Owner of the Month – November – Luca Martini
Racehorse ownership requires passion, patience and perseverance. The Racehorse Owners Association is proud to recognize Luca Martini as our Owner of the month as we celebrate his love and enthusiasm for the sport.
Luca is relatively new to racing and currently owns eight horses outright: Paul Revere, Miss River Dancer, Dress Code, Volare Veloce, Grains of Paradise, Lady of Cork, Surf Command and Streetswithnonames and is also involved in two partnership horses, Tabloid and Pottter’s Wheel. In addition, he owns four broodmares: Magicallee, Franca, Bellisivar and I Like It.
His journey began with his niece, Rosabell, who bought a 1% share of a racehorse. Her thrill, curiosity, and her joy in the ownership experience were contagious. “Inspired by her passion, I decided to join in,” Luca says. “One horse became a few, and now I find myself breeding my own racehorses.” Today, all Luca’s horses are trained by Corrie Lensley at The Vaal, where he and his family regularly visit. The close proximity allows them to stay involved, be hands-on, and present, which is something that Luca values immensely. His relationship with Corrie, Emmie and their team is one built on trust and transparency, with the added benefit of having created affordable lease opportunities to help bring new owners into the sport.
While his business interests lie outside of racing, Luca’s family interests circle strongly back to horses. With deep generational roots in farming and animal genetics, they have always been stockmen, from breeding sheep in the mountains of Abruzzo, Italy, to breeding cattle, game, and horses in South Africa. Luca and his wife, Tana, met through polocrosse many years ago, and two decades and two children later, horses still shape their everyday life. Tana and the children now compete in Western Mounted Games, where Tana has excelled as a three-time SAWMGA South African Overall Champion. This year, she proudly earned her Protea colours, representing South Africa on her beloved 19-year-old thoroughbred mare, Kilimanjaro. This is another shining example of the incredible second careers available to retired racehorses.
The greatest joy of the sport is that the entire Martini Family is part of the journey, from a horse’s birth right through to its retirement. “We experience the highs, the lows, and every emotional moment in between together,” Luca says. “Racing has become something that binds us.” His favorite racing memory is his very first victory with Paul Revere. “There is simply nothing like stepping into the winner’s circle with your horse and your family beside you.” Looking ahead, Luca believes that greater transparency and openness within the industry will help strengthen the sport and encourage broader participation. He also acknowledges the value of his membership with the ROA, noting that the support and benefits provided have significantly enhanced his ownership experience.
Luca’s racing silks are another personal touch to his journey: a Martini glass proudly displayed in honour of his surname. Striking, playful, and meaningful, they represent both identity and aspiration and the cherry on the top is finding himself back in the winner’s circle.
Earlier this year, Luca and his family travelled to Italy and had the opportunity to visit Dormello, the legendary stud farm of the late Federico Tesio who was a renowned figure in horseracing and widely regarded as one of the greatest breeders of all time. Tesio bred the influential stallion Nearco (ITY), whose bloodlines have played an instrumental role in shaping both international and South African breeding and racing.
Nearco was the grandsire of Northern Dancer, one of the most important sires in modern thoroughbred history. His son, Northern Guest (USA), was later imported to Summerhill Stud, and while he never had a racing career due to injury, his arrival sparked a new era for local breeding. The progeny that descended from these lines include numerous champions such as Angus and Senor Santa, who have left an indelible mark on South African racing. Northern Guest stood at Summerhill Stud from 1984 until 2002, producing 19 crops of foals. Remarkably, he remained fertile throughout his long career and continued to influence the industry until his passing at the age of 25. His daughters, in particular, proved to be exceptional broodmares, contributing significantly to the South African Stud Book. Their impact was so profound that Northern Guest was crowned Champion Broodmare Sire of South Africa on ten separate occasions. He is also the broodmare sire of Pomodoro and Skitt Skizzle (both by Jet Master). Tesio’s words resonate strongly with Luca: “A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart, and wins with his character.”
As our Owner of the Month, Luca leaves us with a final, heartfelt message: “Thank you for the opportunity and see you in the winner’s circle.”
We thank Luca for his passion and support to the industry and wish the entire Martini family the very best in their racing and equine sport journeys.
