Patricia Youngman's Pepper Oaks Farm will no longer operate as a commercial boarding and breeding facility. The farm, located near Santa Ynez, Calif., will instead serve as the base of operations for Youngman's horses. Pepper Oaks will continue to stand major California stallion Swiss Yodeler, whose success has been of major importance in making the decision to change business models.The cutback in services will allow Youngman to focus on two keys goals: development and expansion of her own racing operation and the quest to see a national marketing campaign established that encourages people to go to the races."The constraints of focusing attention on an operation of this size has restricted my own ability to attend the races with friends and really share in the joy," Youngman said. "I miss being around the track--watching my own horses and spending time walking the fields looking at foals. I'm at a point in my life where I want to devote my full attention to my horses and continue to promote the idea of getting people to the races, Our "Go to the Races" campaign has generated input, and I believe the future of racing must be protected and supported from within."
Swiss Yodeler, who has stood his entire career at Pepper Oaks, is California's third-leading sire by 2006 progeny earnings. He also ranks third nationally by 2-year-old progeny earnings this year. Swiss Yodeler, by Eastern Echo out of the Raja Baba mare Drapeau, scored his major win in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I).
