Hambletonian Society names new Director

At the recent harness racing Winter Meeting of the Directors of the Hambletonian Society, Steve H. Stewart of Hunterton Farm was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Society Board.

In addition, the board approved the conditions of Hambletonian No. 100, the stake for foals of 2022 to be raced in 2025, and Breeders Crown No. 38 conditions. Both stakes will take yearling payments on May 15, 2023.

Stewart, 64, of Paris, KY, and his wife, Cindy, have grown a former tobacco farm in Lexington to a burgeoning Standardbred nursery that now encompasses over 900 acres, including the historic rolling hills of Stoner Creek Stud and Woodlawn Farm. The Stewarts have produced some of the highest-priced yearlings and champion racehorses of the past decade.

As an individual breeder, the Stewarts ranked third in 2022 in both wins and earnings, behind mega-breeders Hanover Shoe Farms and Winbak Farm, with $10.9 million in purse earnings from just 243 starters. They were also named New Jersey Breeder of the Year in 2022.

The Stewarts have two Hambletonian champions to their credit, Forbidden Trade (2019) and Trixton (2014); back-to-back Mohawk Million winners in Venerable (2021) and Venerate (2020); 2021 Hambletonian Maturity winner Beads, who recently won the Prix de Luxembourg at Vincennes in Paris; Tactical Landing, an $800,000 yearling who Stewart bred and retained part-ownership in who went on to win a Hambletonian elim, Breeders Crown and TVG Final, and the dazzling filly Mission Brief, who racked up $1.5 million and world and track speed records during her spectacular career.

Stewart also runs Hunterton Sales Agency, which prepares and markets the yearlings they raise. With more than 200 mares to manage, the Stewarts sells over 150 yearlings at sales across North America.

“On behalf of the Hambletonian Society, we welcome the addition of Steve Stewart to the Hambletonian Society board and look forward to his future contributions.  Steve brings decades of harness industry knowledge and an ability to accentuate the positive in almost any situation,” said John Campbell, president and CEO of the Society.

The Hambletonian Society is a non-profit organization formed in 1924 to sponsor the race for which it was named, the Hambletonian Stake. The Society’s mission is to encourage and support the breeding of Standardbred horses through the development, administration and promotion of harness racing stakes, early-closing races and other special events.

The Hambletonian Society services 153 of harness racing’s richest and most prestigious events at 13 different tracks, including harness racing’s most prominent race, the Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters, its filly division, the Hambletonian Oaks and the sport’s championship series, the Breeders Crown. The organization was responsible for the disbursement of more than $23 million in purses last year.

by Moira Fanning, for the Hambletonian Society