that we've gone through. 'He's been willing to do anything — fight him anywhere and anytime and do this, and now he's like, 'I'll fight anybody. You tell me who, and I'll fight him'. 'So Aspinall has been great. He's going to be a great heavyweight champion for us, and I'm excited to work with him.' White's words came as Khalil Rountree Jr. dominated former champion Jamahal Hill in a five-round decision in their light heavyweight bout in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Baku, Azerbaijan. Jones became the youngest ever UFC champion at just 21 years of age, and he went undefeated in championship fights with a 16-0 record despite taking on more of them than anyone else. He is one of only fighters to boast titles in multiple weight classes, and his 22 wins are the equal fifth most in UFC history. Jones also attracted plenty of attention outside of the Octagon. He was arrested and charged for a hit-and-run in 2015 after he fled the scene of a vehicle accident which injured a 25-year-old pregnant woman. The following year, Jones was banned from competition for one year as a result a positive drug test, but he has long maintained that the positive result was due to contaminated legal supplements. Originally published as 'One for the ages': UFC rocked as icon retires on the spot
News.com.au
31 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘I just have to work harder': Suspension no hindrance as champion jockey Craig Williams zeros in on premiership race
Champion jockey Craig Williams has zeroed in on the pursuit of a 10th Melbourne premiership. Williams started a 14-day careless riding suspension on Sunday but has 58 races across seven city meetings next month to wipe an eight-win deficit on sidelined premiership leader Blake Shinn (foot). 'I want to win a championship so I'm working hard, I'll be at all the tracks,' Williams said. 'I was very saddened by that (suspension) but that's the rules of racing … I just have to work harder.' If successful in the premiership race, Williams could join Damien Oliver on 10 premierships. Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan share the record with 11 Melbourne titles. Shinn, stranded on 67 city winners, was poised to win his second premiership in three seasons and third overall before an untimely foot injury last month. Williams moved to 59 winners last Saturday with a double at Flemington. She's An Artist shares a resemblance to a certain sprinter & she might share some of that ability... ðŸ'©â€�🎨 The bald-faced filly trounces her opposition under hands & heals. @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 • 'It's been a great season, won five Group 1 s, The Everest, I've won a Hong Kong Derby,' Williams said. 'It's been an amazing season and when we're in the position that we are, and we're only in this position because of Blake Shinn's unfortunate injury … he's very dominant. 'This is really special to us (premierships) but again it's a goal, nothing better than … having goals and challenges, you turn up, you know what you want to do. 'It doesn't matter what the weather is, what the horses are, we try and get the best out of them to hopefully be lucky enough to win 10 championships.' ðŸ�‡ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡°ðŸ‡°ðŸ‡¦ Hello everyone, Larysa and I would like to share our latest Ukraine update in 2024. Once again, we want to thank everyone for their ongoing support. If you would like to contribute, go to my website Full video - — Craig Williams (@CWilliamsJockey) October 24, 2024 Williams has pushed back a planned humanitarian aid mission to Ukraine to pursue the premiership. 'It's important, the work we do here, 10 per cent goes to Ukraine,' Williams said. 'My wife is helping me try and win the championship and once we get the next eight (winners) we'll go to Ukraine and deliver the humanitarian aid.' Williams rode Taken and the most impressive She's An Artist to victory last Saturday at Flemington. She's An Artist, trained by Ciaron Maher, 'broke them' in slick time – fastest sectionals on the card in the last race – at only her second start and first time down the Flemington straight. 🎨 She’s An Artist paints the perfect finish in the last! @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) June 21, 2025 'She felt like everything we hoped she was going to be,' Williams said. 'The exciting part is she's only going to get better … all going well, like we always need, she's a really untapped, high potential filly.' She's An Artist is set for the Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 5 at Flemington. Williams is eligible to return to the saddle on July 6, with a midweek meeting at Sandown on July 9 his next opportunity to build on his metropolitan winners' tally.
News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Angela Jones' narrow miss in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup has only fuelled her hunger to win a major
Queensland jockey Angela Jones has declared that her narrow miss in the recent Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup has only fuelled her hunger to win a major on high-flying mare Floozie in the Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Jones looked the winner for most of the way on the Tony Gollan -trained gelding Zarastro in the 1300m Group 1 on June 7 at Eagle Farm before James McDonald came from clouds to score a jaw-dropping victory on Chris Waller's Joliestar. But now Jones, 24, is hellbent on collecting her first major in the $700,000 Tatt's Tiara (1400m) for fillies and mares on Saturday as Floozie chases a remarkable fifth straight victory. The Charters Towers product said she gave herself a moment to absorb the bitter disappointment of missing out on Group 1 glory before picking herself up off the canvas to prepare for her next shot at the main prize. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'It was such a thrill and also a little bit heartbreaking at the time,' she said about the Zarastro ride. 'I looked back on it and the week after it really gave me a little bit more motivation. 'To come so close, it only really motivated me more to win one. 'Losing to a horse (Joliestar) that's won some pretty good races, including Group 1s, and it had less weight than us too so it really showed that Zarastro deserved to be in a Group 1 field and there is one for him down the track. 'I probably let myself be sad that night and then the next day it was 'right, I'm ready to move on' and we'll try to take the positives out of it and there were plenty of positives there. 'The owners were stoked and Tony (Gollan) was happy so we could walk away with our heads held high and hope to get one down the track.' An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩 @cwallerracing @mcacajamez @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 That chance comes on Saturday, with Jones insisting she wouldn't want to be riding any other horse than four-year-old Floozie, who is rated a $4.50 chance in early betting behind Firestorm ($3.50) but ahead of Tashi ($6) and Zaszou ($8). Floozie defeated the Waller-trained Firestorm in the $300,000 Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) just eight days ago, with runner-up Tashi splitting the pair. 'She's pretty easy to ride every time,' Jones said about Floozie, who is also trained by Gollan. 'You can sort of do whatever you want on her so that takes the nerves away from it. 'She's a horse where if you've got a tricky gate or a heavy track, she'll still do her very best. 'Obviously we'd love to draw between four and six but if we can't then she can overcome a bad gate or bad track. 'She definitely deserves to be in it. There's probably nothing else I'd prefer to ride. 'I don't think anyone would have imagined at the start of her prep that she'd end up in this race and be in such fine form but here we are and I couldn't be more excited for it.' Floozie brains them in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes! ðŸ'¥ @tonygollan — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 The Tatt's Tiara will be Jones' fourth shot at a major this winter carnival following an 11th placing in the Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Sun Worshipper, second in the Kingsford Smith Cup on Zarastro and ninth in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on Transatlantic. 'Getting a Group 2 victory (in the Dane Ripper Stakes) was a highlight but I'd love to get the Tatt's Tiara, that would make it wonderful,' said Jones, who has jagged 56 wins this season to sit just three behind leader Emily Lang in the Brisbane metro jockeys' premiership. 'So far if I walk away with what I have now then I'd be pretty happy with the winter carnival.' And what about that elusive Group 1? 'It'd be amazing. I'd love to get that but if it doesn't come this time, then hopefully there will be many more around the corner,' she said.
