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Gary Player

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Gary Player is a name that brings to mind one of the all time great golfers, a man so talented he was voted South Africa’s Sportsman of the Century back in 2000. The list of Gary’s accomplishments in the golfing world is a long one. He is the sole non-American golfer to win all four majors, and he won a staggering 165 tournaments during his illustrious career. Gary is also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, and was inducted into that prestigious museum back in 1974. The Golf Digest magazine rated Player as the eighth greatest golfer in 2000.

He feels however, that his biggest golfing achievement came elsewhere. “My professional highlight was being the only man on the planet to the win the international Grand Slam on both the regular and senior tours.”Gary vividly recalls the day he was informed that he had been named Sportsman of the Century.” On the day I heard, it was a secret. What an honour this is, all my accomplishments are a loan from God.” 

All his major wins were special for Player, who says,” All the 18 majors I won are my favourites, winning a Grand Slam is like winning Wimbledon or the World Cup Rugby Tournament.”Gary travelled a remarkable 25 million kilometres during his career. He says, “I travelled more than any man ever - 58 years of constant travel, representing many companies, meeting, dining and playing golf with Presidents of the USA, members of royal families, Emirs, movie stars, but also with the man in the village in Africa.” When asked how to survive the rigors of such a lifestyle, Player responds,” The secret is remain lean, exercise, laugh a lot. A healthy diet is most important, only about 1 in 15000 people maintain a healthy diet. Having strong Faith is vital to surviving this demanding schedule.”

However, the name of Gary Player is growing in stature in the horse racing and breeding industry. Gary began taking an interest in horses when he was around eight years old. Tragically, his mother had just died, and Gary was introduced to the world of horses by a school friend. “I was eight years old when my mother died, a friend from school invited me to his farm in Johannesburg. There I rode horses and fell in love with horses. The smell of sweat  and the immense power was thrilling. I still enjoy riding, the saying,” the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man” is so true!” 

Gary created world headlines as a breeder back in 1994. That year, his home bred colt, Broadway Flyer (Theatrical – Serena), lined up in the Epsom Derby as one of the favourites in a field of 25 contesting the great English classic. Gary describes the feeling of breeding the bay as special, "What a thrill it was having him. Theatrical on Serena was a natural. Being at the Derby with John Freeman, top hats and tails, was a special memory."

A game front runner, Broadway Flyer had no luck at Epsom, and finished down field. He bounced back, however, to run second in England’s oldest classic, the St Leger, before going on to win the G1 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap in North America.

This feat meant that Gary became the first person to breed a US G1 winner from a South African bred mare (Broadway Flyer being a son of former SA Oaks winner Serena). He was thrilled by the accomplishments of his colt, saying, ”It was one of the highlights of my breeding career to be the only breeder to breed a horse to run in the Epsom Derby, win a Group 1 in the USA and run second in the St Leger.” 

Gary at the Stud Farm in Colesberg

Gary’s South African stud farm (simply named Gary Player Stud Farm), is a 10,000 acre plot based near Colesberg, in the picturesque Northern Cape. He acquired the farm back in 1974, and since then has bred numerous high-class performers.  Gary used to have breeding interests in the USA, Australia and England, but his sole source of breeding is now based in South Africa.

When asked what made him purchase the farm, Gary replies,” Terrance Millard, George Azzie and most of the trainers advised me to go to Colesberg. We have the best water in South Africa, no pollution, paddocks that are 400 acres. We use very little fertilizer, have sweet veldt and cold winters. All great for breeding tough horses. Back in the day, English soldiers always wanted horses from Colesberg! I, at times, feel that with the over feeding we are starting to produce “soft horses”.”Gary’s love for, and appreciation of, Colesberg is very evident, as he says,” Once you have lived in the Karoo, there is no going back!”

Some of the top horses bred by the farm include such G1 winners and performers as Superwood (Gold Circle Derby, 2nd Vodacom Durban July), Kadarko (SA Derby), World Over (Administrator’s Champion Futurity), Foreign Source (Thaba ‘Nchu Sun Casino Stakes) and Creator (Champion 2yo colt).
Gary firmly believes in the importance of a farm standing their own sires, saying,” Everyone wants a stallion! It’s the only way to make money in breeding. A stallion is such an athlete.”

Gary Player Stud Farm has recently acquired two exciting young sires in the South African classic winners Noordhoek Flyer (Pivotal – Sierra Negra) and Russian Sage (Jallad – Sage Blue) respectively.   Gary is pleased with the reception his new horses have received in their first seasons at stud, commenting,” Noordhoek Flyer has been very popular. His sire, Pivotal, is a top, top sire, and his dam sires includes Dancing Brave and Secretariat, both world champions. Noordhoek Flyer won both the Cape and Natal Guineas-  how many horses have this speed?”

Another sire to have stood at the Gary Player Stud Farm was the superbly bred Manshood (Mr Prospector – Indian Skimmer), who sired the mighty Ipi Tombe. One of the greatest fillies ever bred in the Southern Hemisphere, Ipi Tombe was a champion both in Zimbabwe and South Africa, before embarking on an undefeated campaign overseas. Few who saw it, will ever forget Ipi Tombe’s majestic win in the G1 Dubai Duty Free of 2003. 

Gary has been married to wife Vivienne since 1957 (the couple married just four years after Gary turned professional). The couple have six children and 21 grandchildren. Gary’s family all enjoy the horse side, albeit to differing degrees, as he admits. “My two granddaughters and my wife love watching our horses win. My son Wayne loves a gamble now and then. My daughter Jenny and I own a mare together and have a lot of fun with this venture. My entire family enjoys the horses.” 

Player still has a number of goals that he is keen to achieve as a breeder in South Africa. Foremost is winning South Africa’s most famous race. “ As a breeder, I would most like to win the Durban July, the closest I have been was with Superwood, who finished second (to Greys Inn in 2004).” 

Gary has seen many great horses race in a variety of countries over the years, but admits one has a special place in his heart. “Secretariat is the all time best. I watched all his wins, the way he came from last and lapped the field. His autopsy showed he had a massive heart.” 

When asked for advice for young breeders starting out, Gary said,” Go for quality and not quantity unless youhave millions to spare and invest. Study genetics and breed in the Karoo, this was advice given to me by Wilfred Koster.” 

A man who is extremely loyal to South Africa, Gary is positive about the future of horse racing and breeding in this country. “South African racing is outstanding. Just look at our champions, they are World class. They have gone on to win overseas, to mention a few, Colorado King, London News, Ipi Tombe, Horse Chestnut, Bold Tropic, Jay Peg, Bold Silvano, J J The Jet Plane, etc, etc the list goes on. Look at the stallions we have produced – Jet Master, Dynasty,Captain Al, Harry Hotspur, to mention but a few. We have some of the best trainers in the world, some of the best jockeys in the world. People spend a fortune buying from Australia and New Zealand -  we have kicked their butts!” 

His one reservation, however, concerns South Africa’s well documented export problems.” We do not have a level playing field with the export protocols. They gave us strangles, but horse sickness has hampered us on the international field. The only country we have had consistent support from is the USA, we should return the favour and be loyal. Free market on a global basis is the answer. Our administrators are doing a good job on getting us back to the world arena.” 

Gary Player has long been a much beloved hero in South Africa. His positivity and love of South Africa make him loved by millions at home and abroad. Hopefully, he will be standing in the hallowed winners enclosure on July day before too long.