John jokes that “one could match anything with Lyphard those days and he threw you a champion’’, but adds: “How things have changed. “He was a good racehorse in France but he was pushed as a two-year-old and injured himself.’’ He was imported to South Africa and had a big influence at stud, becoming a top sire and champion broodmare sire. Interestingly, he also bred and raised Elliodor, a colt by Lyphard from the Busted mare Ellida. It is here where his already formidable base of knowledge started to surface and he takes the credit for planning the mating and breeding English Oaks winner Pia, a total outcross, and French 2000 Guineas winner Caro and German Derby winner Marduk. John worked for Countess Bathiyani in Germany and later at Artur Pfaff’s breeding establishment in France. I wonder how much better he could have been if he’d been based elsewhere.’’Ī spell overseas followed between 19. “The soil there was sour but they bred plenty of winners because they stood the great Royal Prerogative. The Middelburg farm was sold and John moved to Broadlands Stud at Somerset West.
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I still believe there is potential for a revival of the area as a prime breeding region.’’ It has the best soil – there is a good PH balance and good water. John also discovered the many advantages of the dry Northern Cape region and explains: “The Karoo is horse country. He imparted his knowledge to his son and John says fondly: “He taught me almost everything I know about horses.’’ In his time as a breeder George bred a Met winner, Marion Island, and Royal Warrant, who won the Summer Cup. Of Russian descent, George marched to the beat of his own drum, but was a supreme horseman and his friends nick-named him “The Russian’’.
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John grew up on a Middelburg, Karoo farm at a time his father George was a leading breeder.
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He gives each young horse a conformation rating, scoring to a maximum of 10, compares it to the rating of his inspection partners to reach a final assessment. John travels to stud farms around the country with a rating-system he has refined over many years. Presently, he and Kerry Jack are in charge of yearling inspections for CTS, a function he performed for the TBA too, for many years. Minus his pipe these days, John still operates in his own way and below the radar, but his knowledge remains fully accessible and invaluable to the industry and his private clients. His straw hat, khaki shirt and pipe have popped up for decades at stud farms, horse auctions and race meetings at which he most often strays away from the crowd in the direction of the nearest horse. John is unassuming and quiet and has never sought recognition for his lifetime of serving the thoroughbred industry. Everyone, somehow, in some way, affects one another.” Kaeli Kramer’s 2008 Valedictory Speech.John Kramer, the seasoned breeder, owner, pedigree guru and conformation expert, celebrates his 80 th birthday today, and we look back on the colourful career of a man who is as active in the industry today as he was 50 years ago. “ As knowledge, responsibility and courage light our way, so does kindness. The Foundation was created in June 2009 to continue the good work that Kaeli started, and to begin the work about which she dreamed. We also rehabilitate and re-home horses at risk. The mission of the Kaeli Kramer Foundation is to promote humane education and to provide peaceful sanctuary for elderly and infirm horses who have spent their lives working. She was deeply concerned about the compassionate treatment of all animals and because of this conviction she was a vegetarian. She was an avid equestrian and volunteered in therapeutic riding programs. Kaeli loved all animals and aspired to be an equine veterinarian. It is a living tribute to the goodness within her and within each of us. The Foundation honors the life of this extraordinary young woman. Kind and generous, intellectually curious and respectful, Kaeli Sara Kramer was a passionate animal advocate and an avid equestrian who spread light wherever she went.