JULY 2011

Owner of the Month

RAYMOND & PAULA DEACON

Enthusiasm and a great passion for thoroughbred racing is what has driven Raymond from his boyhood days when he had begged his father to take him to the course in the days when children were not allowed.

But now, with even greater enthusiasm, he is living his passion as an owner involved in about 30 horses, mostly with Dean Kannemeyer and Glen Kotzen, and enjoying a great deal of success with a total of 82 winners to date.

“My dad was a major influence on me and when I could afford it I got involved in 2006 mostly with partners. My dreams were first to have a winner, then to win the Vodacom Durban July which Big City Life did for me, and then to have 100 winners. I don’t know what the next dream will be if I get the 100 winners – maybe 200.

“I have had incredible good luck and Paula love s the horse side of it. The loss of Big City Life was a major blow to her but we have had to deal with it and move on. I have tried to make my  racing a family affair as I do with my golf and my daughter Lois is now keenly involved and I have bought a couple of horses for her.”

Since May, Raymond and Paula have had eight winners, five in KwaZulu-Natal and three in the Western Cape with Splash Gold, trained by Kannemeyer, winning the In Full Flight Handicap and the Post Merchants.

Well done Raymond and Paula.