Hymie Maisel (photo: Form Organisation)
Hyman Maisel, fondly known to most as ‘Hymie’ passed away during the night of Saturday, 19 November 2016.
He will be remembered by those who knew him as one of the most passionate people in racing. An owner, breeder and administrator, Hymie Maisel was a true servant to the industry, devoting endless time and energy both to his beloved pedigrees as well as to the various committees on which he served so tirelessly for the betterment of South African racing.
His fascination for horses and racing stemmed from seeing hansom cabs carrying passengers to the races past the family home in Kenilworth and the die was cast.
As an owner, he started out with the late Athol Fisher and was one of the first to support a young Stan Elley as well as the late Colin Burroughs (who trained his good filly Molly Mandy) amongst others.
Stan Elley remembers, “I’d just started and been going a year or so when Hymie arrived. He was bloody good to me and gave me some well bred fillies. We had a lot of luck together and he helped put me on the map.” Horses that carried the Maisel silks of heliotrope with a scarlet cap included Tacos, a daughter of Cornada, who was just touched off in the WP Fillies Nursery. Another Cornada daughter, Gleaner won her first 4 starts and other successful horses included Robin-In-Rags and Tipsy Tart. Display Model was touched off in the Fillies Guineas, won the Majorca Stakes and was beaten a whisker in the Natal Oaks.”
“His business was called Display Models,” continues Mr Elley. “They made all those dummies in shop windows, chrome racks – anything for those types of shops. I think he ploughed most of it into racing,” he says fondly. “His wife Joan was a lovely lady and they had three daughters, including Lerisse who is now married to Kenilworth Racing director, Vidrik Thurling.”
“Hymie was the most enthusiastic and passionate owner I’ve ever trained for. He loved his horses and loved the spirit of racing to the extent that he upset a few people. When he first came on the scene, he was seen as a bit of a firebrand and a hot head, and wasn’t all that popular, but in the end people warmed to him because they could see he was so passionate.” In an interview with Racing Southern Africa, Hymie is quoted as saying:- “Rothchild’s quote exemplifies everything that attracts me to the sport. ‘Racing is competition in its purest form, so simple and direct that its fascination is irresistible and before one knows it one identifies oneself with one’s horse. That electrifying connection between owner and horse makes it difficult to imagine any other sport offering the same level of excitement. I remember walking on air when I had my first winner. Very few experiences have left me with that same feeling.”
Mr Elley recalls an incident with a Dowdstown Charley filly that Hymie bought from Dennis Houston. “She was a weak, light filly that had only been tried over sprints and Hymie insisted I run her over a mile and a half. I said ‘she’s too weak, we can’t put her over that far.’ Eventually I agreed on the condition that we’d only run her if I could get Stanley Amos to ride. Stan took her to the front and won!” he laughs. “He understood pedigrees better than anyone I knew.”
Pedigree passion
Hymie was well known for his passion for breeding and pedigrees. He started his breeding operation with Antonie Badenhorst in Colesberg, later purchasing Terrance Millard’s premises in Philippi and founding Hyjo Stud (so named by taking the first two letters of his name, combined with the first two letters of his wife Joan).
Past Master wins the 2011 J&B Met
Through his enthusiasm for breeding and pedigrees, Hymie’s opinion was frequently sought and he advised on matings that produced Star Effort (bred by Tolly Novick) and Alpha Omega (John Wilson) amongst others. His Hyjo Stud stood stallions including Flower Power, Proclaim, My Earl and Pole Position and his Philippi stud was responsible for Gr1 winners including Cape Fillies Guineas winner, Sweet Chestnut, Cape Derby winner, Corning Touch, Legality (Empress Club Stakes), Ancestral Fore (Gold Cup) and 2011 J&B Met winner, Past Master.
Administrative contribution
Outside of his business, family and breeding interests, Hymie still found time to devote to administrative and stewarding work in racing and breeding. He served as the Chairman of the SA Turf Club, overseeing the amalgamation with Gold Circle. He served as a board member of Gold Circle and was the first chairman of the Western Cape Chapter of Gold Circle. His leadership was insightful and visionary, recognising the need for the industry to change with the times and market itself to a new demographic in order to remain relevant. “The secret of success lies in the ability to recognise the necessity for change and to have the courage to make the adjustment, irrespective of how uncomfortable the period of metamorphosis may be.”
He felt strongly that the punter was of vital importance – over and above the owner – and that every effort should be taken to address the public perception that racing is dishonest. He was strongly in favour of transparency and in that capacity, helped introduce sectional timing to Cape racing in 1999.
Hymie was also a long-serving member of the TBA – including serving as Chairman for 9 years, during which time he worked tirelessly to open the South African market to the racing world. In fact, he was responsible for selling the first South African-bred horse, Money Market, to race in Malaysia and it went on to win the country’s richest race at the time, the R3-million Cunku Gold Cup. Hymie was on the Jockey Club executive as well as the Cape Breeders Club, being voted Cape Breeders Man Of The Year in 1986.
He held strong opinions and wasn’t afraid to stand up for them. During his tenure as Chairman of the TBA, he oversaw the introduction of controversial import restrictions for horses, especially from Australia, famously refusing to meet with Australian racing executives visiting for the Met. Infuriated that his wife was once refused entry to the parade ring (on the grounds of not being a colour holder) he changed his colours into the name of ‘Mr & Mrs H.E. Maisel’.
Rodney Dunn, who served alongside Hymie on many boards and committees says, “He stood for absolute integrity and fair treatment for everyone. You would have liked him.”
R.I.P. Hyman Maisel. 1935-2016.
