A TROTTING HORSE NAMED ‘YALLOURN’
Over the past few years, serious efforts have been made to unearth the background information surrounding a trotting horse named ‘Yallourn.’

Newspaper articles indicate that Yallourn raced between 1948 and 1953. Following substantial research and with the kind help of various people associated with Harness Racing Australia, the following facts regarding the pacer, named Yallourn, have been established:-
• Yallourn, a bay colt, was foaled in 1944. The naming of the foal remains a puzzle; and it may have been a ‘play on words’ or, simply, a well-liked place name (which is common in naming horses).
• Yallourn’s Sire was Lawn Derby (Australian bred-1930-pictured below) and the Dam was Wiluna (Australian bred -1932). Lawn Derby was hailed in the late 1930’s as Australia’s coming champion…‘beautiful to behold, and in full flight, his gliding action could be likened to something on the wing.’ Source: Harnessbred: ‘Free Legged Marvels’ website.
• The breeder’s name was listed as Mr Les Hay of Cobram, Victoria…
“the breeder’s name is L H (Les) HAY, Victoria; and it appears he maintained ownership of the horse over the years-as his name is listed in the ‘ads’ for Yallourn as a sire in 1952 and again in 1958.” Source: Kathy Gebert of Harness Racing Australia.
• It is possible to trace the pedigree of Yallourn through six generations of horses, to about the 1880’s. Readers interested in the bloodline of Yallourn may like to visit : https://classicfamilies.net/
• It is known that in the races which Yallourn won (see below) the owner was listed as Mr R.W. Stewart.

Mr Stewart –The Owner of Yallourn
• In the registered races that Yallourn won, the trainer was Jack Baron Junior (see below). His father, Jack Senior, was a prominent horse dealer in the 1930’s.

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