Owner of the Month – August – Daniel du Preez

At just 23 years old, Daniel du Preez is already making his mark in South African horseracing, and if his passion is anything to go by, this is only the beginning. The Racehorse Owners Association is delighted to feature Daniel as our Owner of the Month this August.

“I am involved in 19 horses currently, and the only vision is to grow that number,” he says with the enthusiasm that has become synonymous with his approach to ownership. Of those 19 horses, 12 are owned outright across two sets of colours belonging to Daniel and his mother, while a further seven are held in partnership, with the family holding majority shares in most of them. The operation is growing steadily, with Daniel already looking towards the next chapter of his racing journey.

Home base is on the Highveld, where the horses are trained by Tony Peter. The family has also expanded its interests to the Eastern Cape, with young trainer Dean Smith in Gqeberha looking after a number of their part-owned horses. Daniel speaks warmly of both trainers and the welcome he has received. “I can’t express the gratitude and hospitality I have received from both Tony Peter and Dean Smith. I am always welcome to visit our horses, see them train and receive constant updates.” Most mornings, you will find Daniel at the Turffontein training tracks, living the dream he has been working towards.

Daniel’s connection with horses goes back much further than his current ownership interests as his father purchased his first racehorse in 2003. Daniel grew up surrounded by horses and recalls quite literally being around them from his earliest days. “I’ve crawled through horses’ legs since I was a baby and grew up with them all my life.”

Circumstances eventually took the family away from racing, but more than two decades later, the Du Preez family made their comeback. In 2024, Daniel made it clear to his family that he wanted to pursue the racing legacy and follow what he describes as a powerful calling. The family purchased their first three horses at the National Yearling Sale and from there, there was no looking back. What started as three young horses has developed into a growing portfolio and an increasingly ambitious vision for the future.

While Daniel is firmly focused on racing today, his ambitions stretch well beyond ownership. He currently works alongside his parents in the family’s waste management and transportation business, which they established from scratch around a decade ago. Daniel took over the reins from his father in 2022, but as his racing commitments, studies and travel have increased, he has appointed an experienced person to manage his role while he continues to remain involved.

His long-term vision is firmly rooted in the thoroughbred industry. Daniel has recently embarked on studies in Equine Science and Psychology, with the ultimate goal of becoming a stud farm owner and, one day, a successful breeder. He wants to pursue this dream and passion completely and is truly inspired by Gaynor Rupert. Daniel dreams of building something lasting in the thoroughbred industry, potentially even reaching the Hall of Fame one day. For someone so young, his ambition is considerable, but his determination is equally evident.

Ask Daniel what he enjoys most about racing, and the answer is not simply winning. Some of the most memorable moments happen long before the racecourse comes alive. “The most enjoyable morning spent is a morning spent at the racetrack for early work, first strings and sunrises, the sound of hooves on the ground, the early nickers and neighs. What a homely feeling!”

And then, of course, there is the winners’ parade. Daniel admits that even after experiencing several victories, the excitement has not diminished, and he still gets butterflies during winning interviews. His first winner remains particularly special, and even in retirement, that horse continues to hold an important place in the family’s heart. Every victory brings its own emotion, but one recent success carried an even deeper significance. The horse, Jacks Legacy, was named in honour of Daniel’s late great-uncle, who originally introduced them to the sport. “That was a very emotional victory and is probably our highlight on our journey.”

The Du Preez family’s love of racing extends naturally into a love of spending time together. Family, food and creating memories are important to Daniel, with weekends spent fishing, travelling and simply enjoying one another’s company. Another shared passion is drag racing, with the family often heading away for weekends centered around this. Daniel’s love of horses even extends to his car, which he named after one of racing’s modern greats, Flightline.

Daniel is optimistic about the future of South African racing and believes the sport is moving in the right direction. He acknowledges the investment being made into racecourses and the efforts to create venues that will attract new and younger audiences, giving particular credit to TAB and Hollywoodbets for their broader vision and contribution to the future of the industry. Daniel also thanks the ROA for always being accommodating and allowing the process to become a member simple and seamless, with friendly staff that takes care of owners.

Congratulations to Daniel, our ROA Owner of the Month. We look forward to following his journey as his passion, racing string and ambitions continue to grow.