Owner of the Month – October – Aden Lahoud
The Racehorse Owners Association is proud to feature owners each month, learning about their passion and dedication to the sport. Earlier this month, we witnessed an amazing maiden win from Cocomelon (Willow Magic (AUS) x Cape Orchid) and we were honoured to catch up with Aden Lahoud who embodies passion and adoration for the game.
Aden’s journey into thoroughbred horseracing began in 1992 with a thrilling victory from his first horse, Duke Of Perth (Piaffer (USA) x Sassy Lassie), trained by Tony Nassif. Aden currently owns around 25 horses in both racing and breeding and among his notable achievements is his partnership in the multiple group winner and recently retired stallion, Willow Magic (Dubawi (GB) x La Willow (AUS)). Aden and his partners’ horses in training are solely conditioned by Champion Trainer Sean Tarry, with whom they have enjoyed great successes including multiple group and stakes winners.
Aden’s most memorable victory is when Willow Magic won the Grade 1 S A Nursery at Turffontein Racecourse on 27 April 2013 and went off to stud to produce graded racing progeny. Another great memory is Tilbury Fort (Horse Chestnut (SAF) x Colleen) winning the Grade 1 G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup on 1 December 2018 under the guidance of SA Champion Jockey Lyle Hewitson. Lastly, Aden recalls Under Your Spell (Capetown Noir (SAF) x Deceptive Charm (IRE)) winning the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship in KwaZulu-Natal on 6 June 2021.
Aden’s passion for horse racing is infectious. He thrives on the adrenaline rush that comes with each win and eagerly anticipates seeing his horses perform on the track. His positive outlook is evident, he believes that enduring the ups and downs of ownership is essential for long-term success in the sport. This resilience is a testament to his dedication, as he remains committed to supporting his horses through thick and thin. He said, “one thing you learn very quickly in the sport is to accept being a winner and a loser because you probably run more second places than ending up in the number one box, so you need to be able to take the good with the bad outcomes otherwise, you will never last in the game.”
Aden is the founder of ITalk International, an outbound call center based in Randburg. His company specializes in providing outbound sales services for local blue-chip companies and managing outsourced BPO work for international firms in the USA. Beyond the racetrack and his profession, Aden is a devoted family man and Liverpool FC superfan. He is married and has four sons, all of who are married, along with six grandchildren who keep the family dynamic lively. They enjoy traveling as a family, as it provides them with wonderful, shared experiences.
Aden appreciates the valuable support from the Racehorse Owners Association, crediting CEO Natalie and her team for their commendable efforts. He has seen firsthand how the new initiatives introduced in recent years have significantly benefited owners, enhancing the overall experience in the racing community.
As the ROA Owner of the Month, Aden exemplifies the passion and dedication that defines successful owners in the industry. His journey continues to inspire us, reminding us of all the joy and excitement that horseracing brings to life.
We wish Aden, his partners and the Lahoud family many more successes and a wonderful 2024/2025 racing season.
