Life Member of the Month – July – Mannie Witz
The Racehorse Owners Association is proud to present Advocate Mannie Witz as our Life Member of the Month, honouring his unwavering commitment to the Association and to South African horseracing over many decades.
Having recently been awarded ROA Life Membership in recognition of 25 years of uninterrupted membership, Mannie has become a familiar and respected figure within the racing community. His contribution extends beyond racehorse ownership, encompassing nearly five decades as an advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a lifetime of service to the sport he has always loved.
Mannie’s introduction to racing began during his compulsory national service, where he shared a basic training camp in Pretoria with the late Stanley Ferreira, who was then assistant trainer to the late Michael Roberts at Turffontein. What started with the occasional one-rand wager placed through Stanley quickly ignited a passion that would shape much of his life. After completing his military service, Mannie studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand while working for the late Peter Bechus, a racecourse bookmaker, to finance his studies. It was there, as racing professionals regularly passed through the bookmaker’s office, that he gained invaluable insight into the sport and built relationships that would last a lifetime.
His journey into racehorse ownership came through Raymond Koedyk, who generously offered him shares in horses trained by Patrick Shaw and later David Ferraris. It proved to be the beginning of a rewarding ownership experience, with many memorable victories achieved through a combination of passion, patience and perseverance.
Over the years, Mannie has enjoyed partnerships with several owners, including Johnny, Paul and Tony Peter. Among their standout performers was Sabina’s Dynasty, who captured black-type success and several feature races, including the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes under legendary jockey Pierre Strydom. Another memorable mare, Gimmethemoney, won numerous races with Strydom aboard before retiring to stud, where she continued her family’s racing legacy through her talented son, Heath House.
As his legal career flourished, so too did his involvement in racing. Mannie began assisting jockeys including Roy Curling and Gerald Turner before taking on Jockey Club matters and representing many of the industry’s leading participants. Throughout his distinguished legal career, he has acted for respected trainers such as James Maree and has been involved in several significant racing cases, including the well-known Epol feed matter. To this day, he continues to assist jockeys, trainers and racing professionals whenever he is able.
One of Mannie’s greatest joys has been the lifelong friendships forged through racing. He recalls meeting Pierre when he first arrived in Johannesburg, at the very beginning of the champion jockey’s career. Mannie was able to introduce him to trainers who provided valuable opportunities, helping launch what would become one of South Africa’s most celebrated riding careers. Their friendship has remained strong ever since.
His enduring commitment to the sport is equally reflected in the support he has provided to countless racing personalities over the years. Mannie has represented Andrew Fortune throughout much of his career and played an instrumental role in assisting with his application to regain his riding license. Watching Fortune’s successful return to the saddle has been one of many rewarding moments in a career dedicated to serving the racing industry. He also counts leading owner Laurence Wernars among his longstanding friends and continues to enjoy spending time with familiar faces whenever he attends the races.
Today, Mannie remains actively involved as an owner through the Fabian Habib stable, where exciting prospects such as Ain’t No Doubt and Bellerophon continue to fuel his enthusiasm for the future.
Reflecting on his association with the ROA, Mannie notes that he has been a member since the early days and has witnessed the Association’s growth and evolution while remaining a loyal and proud member.
The ROA thanks Advocate Mannie Witz for his many years of loyalty, support and valued contribution to both the Association and South African horseracing.
