JIM JOEL : A RICH LEGACY

Isaac ‘Jack’ Barnato Joel, Barnett (Barney Barnato) Isaacs and Harry Joel ‘Jim’ Joel
(Photos : Chilwickbury Trust Archive)

“If there is more than one man who’s owned both
a Derby and a Grand National winner, we don’t know him.”

What we do know though, is that Jim Joel did. We’ll come to the horses that made it happen, but first about his legacy.

Jim Joel was a son of Jack Barnato Joel, whose connection with the turf came with his acquisition of Childwickbury Stud in England’s Hertfordshire in 1906. Though Jack Joel knew very well the poverty and hardships of 19^th century East End London, by the time of his acquisition of Childwickbury, he was a very rich diamond and gold merchant. His great grandfather was a rabbi, his grandfather Isaac Isaacs a dealer in old clothes, and his father Joel Joel had run the “King of Prussia” public house. Jack’s mum Kate, was the sister of the founder of the Joel fortune, Barnet Isaacs, more popularly known in South Africa as the pugnacious Barney Barnato, who borrowed £50 from his mother and travelled to South Africa in 1873, intent on making his fortune.

From Cape Town, Barnato journeyed to Kimberley, and through his sheer hard work, cunning and the good luck of being in the right place at the right time, he quickly accumulated a vast fortune. He founded the family business Barnato Diamond Mining, and in 1880 he was joined by his nephews Jack (Jim’s father) and two brothers, Wolff and Solly. When Jack Joel died in 1940, his son Harry “Jim” Joel, inherited the estate and carried on the family interests at Childwickbury, joining his father among the most successful British owner/breeders of the 20^th century. His colours, the black shirt and scarlet cap we see aboard the Mary Slack runners these days, were carried to Classic victories by the English Derby hero, Royal Palace, the St Leger ace, Light Calvary, and the serene heroine of the English 1000 Guineas, Fairy Footsteps. To explain the Slack connection, Mary we all know, was born Oppenheimer, and we know that De Beers, the greatest of the world’s diamond mining businesses, was an amalgam many years ago between the family of Barnato and those of Cecil John Rhodes, headed up for four generations by male members of the Oppenheimer family.

We did say we’d come to the Derby/Grand National double once we’d discussed the legacy, but since the identity of the Derby winner is already out of the bag, we may as well recall that, when he was well into his 90s, Jim Joel was virtually blind. That didn’t deter him from his regular holidays to South Africa, and it was on his flight back from one of his trips, that he was famously advised by the captain of the aircraft that his Maori Venture had carried off the laurels in the world’s greatest steeplechase.’

Mr. Joel was an extraordinary man, respected as much for his grace and sportsmanship as an owner, as he was for his generosity as a philanthropist. He never forgot where he came from, and he never forgot the role South Africa had played in providing his family with the comforts of life. In 1985 a foundation of substantial proportions was established, and his charitable causes in this part of the world are supported today by the Childwick Trust.

Among the Trust’s more noble causes, is their support of the work done by NGOs whose primary interest is children of five years and under. A couple of years ago, when two of the five trustees, Anthony Cane and John Wood were taking a short sabbatical at Hartford House from their arduous travel through our rural plains, they were introduced to our School of Management Excellence. To explain their interest, these are two sporting men, and Anthony Cane happens to be the present Chairman at the home of England’s most famous horserace, Epsom.

We think they liked what they saw at our school, and they offered to assist with a scholarship for the top student each year at the English National Stud, aimed principally at a graduate of our disadvantaged community. It has to be said, Jim Joel would’ve been proud of the work his trustees are doing: one of the objects of the trust reveal his keen personal interest in the people involved in the racing industry, and the welfare and breeding of thoroughbred racehorses. They’re the embodiment of the things he stood for, gentlemanliness, decency and generosity, and their gesture in providing this scholarship to the English National Stud has paid immediate dividends. Those who follow these columns, will know that in its very first year, our top graduate was Thabani Nzimande, who as one of twenty-six students from around the world, became that august institution’s outstanding practical student of 2012.

The trustees visited again recently, to touch base with those of our team involved in their project. There’s plenty going on in the world at the moment, and much of it is not pretty. These men represent the prettier side. The Trust has distributed in excess of £52 million (more than R700 million) since 1992.

BRITISH NATIONAL STUD UPDATE : MAY 2012

Making The Days Count :
And Counting The Days

“Forty-three days to go, and I’ll be back in full force”, writes Thabani Nzimande of his tenure at the English National Stud.

In an earlier update, we mentioned that Thabani graduated top of the Class of 2011 from the School of Management Excellence at Summerhill last year, and was selected by School Governors, Judge Alan Magid and ex-Jockey Club Chairman, Ronnie Napier, as the recipient of the Childwick Trust Scholarship to the National Stud. He was especially fortunate to be attending in the same year as Mathew de Kock, under whose tutelage Igugu initially “grew up” at the races.

Thabani had quite a few visitors earlier this month, including Sarah Frost, whose father worked for Jim Joel at his famous Childwick Bury Stud, which was the nursery to such famous horses as Royal Palace, Light Cavalry and Fairy Footsteps. Born and raised on Jim’s farm, and a teacher by profession, Sarah has worked for the Trust for a decade. Anthony Cane, trustee and chairman of the home of the Investec Derby, Epsom, has also spent some invaluable time with Thabani, and we are told that 5 members of the Trust will be in attendance at the graduation ceremony, which takes place on Friday the 29^th June. For those who are new to this scholarship, we should recall that Jim Joel was a nephew of the storied Barney Barnato, who with Cecil John Rhodes, founded de Beers, the world’s biggest diamond company. The Joel brothers, Jim and Solly, were plucked out of the obscurity of London’s east-end, and recruited by their enterprising uncle into the diamond business, where they made their considerable fortunes.

A wonderful, warm, “feel-good” success story, Thabani has paid regular tribute to our School Of Excellence in the glowing yard reports that we’ve received. We wish the Class of 2012 luck for the forthcoming exam, and finalisation of their major projects. Looking forward to having you home Thabani and Mathew!

Heather Morkel +27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email heather@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

OUR MAN THABANI

THABANI NZIMANDE
The National Stud

When our man Thabani Nzimande took a flight from the warm climes of Sunny South Africa on his way to The English National Stud, he didn’t know what he was in for. It’s cold in Mooi River in winter, and sometimes very cold, but nothing prepares you for knee-deep snow, rain and ice, particularly when it’s your first welcome at Heathrow airport.

Thabani Nzimande was the recipient of the Childwick Trust Scholarship to the English National Stud as the top graduate of our School of Management Excellence last year. Selected in a tight contest by the school’s governors, Judge Alan Magid and ex Jockey Club Chair, Ronnie Napier. A chance visit to Hartford House at the end of an arduous odyssey through the back streets of rural South Africa, led Anthony Cane, chairman of Epsom racecourse and home to England’s most famous horse race, and John Woods to our School of Excellence and to an understanding of what it represents. As trustees of the Childwick Trust, they immediately saw an opportunity to benefit a segment of disadvantaged community in South Africa in a sphere closest to the heart of the original benefactor, Jim Joel. As it happened, Anthony Cane was also a trustee at the English National Stud, and there was serendipity in the three connections, Epsom racecourse, where the Derby is sponsored these days by a South African company, (Investec), The National Stud and the School of Excellence.

Anthony Cane is no ordinary trustee though. He’s serious about his work, and he has a deep and sincere interest in the outcomes of the trust’s activities. He was in contact recently with Tabitha Smith, training director at The National Stud, and she copied us on part of the report she had directed to Anthony.

“Stephen Wallis mentioned to me that he had seen you and that you spoke about coming to meet Thabani. We would be delighted to introduce him to you and any of your fellow Trustees if they are available. Thabani is continuing to be a great success; he has received his first formal feedback on his yard rotations and his time on the Stallion unit. From both he got a glowing report and that is no mean feat from our Head Stallion Man! He has formed a really good friendship with Mathew de Kock and gets on extremely well with the rest of his peer group and staff alike”.

Thabani and fellow South African Mathew de Kock, son and assistant to South Africa’s most famous racing couple, Mike and Diane de Kock, is part of a group of new recruits from across the world, where they are attending the National Stud’s globally acclaimed course in horse stud management.

Heather Morkel +27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email heather@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

THE BRITISH NATIONAL STUD AND CHILDWICK TRUST SCHOLARSHIP

The National Stud 2011 Graduates
(Photo : The National Stud)

THE BRITISH NATIONAL STUD
DIPLOMA IN STUD PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT

Most young thoroughbred breeding and racing enthusiasts dream of doing a season at The National Stud in Britain and completing the Stud’s well respected Diploma in Stud Practice and Management. For the top student graduating from the Al Maktoum School of Management Excellence, based at Summerhill Stud, in December, this dream is a reality.

The National Stud origins date back to 1916 when Colonel Hall Walker (later Lord Wavertree) presented his Thoroughbred stallions, mares, yearlings, foals and horses in training to the British Government and the nation as a gift on the condition that they bought his land at Tully, Co Kildare, Ireland. In 2008 ownership of the Newmarket-based Stud transferred to the Jockey Club. The internationally renowned programmes give young people entering the Thoroughbred breeding industry top class training opportunities.

The Childwick Trust was established in 1985 by Mr. H. J. (Jim) Joel who was a highly successful bloodstock breeder based at his Stud on The Childwick Bury Estate in Hertfordshire. He and his father Jack won many Classic races and Jim Joel was one of only a handful of owners to have won both the Derby (in 1967) and the Grand National (in 1987) with Royal Palace and Maori Venture respectively.

Mr. Joel never married and following his death at the age of 97 in March 1992, all funds from the sale of his estate were channeled into the Trust.

The Joel family had extensive business interests in South Africa since 1880 and as a consequence a core policy of the Trust is to reflect that involvement through The Jim Joel Education and Training Fund in Johannesburg.

A chance stopover at Summerhill by Trustees Anthony Cane and John Wood, who were visiting South Africa earlier this year to oversee some of the projects funded by The Childwick Trust, led to the prospect of a scholarship for a graduate from the School of Excellence.

The South African connections run deep, and the Late Mr. Joel, who raced horses with doyenne of Racing, Mary Slack (Oppenheimer) locally, gifting her the famous black-with-scarlet-cap silks.

About The Jockey Club

The Jockey Club is at the heart of racing in Great Britain as the largest commercial group in the sport. Its interests include :

• Jockey Club Racecourses : Responsible for the operation of a diversified portfolio of 14 racecourses in Great Britain : Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Kempton Park, Market Rasen, Newmarket, Nottingham, Sandown Park, Warwick and Wincanton.
• The group stages four of the five ‘Classics’ of Flat racing (the Derby and the Oaks at Epsom Downs and the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket), as well as the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National at Aintree.
• Jockey Club Estates : The property and land management company responsible for the management and administration of more than 5,000 acres of land in and around the racing training centres of Newmarket and Lambourn, as well as an extensive property portfolio, including the Jockey Club Rooms.
• The National Stud : Transferred from Government to The Jockey Club in 2008, The National Stud is a commercial thoroughbred breeding enterprise with a commitment to provide training and educational programmes. The Diploma in Stud Practice and Management celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011 and has celebrated alumni including Teddy Grimthorpe and Ed Dunlop.
• Racing Welfare : A racing charity and company limited by guarantee with The Jockey Club being the sole member. The principal objective of Racing Welfare is to provide help to those in need who work or have worked in the thoroughbred industry, and their dependants.

In accordance with its objectives in the Royal Charter, The Jockey Club reinvests its profits in British racing and promotes measures to sustain and enhance the long-term success of the sport.

Press Release from The British National Stud

Heather Morkel +27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email heather@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

NATIONAL STUD AND CHILDWICK TRUST PARTNER WITH SUMMERHILL

2011 Graduates from the Al Maktoum School of Management Excellence
(Photo : Gareth du Plessis)

AL MAKTOUM
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE
Summerhill Stud, Mooi River, South Africa

SPORTING POST - The National Stud and The Childwick Trust, have announced their partnership with a leading South African breeding operation; Mick Goss’s Summerhill Stud, home to the Al Maktoum School of Management Excellence, which has been running successful bloodstock courses in South Africa for over 20 years. The three organisations have agreed a system for one School of Excellence graduate to have a fully funded place on the internationally renowned Diploma in Stud Practice and Management run annually at The National Stud.

The scholarship will provide the graduate from the School of Excellence with the opportunity to further their career by experiencing a Northern Hemisphere season, attaining internationally renowned qualifications and managerial skills at the heart of the British Thoroughbred breeding industry. The Diploma in Stud Practice and Management is recognised globally, with 24 students a year experiencing a combination of practical thoroughbred stud work with seminars and academic lectures during the five month residential course starting in January 2012.

The Childwick Trust will fund a scholarship covering the costs of the successful applicant attending the Diploma programme. A number of the School’s students come from disadvantaged communities from all over South Africa and training at the School of Excellence was established to improve young people’s opportunities and skills within the Thoroughbred breeding industry.

Brian O’Rourke, Managing Director at The National Stud, explained, “We’re delighted to be working with the School of Excellence and Summerhill Stud to offer a successful graduate the opportunity to study with us here at The National Stud in Newmarket. With the great support of the Childwick Trust Scholarship, the South African student will join the other Diploma students working alongside our experienced Stud staff during the breeding season and take advantage of the excellent teaching facilities in the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre and stay in the recently extended and refurbished ensuite student accommodation at Westbrook House. We hope that the scholarship sets precedence for future opportunities with other countries and similar education initiatives in the years to come.”

Mick Goss from Summerhill Stud and the Al Maktoum School of Excellence, commented: “Our young and enthusiastic students are keen horse people, who display an unusual potential and connectivity with the world of racing and we’re delighted to be offering one of our graduates the opportunity to study with The National Stud. We believe the overseas placement will develop a management focused role and fast-track our graduate into a world they might never have accessed without the scholarship, with the hope that they bring their experiences back to fellow students at home.”

Anthony Cane, Trustee of The Childwick Trust, explained: “Horseracing has an incredibly rich heritage in Britain and we wanted to be part of bringing this learning experience to a South African graduate for the first time. We’ve been active in South Africa since the establishment of The Jim Joel Education and Training Fund in Johannesburg during the late 1980’s and we look forward to working with The National Stud, to bring the education excellence of the Northern and Southern hemispheres together. We appreciate that it is not the language you speak with horses, instead the skills you need are universal and the most important attribute is passion, something that we’re sure the chosen graduate will bring in abundance.”

Extract from www.sportingpost.co.za

Heather Morkel +27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email heather@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za