OFF THE RECORD #83

Hall of Fame Beckons for Racing Icon Mike de Kock

Above: Mike de Kock with Kevin Shea, a potent combination (image: supplied)

The South African Hall of Fame has announced the induction of legendary trainer Mike de Kock, with a formal ceremony to be held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Gold Cup Day, next Sunday. A similar honour was recently bestowed on Ormond Ferraris at a Turffontein meeting. The Hall of Fame recognises extraordinary South Africans, with past inductees including Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Gary Player — icons whose achievements have shaped the nation’s history.

“Mike de Kock is a true icon of South African horse racing,” said SA Hall of Fame Chairman Johnny Burger. “He is a pioneer whose legacy has elevated the sport and South Africa’s sporting reputation both locally and internationally.”

With a career spanning over 35 years, across five continents, in 10 countries and boasting Group race victories in 8 countries, De Kock ranks among the most accomplished and respected racehorse trainers in the world. His induction is more than a personal achievement — it’s a celebration of a legacy that has redefined South African horse racing on the global stage.

De Kock responded earlier this week: “This is a wonderful honour and privilege for me, for which I thank the Hall of Fame. It’s great to receive industry accolades, but recognition on a national level is a step up. For that, I am most grateful.”

Above: Mike with Horse Chestnut and connections after the 1999 SA Derby (image: JC Photos)

Racing fans have a short memory, even when it comes to legends. Let’s track back a few decades: De Kock’s international successes in Dubai and elsewhere stretch back to the year 2000, when he won his first international Group race in the United States with the legendary Horse Chestnut, before the advent of the Dubai World Cup Carnival. 

In 2003 he secured a memorable Dubai World Cup night double, with Ipi Tombe in the G1 Dubai Duty Free and Victory Moon in the G2 UAE Derby. Plenty more have followed since then, with his Dubai base providing a springboard for successes in Hong Kong, with the likes of Iridescence, Eagle Mountain, Archipenko and Variety Club, and Singapore, with Lizard’s Desire. In 2015, Mike even took on the American Triple Crown with Mubtaahij, the colt doing him credit by finishing fourth in American Pharoah’s Belmont. 

Above: Training Mubtaahij before the Kentucky Derby (image: supplied)

Mike’s list of illustrious runners includes the mentioned international winners, and also the likes of Right Approach, Grey’s Inn, Sun Classique, Soft Falling Rain, Irish Flame, Igugu, Shea Shea, Vercingetorix and Bold Silvano, with several successful stallions among them, including South Africa’s current star sire, Vercingetorix.

In South Africa, he has won all the major races at least once, including five Grade 1 Durban July’s, nine Grade 1 Summer Cups and three Grade 1 Cape Mets. He’s also won the SA Triple Crown with Horse Chestnut as well as Malmoos, and the Triple Tiara with Igugu. Mother Russia, Ilha Da Vitoria, Majmu, Alboran Sea, Hawwaam, Rafeef, Soqrat and Dave The King are other notable names on the honour roll.

Asked to single out one special runner among his many stars, De Kock said: “It still has to be Horse Chestnut. He was the greatest of them all. Who knows what heights he might have reached had he not been injured.”

Now 61, De Kock reflected on the years gone by: “I had certain goals and ambitions, but even if I tried, I couldn’t have written this script. I just showed up, and life and racing did the rest. Great horses appeared when we least expected it, and my team and I evolved with them. I’ve also been fortunate to have my wife Diane as both a partner in life and an integral part of the team. Her support made a real difference, especially during the years of constant travel. She’s been a pillar throughout.”

Above: Young Mike de Kock with a small trophy – he lifted much bigger later! (image: supplied)

He recalled several sharp turning points that shaped his remarkable journey, starting with one fateful day in December 1988, when his then-boss, Ricky Howard-Ginsberg, passed away unexpectedly. De Kock was left with a stable of promising horses and a loyal band of patrons who urged him to take over the yard and “run with it.” He initially declined but eventually relented, setting in motion one of the most storied training careers in the sport’s history. It started with a Grade 1 win by the filly Evening Mist, who defeated Singing Boy and Aquanaut in the Administrators Champion Stakes (later known as the Summer Cup) in April, 1989.

De Kock said: “There were several turning points I could mention, and each took me to a new level. One of the biggest came the day I answered a phone call from Bridget Oppenheimer. At first, I thought someone was playing a prank and considered slamming down the receiver. But that call changed my life. It led to the unwavering support of Mrs O and Mary Slack, and eventually to my first international win with Horse Chestnut.

Above: Mike got on Ipi Tombe’s back after winning the Durban July in 2002 (image: supplied)

“Then came Ipi Tombe. She was a filly so gifted, I remember thinking at the time, ‘If there’s a horse faster than this in the world, I’d love to see it!’ She took me to Dubai for a racing carnival packed with smashing results, after a period of ongoing hostility from the Jockey Club at home.”

Above: Mike with Sheikh Mohgammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and his entourage In Dubai (image: Andrew Watkins)

“After this, the calls started coming from the Arabian sheikhs — first Sheikh Khalifa, then Sheikh Hamdan, both of whom brought world-class bloodstock into the stable and helped solidify our international campaigns and stature as a leading racing operation.”

Above: Mike and Mathew de Kock, new horizons ahead (image: Candiese Lenferna)

De Kock said that Mathew’s departure to Australia in 2020 — and his return five years later — were the two most recent pivotal events that reshaped both his own path and that of his family. He had been winding down his South African operation and was preparing to join Mat in Australia permanently when the decision was made to come back home. Once again, everything changed, and new horizons opened up.

Now, with the launch of the new De Kock Racing training partnership, operating out of Johannesburg and Durban, De Kock has realigned himself with both local and global ambitions. But he remains mindful that the sport of kings has a habit of throwing the occasional curveball.

He said: “We’ve seen significant progress from the racing operators. There are individuals who are deeply invested and genuinely driving things forward. South African racing has enormous potential for growth and for doing good. But the industry isn’t operating at maximum throttle. I don’t believe the racing regulator is fully aligned with the industry players and contributors. That’s a concern. There are issues that still need to be resolved, and our industry is approaching a turning point, too. I just hope we choose the right path.”

De Kock is delighted to have his son back on the team and said: “When Mat and I ran the yard together, we had magnificent results, all on record. He’s a fine young man, he’s returned with more experience and has brought back a wealth of knowledge from the highly efficient Australian racing industry and its well-structured handicapping system. These days, I’m learning as much from Mat as he is from me. We bounce ideas off each other constantly, and we’re both active across both centres. Everything is in place for big results, once again.”

For now, he’s looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and familiar faces at his Hall of Fame induction next week. After that, Team De Kock will knuckle down for the new season and the next chapter — one that’s almost certain to bring its share of surprises. After all, history has a habit of lifting De Kock to new heights when he least expects it.