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Indonesia-born Fitriani Hay well-known name in top-class racing circles. She has been married to James Hay, for over 50 years and shares his passion for racing. Her long love for the industry has linked her to numerous high-profile horses and trainers over the last few decades. Mrs. Hay owns some of the best horses in the world, including the Gr. 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup winner, Redding Colliery.
In 2008, it was reported that the Hay family topped the list of buyers in South African yearling sales. In 2011, they bought shares in Irish Derby and Champion Stakes winner Cape Blanco, and Fame and Glory.
Royal Ascot regulars, the Hays were invited to Windsor for lunch and then joined the Royal procession in 2011, the same year that their four-time Group One-winning Fame and Glory also won the Ascot Gold Cup.
Here, Ten Furlongs speaks to the era-defining racehorse owner about her life’s journey in racing and her next most exciting racing moments.
Q: What is your earliest racing memory?
A: It is Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher. The Racecourse is just a 5 minutes drive from where we lived at that time. After we owned horses, we took trips to various training facilities to see the horses in their natural surroundings and meet the trainers and stables staff. Those were exciting and fun experiences.
There were also so many unbelievable fond memories of each first winner in various countries, including at the old Nad Al Sheba track in Dubai.
Q: Given the passion for racing you and your husband share, what do you think is the racehorse and race day that you both enjoy?
A: Our most beloved race day must be at Royal Ascot. Royal Ascot is the highlight and Britain’s most valuable race meeting in the summer; quintessentially British day out. In 2011, Fame and Glory won the famous Ascot Gold Cup.
Glorious Goodwood is another beloved summer race day for us with the fondest memory of Here Comes When winning the Group 1 Sussex Stakes in 2017. Next is Nad Al Sheba, then Meydan Race Day, and evening Dubai Racing Carnival. Azarole was our first winner in Dubai.
Q: As one of the world’s leading owners and breeders, what advice would you give to women trying to follow in your footsteps and take on the role of a professional owner?
A: I think it’s absolutely important to stay sensible and always remain willing to take the pain. It is so easy to get excited at horse sales. It is very important to have the right and honest adviser you can trust.
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Q: When you buy horses, what is your process? Do you select your horses from the catalogues, work with a bloodstock agent, or do you enjoy going to the sales?
A: I enjoyed going to the sales at first, but it didn’t take long to realize that it was more efficient to work with bloodstock agents instead. Our Racing Manager, Alex Cole, is an expert on pedigrees and leads the process with selected agents at the sales.
Q: Being a horsewoman is not easy, especially with family, social, and business pressures on your time, but your passion seems to have grown over decades. Today, you race across multiple continents. How do you ‘lean in’ to every facet of the intricate role of being an owner?
A: The best way is to let the professionals manage it for us.
Q: Which horseman or horsewoman inspires you?
A: Her Majesty the Queen. Initially, it was just about the glamour of the Royal Ascot meetings with the Queen’s arrival via Royal Procession. Then I learnt, through various media and directly from Her Majesty herself when, I was talking with her or listening to her conversation with my husband, Jim Hay about Her particular interest in Thoroughbred breeding, her considerable success on the racecourse, and her lifelong commitment to horse racing.