Stan Diesel dies in motorbike accident

Stan Diesel, long-time Turffontein track manager and Phumelela’s General Manager Racing Operations until his retirement last year, died in a motor bike accident on his way back from the Cape on Monday. He would have turned 66 tomorrow.

Diesel was employed on a contract basis by Phumelela to help out at its various racecourses.

Long-time colleague and friend Don Borchers said: “It’s a very sad thing that’s happened.”

According to Borchers, Diesel started out as the horticulturist at Gosforth Park Racecourse in Germiston, “doing the gardens and helping Roy Casey with the track.

“When John Alexander moved across to Turffontein as CEO, he persuaded Stan to come across with him to do the gardens and help me with the tracks. A few years later, John moved me more into the buildings and Stan took responsibility for the tracks.”

When Phumelela took over running horseracing in the region Borchers became General Manager Racing Operations, leaving Diesel in charge of the Turffontein track.

On Borchers’ retirement, Diesel was given the position with the track managers at Turffontein, the Vaal, Randjesfontein, Kimberley and the Eastern Cape tracks falling under his supervision.

“Stan was the most knowledgeable track manager I have ever had the privilege of working with,” said former Phumelela horseracing executive Patrick Davis.

Diesel leaves his wife Michelle, sons Neil and Rick, step children Shane and Samantha and two grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.