Gold Circle’s Andrew Harrison writes that Procter was not a man to let the grass grow too long under his feet and moved house and stud probably more often than wife Judy would care to remember.

ho Procter eventually settled Burwell Stud just outside Howick in KZN, where he kept a small but select band of broodmares.

Marching to the beat of his own drum, Anton lived by the motto of his old high school, Kearsney College – Carpe Diem – seize the day.

An agricultural adviser in his youth, he was cattle farmer, bookmaker, stud manager, owner, trainer and stud owner during a career in racing spanning over 50 years.

While still working as an agricultural adviser Procter was a keen participant in a thriving amateur horseracing circuit in the sixties where many trainers on the professional circuit cut their teeth. Richmond was a particularly strong centre and Anton was secretary of the Richmond Gymkhana Club. But in those days racing was held in many rural areas and Anton recalls “raiding” Umtata from his then home base of Donnybrook.

The transition from agricultural agent to bookmaker was sudden.

Anton recounted; “I was stationed in Noodsberg doing a “time-and-motion” study for the sugar industry and it was extremely boring. One day I heard that the bookmaking rights in Greytown were for sale. I said to Judy, ‘when you go into town this morning, find out how much they want’. As it turned out it was part of a deceased estate and was for sale for R1000. I happened to know the executor who said they already had a bid but I could have it if I offered more. I offered R1020 and went into business even though I didn’t have a clue about bookmaking.”

“We only raced on Saturday’s and Wednesday’s in those days and the first day was hectic. When I finally tallied up, I had made R35 profit but it was a start.

“After ten years in the business bookmaking was becoming boring but in 1970 he had a stroke of good fortune. Naval Escort was favourite for the July and somehow it happened that if he won Procter stood to lose a fortune. “On the morning of the race I told Judy to get ready for a busy day. She said to me before I left, ‘You know what I dreamt; I dreamt that Court Day won the July.’ I took no notice. Later that day she told me, ‘You know what I drew in the tennis club sweep, Court Day’”.

It proved prophetic.

“It was a hell of a busy day and when we closed up I was knackered and just stuffed all the money into a bag and went home and I asked the kids to count the takings – R35 000.”

“It was enough to buy a farm and the end of bookmaking.”

“I was always desperate to get into the breeding side and it was about this time that I got a call from Robin Bruss and Peter Lovemore with an offer to manager Stapleford Stud, then one of the biggest operations in the then Rhodesia, for Rob Davenport.

“We spent three years there but it was a steep learning curve.”

From Rhodesia, Anton got an offer to manage the fledgling Summerhill Stud, and he pulled up his grub stake once again and he and Judy headed back home. He managed Summerhill for eight years before moving on to Aldora Stud owned by Guy Landon where Anton was instrumental in buying the top stallion Rakeen for the Tawny Syndicate while the ill-fated Secret Prospector also stood at Aldora.

Being a highly personable character with an inquiring mind, Anton had mixed with the best horseman in the world and gained a vast knowledge of the industry and horses. Burwell today is more a “boutique” stud in the larger scheme of things but with a high quality broodmare band going to the best commercial stallions.

Anton was outspoken on many industry issues but one of his more strongly held beliefs was that owners do not get their due recognition. “In the post-race TV interviews on Tellytrack we get the jockey and the trainer first and the owner as an afterthought. The owner should be the first to be interviewed.”

“Watching your horse win is a thrilling moment. It’s what keeps people going in this sport and they need to be given recognition.”

It was horses that got Anton up in the morning. “I eat, dream and sleep horses. I have travelled to America, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. I have had the privilege to have mixed with the best horsemen and women around the world. Everything I own is due to the racehorse.”

Anton leaves his wife Judy, married for 52 years, daughters Mary-Anne and Laura and grandchildren Andrew, Olivia, David, Brett Gina and Ross.

A memorial service will take place after restrictions have been lifted.

Anton Procter won the KZN Breeders Achievement Award in 2016 and was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, along with his wife Judy, in 2017. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Judy and family.

Mick Goss and the team at Summerhill Stud have achieved an outstanding accolade of National Leading Breeder for the 10th time – nine of those consecutively, after the final curtain came down on the eLan Gold Cup race day, yesterday at Greyville.

Summerhill earned R21 027 712 in stakes, with Klawervlei hot on their heels for the whole season finishing with R20 401 050.

The stats make for interesting reading, as Summerhill believe its the way in which they raise their horses that they are able to perform soundly and more regularly – which is reflected in the statistics.  Summerhill had 383 runners compared to Klawervlei’s 424, Summerhill’s horses ran 2637 times compared to the other of 2451.

From that figure, 230 wins were achieved compared to a close 226, giving Summerhill a winners to runners percentage of 39.7% compared to 37.3%. Summerhill also achieved a high AEPR of R54 903 compared to R48 116.

Summerhill have had a fantastic year of several Graded Stakes wins highlights such as Rabada’s Gr1 Daily News 2000, Heaps Of Fun taking the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, and Arch Rival winning the Gr2 Gold Bowl. ‘Old soldier’ and a son of Kahal bred by Summerhill, No Worries took the KZN Breeders Million Mile for the second time in his career.

The second KZN farm to feature in the National Top 10 is the consistent Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud who finished in 8th place this season.  Talktothestars won a Gr1 and a Gr2, whilst the ever consistent son of Miesque’s Approval, Judicial, features regularly amongst the placings of some of South Africa’s biggest Graded Stakes races.

Kahal finished 5th once more on the National Leading Sires log, and his last crop will have turned two today. The next top sires from KZN are Toreador and Mogok, whilst KZN’s leading sire of 2YO’s is Bush Hill Stud’s Toreador.

KZN’s horses featured on eLan Gold Cup day, with breeder Anton Proctor having his horses Dawn Calling, Misty Burnam and Patchit Up Baby all placing on the big day. Dawn Calling, a daughter of Trippi ran a courageous race to finish second by a length in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes for trainer Duncan Howells, whilst the handsome grey son of Toreador, Misty Burnam finished a close third in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes behind Gunner and Zodiac Ruler.  Summerhill’s talented son of Visionaire, Africa Rising, placed fourth.

Judical almost caught Marinaresco in the Gr1 Mike And Carol Bass Champions Cup, to finish second just a length off and No Worries, looking an absolute picture in the parade ring, in third place.

Anton Procter’s Patchit Up Baby is back with Duncan Howells in KZN after a stint in Gauteng, and she finished fourth in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

KZN Breeders’ Bruce Le Roux and Tinus Gericke were overjoyed when their Avontuur-bred Var filly purchase from the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 of R500 000, A Woman’s Way, stormed to victory in the Gr2 Debutante yesterday at Greyville.

The filly trained by Duncan Howells has now won two from two and has marked her entry to the paddocks of Spring Valley Stud as a valuable and exciting future broodmare prospect.

As of 1 August 2016 the new season has kicked off and looks to be a very exciting one, foals are already being born and Piemonte Stud welcomed the first – an Ideal World colt on 17 July, followed by Hadlow Stud and Summerview Stud – both have magnificent foals by the very exciting Noble Tune (Rathmor Stud) and Bush Hill have welcomed a super colt by Just As Well.

First season sires will getting to work on 1 September, as Bush Hill Stud’s outstanding son of Galileo, Flying The Flag and Summerhill’s Gr1 winning son of Dubawi – Willow Magic and multiple Gr1 son of Dynasty – Act Of War, will cover their first seasons.

International racing sensation The Apache has arrived in time at Scott Bros to settle in for his first KZN season and his third at stud.

Even more to look forward to in the new season will be the first season two year olds to come from Crusade, Eightfold Path, Await The Dawn and Irish Flame.

If their impressive sales performances are anything to go by, we have a lot to look forward to!

The KZN Breeders Premium Scheme begins again in August, the only financial incentive in South Africa where breeders are able to earn from their yearlings they breed and register, and who go on to earn from minor stakes races (terms and conditions do apply).

One of the biggest advantages of owning a KZN-bred racehorse is the exclusive entry into the KZN Breeders Race Day where stakes of over R2,6million can be won in nine races – including the KZN Breeders Million Mile.

Wishing the breeders all the best for the coming season ahead and congratulations to our National Champion Breeders, Summerhill Stud!