South Africa’s racing and breeding industry is mourning the death at the weekend of one of its most passionate and influential members, owner-breeder Hyman “Hymie” Maisel, who passed away on Saturday night only hours after attending the Selangor Cup (Hymie was not at the Selangor on Saturday. He was very ill before he died but was aware that the race was taking place. I suggested to you that in his mind he would have made an emotional connection because some of his friends from Malaysia would miss him at the races and that would have made him sad) race meeting at Kenilworth.

The race was part of the partnering arrangement between South African and Malaysian racing which Hyman had played a major role in establishing some years ago.

Numerous tributes to the man, who was heavily involved in the breeding industry in the country and in the administration of racing in the Western Cape, have poured in including those of very close friend John Freeman of Freeman Bloodstock (Freeman stallions) and Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac who described him as “one of the most passionate lovers of the thoroughbred and the sport”. They extended their condolences to his widow Joan and his family.

Hyman Maisel

Hyman was the owner of the Hyjo Stud in the Cape and bred many top horses including the winner in (Past master didn’t win this year – he won in 2011) January this year of the J&B Met, Past Master. He was responsible some years back for selling the first South African-bred horse, Money Market, to race in Malaysia and it went on to win the country’s richest race at the time, the R3-million Cunku Gold Cup.

He played a leading role in trying to establish a protocol (he was not involved in established a protocol – I told you that was Paddy Wilson – Hymie was involved in setting up a market with Singapore and Malaysia for SA horses) (He put a lot of effort into marketing SA horses) between the two countries that would allow South African horses to be sold to Malaysia which would have given a major boost to this country’s breeding industry but through the lack of government support the protocol was never concluded (The protocol was concluded I told you that Paddy Wilson brought the protocol document from Malaysia by hand, the Government failed to support the protocol and do very little even now). He had also worked tirelessly while in the TBA to open the South African market to the racing world.

He was the chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association for many years and also chairman of the Western Province Racing Club, playing a major role in the amalgamation of Western Cape Racing with Gold Circle in 2000.  He served as a board member of Gold Circle and was the first chairman of the Western Cape Chapter of Gold Circle.