The Stories Behind Owners’ Colours: Ryan Landy

When King’s Quest splashed home at wet Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in late November, it represented owner Ryan Landy’s first winner, and a first in his eye-catching silks. That winner came for the Candice Bass-Robinson stable, but soon more success was to follow.

Sohot Sowhat came out and won her maiden at the second attempt just three days before Christmas and then she followed that up with another win in mid-January for Lucinda Woodruff. She too was wearing the silks which have an interesting back story.

Landy is a South African who lives in the United States, but it’s his connection with his motherland which has him involved in owning here.

Landy’s colours are officially registered as white, neon yellow and dark orange star, white and navy checked sleeves and dark orange cap.

“It’s true what they say that you can take the boykie out of South Africa but you can’t take South Africa out of the boykie. I grew up in South Africa and although the United States is now home – after all, I have been here for 31 years! – South Africa remains in my heart,” he says.

“That’s where the concept of my colours came from. I wanted to represent my life phases in my colours. I chose the star as the core/heart of the design and wanted to incorporate the South African flag colours in it, but couldn’t get a clean look, so settled on neon yellow for its bright and energetic visuals to represent South Africa. 

“I then went with the quintessential red, white and blue to represent the USA and to fuse both worlds together and added the red border to the star. I also wanted to pay homage to the great Secretariat, so included the checked sleeve pattern.”

So, there you have it. A nod to both South Africa and the United States and the result is that you have a set of silks which are new to the racetrack, and which have been quick to make an impact!