Passion strong as ever after five decades

VICTORIAN breeder John Yeomans has seen a lot of harness racing ups and downs in his 50-year tenure as a horse owner and he is determined to keep working to support the industry he loves.

Yeomans, 82, received his first standardbred as a present from his wife Chris in 1976 and was hooked immediately.

“Chris is English and her family raced standardbreds in the UK,” Yeomans explained. “Her grandfather had pit ponies and used to deliver coal around London.

“She took me to a sale in March, 1976, and bought Misty Rowan for my birthday. She won 11 races and I was hooked.

“We love the industry and will keep breeding to help keep the numbers up for racing. We have six mares in foal this year.

“I hope others with a passion for the industry also maintain their interest in the sport.”

Homestead Farm has five yearlings in the 2025 APG Melbourne Yearling Sale on February 2, three of which trace back to the Yeomans’ amazing foundation mare Racy Rita, which won a Victoria Oaks and has produced 11 foals for the pair.

The Yeomans have bred from four generations of the family with great success, including outstanding youngster Im Smouldering (1.55.2, $327K) and Badge Of Honour (1.56.3, $105K).

“We bought Racy Rita from Gordon Rothaker and she won an Oaks for us. And we bred and raced Im Smouldering, which won a Sires’ Stakes,” Yeomans said.

“We have a filly and a colt from granddaughters of Racy Rita in the sale.

“The filly from Im Smouldering, which is a great granddaughter, has been withdrawn because she had paddock accident.

“She will heal but won’t be ready for the sale.”

The Yeomans have also had great success with Australian Oaks runner-up Indigenous, which has produced 11 winners, including star filly Lifeinthefastlane (1.54.7, $227K).

“We bought Indigenous from Graham and Helen Head through the yearling sale and she won 14 of her 21 starts,” Yeomans said.

“And she has continued on as a broodmare. She is in retirement now but she still gets special care. She loves a cuddle and is kept close to the house to keep an eye on her in her old age.

“We retained her as the last filly, Daughter of Darkness. Her daughters are also producing quality winners.”

Lifeinthefastlane has produced five winners, including Solid As A Rock (1.52.1, $221K), NSW Oaks runner-up Its Beaujolais (1.55.2, $190K) and two-year-old colts’ Breeders’ Crown runner-up Brutally Handsome (1.50.4, $190K).

Another daughter, The Dreamtime, is the dam of outstanding mare Its Ebonynivory (1.51.4, $255K).

The Yeomans will offer five yearlings in the Melbourne sale, including (Lot 56) a sister to Its Ebonynivory. The youngster is by American Ideal.

For full details of Homestead Farms entries and all yearlings in the 2025 Melbourne Yearling Sale please visit our Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!

• APG Media