We all know how actions have consequences ….

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We all know how actions have consequences ….
  November 14 2011

So, how did one of the darkest moments in South African history – over 50 years ago – almost result in there being no JET MASTER (as we know him) in the South African stud book?

There are so many “what if” stories that have defined the Thoroughbred breed; Every single great horse bred, owes (or owed) his or her existence to actions and decisions made by owners and breeders of their antecedents.

Matings are an important decision for any breeder to have to make – but there are many more factors other than matings, which require action, and depending on the route chosen, the breed – the entire breed – can take the direction which we know to have happened … or, another, which would have resulted from a different response being taken when certain decisions have to be made!

So, what does all of this historical decision-making have to do with South Africa’s reigning multiple-Champion Sire JET MASTER?

21st March 1960. A genteel Scotswoman was in a quandary: Two mares which she had bought in England had just arrived by ship in South Africa and were to become the foundation mares of her new stud which she was going to establish on the South African farm, which, in 1959, she had inherited (together with her brother and sister) from her uncle.

Her dilemma? This was the same day on which South Africa was jolted to international pariah status – it was the day if the infamous ‘Sharpeville Massacre’.

What to do? Leave her “precious” mares (bought with a £2,000 legacy) on-board ship and return them to England, giving up her dream of breeding in South Africa? … or, ‘chin up’ and carry on regardless?

Miss Jean Butter made her decision, and the two mares – JOY’S DELIGHT (GB) and CATALPA (GB), disembarked to become the foundation mares of her Willow Tree Stud near Addo in the Sunday’s River Valley.

              JOY'S DELIGHT (GB) photographed at Willow Tree Stud in 1974 at the age of nineteen

Jean’s desire to breed racehorses had come about at a very early age. At the age of six she cut out a photograph of a “strangely blotched grey horse”, and upon enquiring who it was, was informed “it is The Tetrarch!”. No doubt her visits to her cousin’s stud farm in Ireland helped kindle her interest – her cousin being Tom Laidlaw, and his stud Abbey Lodge – breeders of Aboyeur the winner of the controversial 1913 Epsom Derby. A further possible influence was that her brother Peter Butter was married to a daughter of Lady Zia Wernher, the breeder and owner of English Triple Crown (Fillies) winner Meld and Epsom Derby winner Charlottown.

JOY’S DELIGHT’s second foal, and her first colt, foaled in 1963, was the DRUM BEAT (GB) colt JOLLY DRUMMER who had a highly successful sprinting career spanning five seasons, in which he won 13 races including the African Breeders’ Plate, Natal Free H., Durban Merchants H., and the National Sprint Champion S. amongst others.

      JOLLY DRUMMER (Drum Beat - Joy's Delight) - photographed at Mallorca Stud in 1974

Retired to stud in the Natal midlands in 1970, he received minimal support and, as a consequence, limited results. However, in 1978 his daughter JOLLY LAUGHTER was born – and, after a brief racing career in which she won once as a 2-year-old, she was retired to stud – and, in due course, become the granddam of multiple Champion, Horse of the Year, and now five-time Champion Sire JET MASTER.

It is well over twenty years since Jean Butter passed away but she would have been extremely proud that, in her own small way, her venture into breeding Thoroughbreds in Africa played an integral part in the genetic compilation that is JET MASTER.

But ….. “what if” the single, mild-mannered, almost timid, Scotswoman, had not had the fortitude to brave out the dark continent on one of it’s darkest days? Many people’s lives would be very different from what they are, and the stud book would look somewhat different: Just another fascinating aspect to the wonderful world of the Thoroughbred horse!

JET MASTER

  JET MASTER - South Africa's Champion Sire for the past five seasons

                  JET MASTER's pedigree with JOY'S DELIGHT highlighted

  7 comments on:

 “We all know how actions have consequences ….”

    Jimmy Lithgow's avatar Jimmy Lithgow says:
    November 14, 2011 at 22:38

    Hi Alistair.

    Lovely stuff for inclusion in Aidan’s history of SA racing and breeding, which will feature a section on Jet Master. I have already made a 3-part programme on Jet Master, which has been flighted several times on Tellytrack, but I did not have this valuable information, and also had to search high and low for a photograph of Jolly Drummer.

    Regards

    Jimmy Lithgow
  

  Reply
        Alistair Brown's avatar Alistair Brown says:
        November 15, 2011 at 11:56

        Good morning Jimmy, Thanks for the comment – glad you enjoyed the posting! Get back to me about anything you might require from the past – just might be able to oblige.

        best,
        Alistair


        Reply
    Nicky Bartlett's avatar Nicky Bartlett says:
    November 15, 2011 at 11:17

    What a great loss, condolences to all the connections.
    Reply
        Alistair Brown's avatar Alistair Brown says:
        November 15, 2011 at 11:54

        Hi Nicky, yes, the news overnight that JET MASTER had died was indeed sad – and it is a great loss for the South African breeding industry.

        Regards,
        Alistair


        Reply
    Jimmy Lithgow's avatar Jimmy Lithgow says:
    November 15, 2011 at 11:57

    What a tragedy for all concerned and what a blow to the SA breeding industry.

    much of this coming Monday night’s “Inside Racing” show on Tellytrack will be devoted to Jet Master.
    Reply
    Janet Harding's avatar Janet Harding says:
    November 15, 2011 at 20:42

    Always a heart break when a statesman dies but what a legacy he will leave behind. Fascinating article, Alistair, thank you for sharing


    Reply
        Alistair Brown's avatar Alistair Brown says:
        November 16, 2011 at 09:43

        Thanks Janet! Lovely to hear from you – as always 🙂

 

 

 

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