Life Member of the Month – January – Bertie Myburgh
The Racehorse Owners Association is proud to recognize Bertie Myburgh as our Life Member of the Month, a loyal member who has been part of the ROA family for an impressive 29 years. Bertie’s journey through racing spans decades, regions, friendships and unforgettable moments, all underpinned by a deep love for the sport and the people within it.
Although Bertie does not come from a formal racing background, his passion for the game was ignited early on. Growing up in Kimberley, he fondly recalls accompanying his father, a keen racing enthusiast, to local race meetings during the 1970’s. In those days, racing in Kimberley was informal and community-driven, with farmers training horses privately and local grooms riding them.
Bertie was raised in Kimberley in a family rooted in public service. While his father and three brothers followed careers in the police force, Bertie completed compulsory military training before embarking on a distinguished 43-year career in banking with Absa Bank, where he eventually served as a Regional Manager. Despite the demands of his profession, racing remained a constant thread throughout his life.
Among Bertie’s many cherished racing memories, a standout moment was landing a treble of winners during the Flamingo/Sailor Malan Festival, which at the time featured two race meetings in one week, this is an achievement he will never forget. Another career highlight was winning the Northern Cape Stayers Race, a victory that remains particularly close to his heart.
Over the years, Bertie has owned and partnered in numerous horses, particularly during his time in Kimberley. While many winners came and went, a few will always stand out, especially his successful home-breds. Horses such as Flauntthestorm and Staying Alive, both nine-time winners, as well as Voyage En France, winner of the Northern Cape Stayers, remain proud milestones. True to his inclusive nature, Bertie often raced horses in partnership, believing that success is best enjoyed when shared. Today, he continues to be involved through shares in horses including Arumugam, Beach Walker, Mister Speaker and Pokomon, and still actively supports racing through the TBA online sales, as he continues to have success with these horses.
Bertie’s racing journey has seen him work with several respected trainers over the years. He began with Japie Visser, a childhood neighbour and fellow member of the SAP. He later supported Corrie Lensley when Corrie first opened his stables in Bloemfontein, notably, Corrie’s first two career winners were owned by Bertie and his friends. Further success followed with Fritz Roux, and he also raced horses with the late Peter Miller and Koos Rossouw. After the closure of Flamingo Park, Bertie took a step back from ownership, but his passion soon reignited when he partnered with Kobus Roux, with whom he continues to thoroughly enjoy the racing experience, and hopes Kobus gets more support.
Reflecting on his long association with the ROA, Bertie speaks fondly of the people and opportunities it afforded him. At a young age, he was elected as a Steward of the Griqualand Racing Club, later serving as Vice Chairman, working alongside Peter Miller, Basil Benjamin, PA Serfontein and Roelf Pienaar. When Phumelela was formed, Bertie was on board for the Northern Cape and Bloemfontein chapter before relocating to Gauteng.
One of Bertie’s proudest contributions to racing has been introducing newcomers to the sport. He fondly recounts introducing friends Suzette and Basie Viljoen to ownership in Kimberley, assisting them with colour selection and registration, the now iconic blue with shocking pink band of diamonds. He also introduced them to John Freeman as they wished to expand, of which Bertie took a leg in one of the horses which won on debut, and as Bertie notes, “the rest is history.”
Outside of racing, Bertie enjoys rugby, having played for the Kimberley Police and represented Griqua Rugby as a tight-head prop. He has a keen interest in breeding, having successfully bred racehorses in the past, and enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time in nature.
Family remains central to Bertie’s life. He has been happily married to Alet for 36 years, and together they have two daughters, whom he proudly describes as “the apple of my eye.” With their first grandchild expected shortly, this is an especially meaningful time for the family. While not directly involved in racing, they all share an interest and enjoy attending race meetings at Turffontein together.
When asked what the industry needs to reach greater heights, Bertie believes broader marketing, renewed engagement with former racing communities, and support for syndicate registrations, particularly for trainers who had to relocate from Kimberley, are key to rebuilding and growing the sport.
Now retired from banking, Bertie looks forward to spending more time around racing and remains open to serving on Boards should the opportunity arise. His experience, passion and dedication make him a true ambassador for the sport.
The ROA proudly thanks Bertie for his decades of loyalty, contribution and unwavering enthusiasm for racing. We thank him for his longstanding support and wish him all the best for 2026!
