BRAAM VAN HYSSTEEN

Braam, the founder and award winning boss of the highly successful Cape-based company Tekkie Town, is an extraordinary man who has built his racing string in a similar way to how he built his business, starting small and growing quickly to be one of the biggest thoroughbred owners in the country with 130 horses in 22 stables throughout the industry.

In the relatively short time as an owner, he has had “well past” the 100 winner and had his best month in March with 20 winners – four in KwaZulu-Natal – and 15 places from 54 races. The best horse he has owned was Grey Cossack that won the Grade 2 Gold Vase while Western Movie won seven races for him.

He embarked on his racing ownership path when taking a 50% share with his horse-loving daughter Bianca in Young Caesour in 2009 and thereafter began building a very impressive string with a number of partners, taking the inevitable bad with the good, but enjoying it all.

He has a lot of fun with his racing and says the successes are very special, particularly when they are unexpected. Racing is his “down time” from work and he enjoys racing with his friends and introducing new people to the sport.

And what of his philosophy on life? “The best thing is, if you have had a bad day, tomorrow’s always a new start and you have something to look forward to all over again.”

Well done Braam.