No Fairytale Ending For Retiring Webster
Happy Clapper's trainer Pat Webster has saddled up his last runner with Kosciusko finishing a brave second at Newcastle.
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Final Countdown For Randwick Training Icon
Pat Webster is preparing for life after training but he will always cherish his time at Randwick, particularly his Doncaster Mile triumph with Happy Clapper.
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Blake Shinn Pays Tribute To Happy Clapper
Blake Shinn, the jockey who rode Happy Clapper to his three Group One wins, has paid tribute to popular galloper who has run his last race. Trainer Pat Webster and owner Michael Thomas announced Happy Clapper’s retirement on Sunday, a day after the nine-year-old gelding finished seventh in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. It[...]
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Happy Clapper Retired After Stellar Career
Triple Group One winner and crowd favourite Happy Clapper has run his last race. The nine-year-old finished seventh in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes and trainer Pat Webster and owner Michael Thomas have announced his retirement. Webster has been training at Randwick for 50 years but it was Happy Clapper who put him on the national[...]
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A High Five For Happy Clapper In WFA Event
For the first time in four years, Happy Clapper won’t have to contend with Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. But trainer Pat Webster can’t decide if that makes Saturday’s renewal of Sydney’s middle-distance, weight-for-age championship easier or harder. While Winx was unbeatable during her four-year winning run, her presence in races often scared off[...]
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Happy Clapper Wins Barrier Trial
Fan favourite Happy Clapper has tuned up for his next Group One assignment with a barrier trial win at Randwick. The nine-year-old will run in Saturday week’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) having finished third in two of the past four runnings. He only beat one runner home in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March[...]
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Clapper Returns For Another Apollo Mission
Pat Webster has been without electricity for four days but he is convinced stable star Happy Clapper has lost none of his power ahead of an Apollo Stakes return at Randwick. Webster has been relying on generators since the electricity supply to his farm on the NSW central coast was cut due to heavy rain[...]
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Happy Clapper Ready For Apollo Stakes
Perennial fan favourite Happy Clapper heads the entries for the Apollo Stakes, the race that traditionally sets the tone for the Sydney autumn carnival. Three of the past four Apollo Stakes have been won by Winx while other high-profile winners this century include Sunline (2000, 2001), Lonhro (2003), Grand Armee (2005), Desert War (2007), Tuesday[...]
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Happy Clapper Pleases In Barrier Trial
Triple Group One winner Happy Clapper has had a pipe-opener in a Randwick barrier trial when fourth in a heat won by the John Thompson-trained Sweet Deal. Happy Clapper worked to the line in the 900m-heat on the course proper on Thursday, pleasing trainer Pat Webster with his effort and his recovery. The Thompson-trained multiple[...]
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Don’t Die Wondering: The Pat Webster Story
It has taken Pat Webster five decades to become a Group One-winning trainer and there have been a lot of laughs and some tough times along the way. But throughout his life Webster’s affable nature and positive outlook on life have given him the strength to rise up when others might have fallen. As the[...]
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Happy Clapper Misses Gong With Temperature
The popular Happy Clapper has a virus and will miss The Gong robbing the $1 million race of its star attraction. Trainer Pat Webster said the gelding developed a temperature over the past few days and had a slight virus. He had been scheduled to trial on Tuesday ahead of The Gong at Kembla Grange[...]
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Berry’s Mid-Race Tactics Have Happy Ending
A mid-race move by Tommy Berry to take Happy Clapper to the front has proved a masterstroke, although it gave trainer Pat Webster a few heart palpitations. Expected Craven Plate leader, the Bjorn Baker-trained Samadoubt, couldn’t muster early speed, leaving Stampede to enjoy a soft lead so Berry took matters into his own hands on[...]
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Berry Rewarded For Answering Clapper SOS
An act of goodwill by jockey Tommy Berry has landed him the plum mount on favourite Happy Clapper in the Group Three Craven Plate at Randwick. Rival Hugh Bowman was due to partner Happy Clapper in a barrier trial last month but broke his finger in a trackwork mishap and was unable to ride. In[...]
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Clapper Happy Ahead Of George Main
Pat Webster is an old school trainer and, while not afraid to try new things, he likes to keep his horses to the routines he has used for decades. So while many of his George Main Stakes opponents will step out at trackwork for a fast gallop on Tuesday, Happy Clapper has completed that part[...]
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Clapper Still Humming Along At Nine
For the first time in four years, Winx will not be at Randwick for the traditional start to the Sydney spring carnival. What was formerly the Group Two Warwick Stakes is now named for the champion, who won it three times, and kicks off Group One racing for the season. Few will feel her absence[...]
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Happy Clapper Pleases In Barrier Trial
For the first time in three years, trainer Pat Webster has jockey Hugh Bowman in his corner rather than the opposite side of the fence. Bowman has been the regular rider of Winx, Webster’s stable star Happy Clapper’s nemesis along with every horse she raced against. On Tuesday morning Bowman jumped aboard Happy Clapper in[...]
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