Life Member of the Month – September – Dr Ashley Parker
The Racehorse Owners Association enjoys featuring Life Members each month as we learn more about the rich history of the sport and the dedication and passion of these individuals. This month, we are honored to present the owner of Ascot Stud and veterinarian, Dr Ashley Parker, as our Life Member of the Month for September.
Born and raised in Port Elizabeth, Ashley grew up into the sport with his parents having bred horses since 1966. This instilled in him a love for horses, racing and breeding. His mother, Rose Parker, holds a special place in racing history as one of the first two lady stewards in South Africa. His wife, Dr Beverley Parker is also a veterinarian with a wealth of experience and has been actively involved in the export protocols for many years.
Ashley and Beverley have two children, Andrew and Victoria, both married, and two wonderful grandchildren. Andrew and Victoria have certainly inherited the family’s passion as they both have small shares in syndicate horses and Andrew has taken a keen interest in the breeding side of the industry, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents. Outside of racing and breeding, Ashley enjoys playing golf, watching sport and is an ardent supporter of Arsenal.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Ashley’s role is planning matings before the start of each breeding season. He also loves the thrill of racing, the majestic horses and the lifestyle that comes with being part of the vibrant community. He also values the helpful and experienced staff at the ROA who ensure that race days and events run seamlessly, adding to the joy and excitement of the sport.
Horses Ashley has owned include Al Mufti, Archipenko, Enchanted Garden, Bold Silvano, Royal Fantasy and Golden Silvino. His trainers over the years include Terrence Millard, Ralph Rixon, Mike De Kock, Tony Millard, Geoff Woodruff, Brett Crawford, Stanley Greeff, Alan Greeff, Andy Smith and Gavin Smith.
When asked about his favorite racing memory, Ashley recalled a few. The first was Enchanted Garden (Roland Gardens (IRE) x Captivation) winning the Sun International as a 3-year-old at Turffontein Racecourse on 3 May 1986. Ashley had R100 to win R1600, enough to buy a beautiful ring and propose to his wife. The second was Al Mufti (USA) (Roberto (USA) x Lassie Dear), running second in the Durban July, formally known as the Rothmans July Handicap, on 6 July 1991, after covering a book of mares and becoming a breed shaping stallion. He also highlighted Bold Silvano (Silvano (GER) x Bold Saffron), bred at Ascot Stud, winning the Vodacom Durban July on 31 July 2010, and lastly, Archipenko (USA) (Kingmambo (USA) x Bound (USA)) co-owned with Sheik Khalifa, winning the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Dr Ashley Parker’s story is one of history, passion and lifelong commitment to the racing and breeding industry within South Africa. We thank the entire Parker family for their continued support, and we wish them a successful racing and breeding season ahead.
