Bridget Oppenheimer dies

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

OCTOBER 25, 2013

Bridget Oppenheimer dies

by James Trotter

Bridget Oppenheimer, a leading Thoroughbred owner and breeder in South Africa

for more than 40 years, has passed away at the age of 92. Oppenheimer was one of

the great icons of South African racing, and was affectionately referred to as

"Queen" or "Queen Mum" of South African racing.

Bridget's late husband, Harry Oppenheimer, was one of the world's wealthiest

men, and was chairman of both De Beers and Anglo American Corporation for over a

quarter of a century. Together Harry and Bridget shared a love of horse racing

and bred horses since 1945 at their Mauritzfontein Stud, based near Kimberley in

South Africa.

The couple owned a number of successful racehorses and together won Africa's

greatest race, the Durban July, on four occasions, the first of these in 1959

with Tiger Fish and most recently with Spanish Galliard in 1992. Since Harry's

passing in August 2000, Bridget has gone on to win the Durban July on a further

two occasions, with Greys Inn and Hunting Tower. Greys Inn would later represent

her in Group 1 races in Dubai, Hong Kong and Australia, including a run in the

Melbourne Cup.

The twilight years of Bridget Oppenheimer's racing involvement would arguably

be her greatest, predominantly through the success of her stallion Fort Wood.

Imported in 1994 from France, Fort Wood has sired three Horses of the Year and

has been champion sire in South Africa on two occasions.

His very first runner was Horse Chestnut, the best horse the Oppenheimers

would ever own, and arguably the best horse in South African history. Horse

Chestnut would win the South African Triple Crown and the J&B Met -- the

country's second biggest race -- by eight lengths. He was shipped to the U.S. in

2000 where he won the Broward H. (G3) by six lengths on his American debut

before breaking down prepping for the Donn H. (G1) and Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).

Mrs. Oppenheimer's final year of racing ended on a high with her filly Cherry

on the Top winning the Triple Tiara and being crowned South African champion

three-year-old filly. Bridget Oppenheimer, together with her husband Harry, will

go down as all-time greats of the sport of horse racing.