Photo Credit Chase Liebenburg
Owner of the Month – August – Pippa Mickleburgh
As the sun sets on Women’s Month, we caught up with one of South African horseracing’s most dynamic and experienced role-players, and a longstanding ROA member.
Respected and loved by all, former Avontuur GM, and a recently appointed Race Coast Sales Director, Pippa Mickleburgh exemplifies the very spirit of morality, integrity and strength demonstrated by the 20 000 individuals who participated in the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings, to protest the apartheid government’s pass laws at the time.
That watershed moment in our history is acknowledged with pride and emotion every August by South Africans, and we thought it a good time to catch up with a woman who has made a massive impact in her own right over the decades in the sport we love all love so dearly.
It was Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich that suggested that ‘well-behaved women seldom make history.’
“Hey, I am not badly behaved, ever! But I love the quote – this world needs us woman to make a difference,” muses Pippa as she tells how she has always been a person to consider both sides of the proverbial coin, and speak her mind.
Couple Pippa’s character with an empathetic passion for horses and people, and a deep sense of purpose, and she can only make a difference as she sets out on her brand new challenge.
From running a busy stud farm, where ‘Ms Fixit’ or ‘Mrs Var’, as she was fondly labelled, spent over three decades producing champions, wining and dining a wide spectrum of stakeholders, fixing toilets, repairing padel courts, getting the wi-fi sorted, playing Mom to staff, protecting her beloved horses in storms, and even sorting out the odd bakkie that wouldn’t start, one imagines her new role at RCS should be a proverbial walk in the park!
“It’s never easy changing perceptions and mindsets but we are in it to win it!” she adds with a smile.
Being something of a straightshooter hasn’t always made Pippa popular everywhere, but she has the sport at heart – and knows almost everybody!
“If we want to make a difference, we have to stay true to ourselves and engage with an open mind. But always say it as one sees it, in the most diplomatic manner possible!” she says, adding that her new role at Race Coast represents exciting challenges and the opportunity to contribute to the renaissance of the sport, and to building bridges.
The recent winding down of equine operations at the internationally renowned Avontuur Estate signalled the end of an era in South African racing and breeding. For the lady breeder it also coincided with the start of a new personal era, in a multi-faceted role.
“I am very excited! From mostly running my own ship in the relative bubble of beauty that was Avontuur, to the dynamic corporate environment that is Race Coast. One could say they are worlds apart – yet with so many commonalities. People and horses are at the core of both. Always aiming at raising the bar in terms of service and value are other shared threads. We just have to communicate and talk to our customer – that’s a basic,” adds the forthright horsewoman, as she goes on to explain her dual roles.
“The hospitality experience on raceday – all racedays big and small – is part of my portfolio. We can’t control the weather or always forecast the winners. But we can get the infrastructure operating at a world-class level in all areas. Folk go racing primarily to watch horses race. Adding good food, superb service and great aesthetics into the day makes it a more memorable holistic experience and is likely to organically broaden our market.”
Race Coast Sales, formerly known as Cape Racing Sales, will hold their first Two-Year-Old Sale under the new brand on 25 October 2025. It’s an arena – excuse the pun – that Pippa knows well.
“At Avontuur I was dealing with the Sales companies all the time – but that was as a vendor. Now I have responsibilities to both sellers and buyers, in fact all stakeholders – that includes Grooms and Trainers and the back-room folk that prep the horses. I believe that if one looks after the people, the project will succeed.”
Pippa stresses that she and her team are only a phone-call, whatsapp or email away.
“My brief is to widen the spectrum and embrace more exclusivity on the equine and human capital side of our sales. We already cater for all pockets and expectations. We will focus on a range of horses from a spread of farms, and buyers in all ranges that are kept in the loop – from incentives to catalogues to technology. For example, the syndication incentives offered by Race Coast and modern international trends, means that most everybody anywhere can get involved in the thrill of racehorse ownership. And for many that starts in the adrenaline-charged atmosphere of the sales ring.”
To show that they mean business, Pippa points out that the Race Coast Sales raceday — which was hosted in Cape Town in March 2025 — has been moved to Hollywoodbets Greyville in KwaZulu-Natal for the 2026 renewal on 12 April
This strategic change enables easier participation for graduates based in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Highveld, and better aligns with national seasonal planning.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we have already announced two key dates. That is the March Yearling Sale is on 13 & 14 March 2026 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and the October Two-Year-Old Sale is on 24 October 2026 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. So things are happening. This is an open invitation to breeders and prospective buyers in all four corners of South Africa – please talk to us!”
Need help with anything from a catalogue to a buyer’s card?
Please visit www.caperacingsales.co.za or Contact pippa@racecoast.co.za
Having been an ROA member for many years, Pippa says that her membership provides great value in terms of hospitality on racedays. She also appreciates being kept informed of matters of relevant interest via their newsletters.
“Owners are a vital stakeholder component in the sport and it’s good to know we have representation and a voice. I live in the Cape, but have raced often on the big days on the Highveld. The facilities and the food have always been first class and it’s very nice to be able to ring the ROA in advance and know that I am sorted out.”
On the subject of ownership, she has enjoyed racing some top horses over many years and is proud to have personally bred two Gr1 winners in Attenborough (Gr1 Computaform Sprint) and Contador (Golden Horse Sprint).
“I also raced Attenborough’s dam In Camera. What a mare! I’d have to say that Attenborough and Contador’s Grade 1 wins were my two highlights, although when you’re an owner, winning a Maiden race can really be just as much fun, believe me!”
Pippa explains that in recent times she has spread her minor shares in her current horses amongst five or six trainers.
“I like to try and support a mixed spread of trainers nationally, as it gives one a different perspective and is a great networking tool to meet like-minded people, who share a common passion for the sport. Nominal shares in a number of horses makes sense, and I see that many people are racing that way these days. It’s affordable and provides great enjoyment as one can share the ups and downs from a social viewpoint.
The ROA thanks Pippa for her continued support and we wish her success in her new role.
