Last Updated: March 26th, 2006
Copyright 2006 WHHA
Wisconsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame
Richard Yohn
Inducted 2002
Harness racing was never more than a hobby for Dick Yohn, who once was the biggest turkey farmer in Wisconsin. Dick bought his first horse in the 1940's and laid out a half-mile track in a field to race against his neighbor. With that start on the farm track, next came racing at the county fairs and, in 1948, Dick's first good horse Jane Ruby hit the racing circuit. During these last years in 1940, Dick hired a farmer from Randolph to hlep with the stable...Don Busse began working for Dick and went on to become one of the greatest drivers in the sport. Dick continued racing and joined forces with his son Rober in 1974.
They dominated one of the biggest races at Sportsman's Park by winning back-to-back Phil Langley Memorials in 1978 and 1979. Daryl Busse drove the Yohn owned Prairie Walnut to victory in the $105,250 stake and repeated the next year with Prairie Badger in the $110,750 event. What an accomplishment for this Wisconsin stable. Their "homebreds" did amazing things for the Yohn stable that already was well-known producer Prairie Nancy in the Wisocnsin Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Dick started a racing legacy in WIsconsin that has continued into the new century.
Nominated by Joanne Gilbertson
The Wisconsin Harness Horse Association
