End of an era for Yirribee Pacing Stud

Rod Woodhouse said a desire to spend more time with his family was the reason behind his decision to sell his hugely successful harness racing stud, Yirribee Pacing Stud.

“Old age has got me. I’ve got four kids and none of them are interested in taking over. They’re happy with what they are doing. I’d rather do it now while I’m still healthy,” he said.

Woodhouse was quick to dismiss speculation his decision was prompted by an impending stallion levy.

“The stallion levy got me thinking, but not for what you think. I think it would be a great thing,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of colonial stallions and I think it’s going to be a shot in the arm for the industry. It made me think about going another four or five years.

“But I haven’t seen my grandkids. I want to see Sam play footy and Katie ride. You can’t have it all ways.

“I’m the first to say when the levy was first mentioned, I was against it.

“But when you stop and think about it, we should’ve done it 15-20 years ago and we’d be in a better place as an industry.

“When I thought about it, over the past 10 years we’ve probably sent hundreds of millions of dollars offshore and it’s just not sustainable. If we continue to do that, we’ll end-up down the gurgler and won’t have an industry.

“There’s going to be some short-term pain for long term gain.”

Woodhouse started Yirribee Stud with the late Ian Walsh in 1986 and had success with foundation stallion Jeremy Lobell, who sired Jofess, who became a Grand Circuit star and won the 2004 Perth Inter Dominion, 2002 Victoria Cup and 2002 Treuer Memorial.

Other stallions to have been on the Yirribee roster include Genghis Khan, Village Jasper, Armbro Operative, Armbro Aussie and many others.

“We’ve been very fortunate to stand some very well credentialled stallions,” Woodhouse said.

“And I’m rapt in the stallions we’re standing now and that’s why I’ve made a commitment to the owners of the stallions that I’ll let know on May 21 because if I don’t sell by then I’ll go again next year because they need some certainty over where to stand their stallions.”

Watch Adam Hamilton’s full video interview with Rod Woodhouse below:

From Harness Racing Australia