Life Member of the Month – September – Mike de Kock
The Racehorse Owners Association is honoured to feature Mike de Kock as our Life Member of the Month in the September edition of ROA Today! The name Mike de Kock has become synonymous with excellence in the world of horseracing. With a career spanning close to 40 years and victories in 10 countries around the world, Mike stands among the sport’s most accomplished and respected figures. Earlier this year, his achievements were formally recognized when he was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame. He joined others who were instrumental to the history of the horseracing industry including Ormond Ferraris, Mr & Mrs Oppenheimer, Michael “Muis” Robberts, Syd Laird and the only equine inducted to the SA Hall of Fame, Sea Cottage.
From humble beginnings in Alberton, the south of Johannesburg, Mike’s career was not born of a racing family but rather forged through determination and opportunity. After completing school alongside David Ferraris, and following his time in the army, he went to work for David’s father, the legendary Ormond Ferraris, in the early 1980s. From those beginnings, Mike built a career that would rewrite the record books and establish him as one of South Africa’s greatest racing ambassadors. Since then, the milestones have been nothing short of remarkable. Today, his record stands at an extraordinary 143 Grade 1 winners and 3858 career victories. He has produced standout performances on the grandest stages including the Belmont Stakes, Dubai World Cup, and Hong Kong International Races among them. He admits that some memories are simply unforgettable: his first Group 1, his first Durban July, his first Triple Crown, and the night of his first Dubai World Cup win. Add to that Horse Chestnut’s triumph in the USA, and it’s clear why Mike often says he feels “very blessed” to have lived these moments with family and friends.
As an owner, Mike reflects on how lucky he is to have owned a few decent horses. While there were too many to remember, he made mention of a few including Golden Hoard who won the Champion Stakes, Premiers Cup and the Gold Challenge, Spook Express winning the Garden Province Stakes, Right Approach who won the Dubai Duty Free, Archipenko winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin, more recently, he has shares in Immediate Edge and Greaterix who have done well last season. He also holds shares in syndicates abroad. One of Mike’s fondest moments came when he got to lead in a winner at Flemington Racecourse, trained by Mathew while the family was on holiday in Australia. This time, he enjoyed the victory purely as an owner.
Of the many tracks he has graced, Mike counts Meydan Racecourse in Dubai as his favourite, describing it as the place “where everything changed” for him and his family. He also treasures racing at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, where the level of competition and prestige are world-class.
But for all the international acclaim, Mike remains grounded by what matters most, his family. Mike’s wife Diane, herself from a racing family, has been part of the journey every step of the way. Today, Mike trains in partnership with their son Mathew, while their daughter Kirsten also shares in the racing passion having held racing colours in the past and continues her involvement in the sport through syndicate ownership.
Outside of racing, Mike enjoys sport and is an avid golfer, enjoying the camaraderie and competition of the game, and the mental reset it offers away from the racing industry.
A proud Life Member of the Racehorse Owners Association for 27 years, Mike appreciates the role the ROA plays in supporting owners. He notes the importance of the “little things” that enhance the raceday experience, monthly communication, and applauds the ROA’s charitable initiatives and commitment to contributing to the industry.
When reflecting on what the South African racing industry needs to thrive, Mike offers frank advice: “The industry must stop waging war on itself and scoring own goals. Once we do that, we will thrive because we have such great potential.” He also calls for a review of the handicapping system, believing that the current structure does not do justice to horses in South Africa.
For his contribution to racing, both locally and internationally, Mike de Kock’s legacy is firmly cemented in history. His career serves as an inspiration, not only for what has been achieved, but for the belief in what remains possible for South African racing on the world stage.
We thank Mike, Diane and the entire de Kock family for their longstanding support to the industry and to the ROA, and we wish them many more history making moments in the future.
