Jacey Botes never imagined racing would become his future. Although the sport had always been part of his family's world, it wasn't until he was 16 that he began to see it differently. Even as recently as Thursday (25 June 2026) at the Vaal, that unlikely journey reached another milestone when he partnered Mount Darwin to victory. SAHorseracing.COM caught up with the talentes youngster and chatted horseracing and his journey to finally land on top of the thoroughbred. 

His late uncle, Barend Botes, was the person who first opened the door to racing, although his father had encouraged him to consider the sport long before that.

"My dad suggested racing to me before, but I never really took it seriously until I was about 16," Botes said.

A visit to his uncle's stable in December 2022 proved to be the turning point. Having never ridden a horse before, he found himself in the saddle for the very first time under circumstances he still remembers vividly.

"I had no experience at all. It was my first time on a horse, and my uncle just chased the horse around the paddock while I was on it. That's basically how it all started."

Looking back, it is remarkable how quickly everything unfolded. That first ride sparked an interest that soon became a commitment, leading him to attend the Racing Academy selection camp where he secured a place in the 2023 apprentice intake.

The reality behind the dream

Being accepted into the academy was only the beginning. The excitement of earning a place was quickly replaced by the reality of life as an apprentice, where every day demanded commitment both physically and mentally.

Botes admitted the adjustment was difficult, particularly as one of the youngest apprentices in his intake.

"At the start, academy life was really tough. Waking up early, mucking out stables, riding, going to school, gym—it was exhausting. I was only 16 and one of the youngest in my intake."

What stands out most is that leaving home was never the biggest obstacle. Instead, it was learning to cope with the pace of an entirely new life.

"Being away from home wasn't the hard part. The real challenge was just trying to keep up with everything and adjust to this completely new environment."

That admission offers a glimpse into a side of racing that is rarely seen. Long before apprentices are judged on race days, they are tested by routines that demand maturity, resilience and consistency every single day.

Built by routine

Botes' development has been shaped by those routines, first at the Durban academy and now in Johannesburg.

His days in Durban regularly began before sunrise.

"A typical day in Durban, I'd wake up at 4 and be at the track by 5."

His workload became even greater while riding work for trainer Mr Miller.

"Last year I did a lot of work for Mr Miller, so I'd wake up at 3 to start working at 4."

The schedule remained relentless. Morning trackwork was followed by breakfast, classes, stable duties, simulator sessions, race reviews, riding and gym work before the day finally drew to a close.

Although his move to the Johannesburg academy has brought a slightly different structure, the demands remain much the same.

"At the Joburg academy, I wake up at 5 and start work at 6. Track finishes around 9:30. After that, Mondays are gym, Tuesdays we do simulator work, and Fridays are for race reviews."

The learning continues long after trackwork has finished, with afternoons spent gaining practical experience in professional racing yards.

"At 2 in the afternoon we go to trainers' stables to learn more. I go to Mr Pettigrew's yard, and I've learned a lot there. After that, we're done for the day."

Less than four years after climbing onto a horse for the first time, Botes is beginning to see those early mornings and demanding routines translate into results on the racecourse. His latest success aboard Mount Darwin was another reward for the work being done behind the scenes, and with 29 career winners already to his name, including 11 this season, the young apprentice continues to build on a journey that only truly began when he decided to give racing a chance.