Page 79 - 18 January 2013

Bielau Oaks takes pride in their broodmare band and the foals they have produced
photos courtesy Bielau Oaks
Living Out The
Daughters carry on their father’s dream at Bielau Oaks Ranch.
Legacy
Like many racehorse owners and breeders, Larry Johnston lived two lives. By day he ran a successful heavy equipment company in the oil industry; after hours, he nurtured his passion for horses. Quarter
Horses. Fast Quarter Horses.
“When we were little he dabbled in the race industry with
allowance and claiming-type horses,” said his oldest daughter, Monica Williams, 43, who stepped into her father’s shoes as Director of Bielau Oaks after Larry’s sudden death in May 2010. “He wanted us to be barrel racers or show or something, but it was never our interest to do anything but the racehorses.”
Bielau Oaks now serves as the vehicle for Larry’s four daughters to keep their father’s memory alive and advance his dream of breeding fine, fast racing Quarter Horses.
A YOUNG ENTERPRISE
Monica isn’t sure of the “aha moment” when her dad conceived the idea of Bielau Oaks, but she recalled him expressing interest when
by Diane Rice
she and her now-ex-husband moved to Weimar to raise their son and daughter near family in small-town Texas. “Dad decided he was getting older and wanted to settle down and pursue his dream,” Monica said.
Monica’s youngest sister, Lacy Johnston, owns a clothing store and also lives nearby, so the area, centrally located between Houston, Austin and San Antonio, seemed the natural location for Larry to embark on his breeding and racing operation.
He bought the property in Weimar in 2006, and began building barns and buying broodmares in 2007.“I thought it was risky on the scale he was talking about,” Monica said. “I decided he needed support and help.” Bringing her childhood experience, her interest
SPEEDHORSE, January 18, 2013 77