This week, we're thrilled to share with you the first series of our new history podcast, Dig.

In Dig: The Ring In, we tackle one of the biggest — and most entertaining — scandals in Australian horseracing history.

It was a bungled plan to swap a slow horse with a much faster look-alike, involving a motley crew of small-time crooks, a couple of horses and a hell of a lot of hair dye. What were they thinking?

This is binge listening at its best, and all eight episodes are ready for you to listen to on the ABC Listen app, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Then, check out the two-part series from Background Briefing, How to Catch a Fugitive.

A tall, eccentric Englishman with a secret double life flees Australia. For nine years, he remains on the run.

What he doesn't know is that two Australian women are tracking his movements from afar.

The twists and turns, bizarre lies and missed opportunities in the global hunt for child sex-abuser Charles Batham are only now coming to light.

At the centre of it all is a woman called Sherrie, whose tenacity helped solve an international manhunt.

We hope this keeps you busy this weekend, and our thoughts are with those affected by the wild weather. For those venturing out to the Mardi Gras celebrations, we hope you have a great night.


Enjoy your weekend,

Annika Blau, RN digital editor
 

Enjoy getting Radio National in your inbox? Forward to a friend so they can too!

The twists and turns, bizarre lies and missed opportunities in the global hunt for child sex abuser Charles Batham are only now coming to light.

"When I was diagnosed with dementia seven years ago, many people skipped right to the end," says Wendy Mitchell. "But I've learnt to appreciate all the joyful moments I can still experience."

Ten years ago, people across the political divide found themselves in the unusual position of agreeing on a new, fairer school funding plan. So why did it all go wrong?