Owners of the Month – March – Garth & Lynn Towell
One of the greatest benefits of racing in a partnership is the camaraderie it creates, and it is in keeping with this theme that we celebrate Garth and Lynn Towell as our ROA Owners of the Month for the March edition of ROA Today.
Garth and Lynn have been an integral part of the racehorse ownership community since 2008, always racing in partnerships. The thrill of ownership extends beyond the horses as they cherish the camaraderie and social aspects of racing just as much. They believe racing is as much about people as it is about horses, and they take great pleasure in introducing new people to the sport.
One of their most fulfilling partnerships was that with their cousin, Renee Gossayn, who had been involved in racing with her late husband, Martin, but had never ventured into ownership on her own. Whereas as now, Renee is eagerly anticipating the next yearling sale. Garth and Lynn have also been involved with the Magical Lady Syndicate, where they have been fortunate to own part of a champion filly, Mrs Geriatrix. This syndicate has been a game-changer, bringing together ten women, six of whom were new to racing. Their filly has not only hooked them into the sport but also forged strong friendships among them as they did not know one another before the syndicate was formed. The success of Mrs Geriatrix has led to interests in a second filly who is unraced, extending the excitement.
For the past 17 years, all of their horses have been under the care of Champion Trainer, Sean Tarry, at the Randjesfontein Training Centre. Garth says: “Sean is a very close friend, and we have known each other for more than 40 years. He is also an outstanding horseman, and we know that our horses are in the best care possible and will optimise their potential under his stewardship. He has been a really enjoyable co-owner in a few of our horses. They are, after all part of our family, and a focal point of our social relationship, therefore Sean’s openness to stable visits, weekend breakfasts after workouts and general guidance make the experience that much more special”. Their most recent runners include Willow’s Wish (in partnership) as well as Mrs Geriatrix and War Talk (Lynn with the ladies’ syndicate).
Garth’s deep-rooted passion for horseracing stems from his family. His farther, Norman, and uncles were enthusiastic owners and punters over the years. The interest, in fact, traces back to 1982 when Garth’s godfather Stanley “Butch” Towell (who many of the older racing folk will remember fondly), owned a horse called Sweet Wonder, who finished a short head second in the Rothman’s Durban July. However, it was Sean’s brother Mark Tarry who encouraged Garth to buy a horse upon their family’s return from the United Kingdom in 2008. Their first horse, Bamako, a promising stayer and one of Silvano’s first crops as a sire, sparked their journey and they have not looked back since. Lynn quickly became just as passionate, co-owning the next horse and selecting their new racing silks.
Over the years, they have celebrated multiple winners across the country, always making the effort to travel and support their horses. Even at the age of 88, Garth’s father still enjoys attending races and early morning track work at Randjesfontein.
Garth has had an illustrious career with nearly 30 years of executive experience. This was mostly in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry and he has served as Chief Executive Officer across three different businesses for over 15 years. His commitment to community service has is reflected with his service on various NGO Boards, industry associations, chambers of commerce, educational trusts, foundations and political think tanks. While he has scaled back due to business commitments, he finds this type of service deeply fulfilling. Lynn has also dedicated herself to school, medical, and faith-based associations and ministries and she is a qualified nursing sister and mid-wife.
Their daughter, Megan, shares their love for racing, frequently joining them at the racecourse and weekend visits to Randjesfontein. Megan retired from Irish dancing last year after competing in three World Championships in Ireland and Scotland and now has gym as her passion. Their son, Ryan, is less involved in racing but enjoys the winnings, with his main interests being Manchester United and Formula 1.
Racing is an immersive experience that combines passion, competition and social engagements which Garth and Lynn both love. They often host guests at the races, introducing them to the sport and encouraging them to become owners. Proudly Lebanese, they remain connected to their community and value the relationships that racing has helped them build. While they are not gamblers, they do enjoy a wager on their own horses, especially when they win. They added that: “There is honestly no better feeling than your horse passing the post 1st! The exhilaration and rush of adrenaline are indescribable”.
Their most cherished memories include Mrs Geriatrix’s triumph in the 2023 Golden Slipper on Durban July Day and the thrilling moments in 2024 when this filly and Willow’s Wish, won within two races of one another on the KZN Breeders feature card. They also recall Before Noon, a resilient son of Await The Dawn, who overcame a fractured leg to return to racing, finishing second and third in the Gold Vase in 2020 and 2021 respectively, and fourth in the Gold Cup in 2021. He won six races in his career and Garth described him as a “real soldier”.
Both are proud members of the ROA, with Garth recently stepping down after serving five years on the Board of Directors. He says: “I have enjoyed the role immensely and learnt so much more about the industry and the game. However, meeting new people and quite frankly, people I never thought I would meet, has been the highlight. There are so many good people that give so much to this game, and often for little reward. Our wish is for the ROA to continue to represent the interests of owners in the forthright, respectful manner that they do and to put the customer experience at the core of their work. It has been challenging over the past few years with both industry and economic changes, however the ROA has always been of service and under Natalie Turner’s leadership been approachable, hospitable and always with our best interests, as owners, at heart”.
We thank Garth, Lynn and the Towell Family for their continued support and we wish them many more fruitful friendships, winners and wonderful moments in racing.
