Steve and Cindy Stewart established Hunterton Farm more than 40 years ago with a modest amount of land and a handful of broodmares. In its earliest years, the Stewarts decided to concentrate on putting together a quality broodmare band and skip chasing stallions to stand at stud. That philosophy, and confidence in the industry, has served Hunterton Farm well. 

Today Hunterton is one harness racing’s leading Standardbred nurseries, raising and breeding the sport’s champions on approximately 1,000 acres in the heart of central Kentucky horse country. Hunterton Farm now breeds about 250 mares each year and the list of resident mares is a Who’s Who of top producers. 

It’s a threeyear process for breeders to see the fruits of their labor, and it can be a rollercoaster process. So when horses bred and/or raised by Hunterton Farm make it to the winner’s circle on a big stakes day, the Stewarts are often among those gathered around the horse, posing for photos. Steve and Cindy were standing in the Meadowlands winner’s circle on Nov. 26 when Zanatta and El Rey won the Three Diamonds and Governor’s Cup, respectively. Hunterton Sales Agency sold Zanatta for breeder Anders Strom’s Courant AB and raised El Rey for Myron and Stephanie Bell’s Riverview Breeding. 

In addition to Zanatta and El Rey, Hunterton Farm graduates excelling on the track during the 2022 racing season included the phenomenal filly Joviality S 3,1:50.2 ($1,978,55), who defeated the colts in the Yonkers Trot; Rebuff 3,1:49.4 ($962,490), the fastest 3yearold trotting colt of the year and winner of the Kentucky Futurity and an elimination of the Hambletonian; and Walner Payton 2,1:52.2 ($675,214), a New Jersey Sires Stakes champion and Breeders Crown runnerup in 2022. 

The Stewarts bred Rebuff and Walner Payton in partnership and they continue to acquire the kinds of mares that will ensure Hunterton has a very good chance to produce future generations of champions. Hunterton is honored to add the trotting mare When Dovescry to its broodmare band. The farm acquired a small interest in the $2million multiple stakes winner from owner John Lengacher. 

Hunterton was also very active at the November Harrisburg auction, purchasing the two highpriced mares at the sale: Selfie Queen and Fire Start Hanover. Hunterton and partners purchased Selfie Queen 3,1:51.1 ($479,882), a daughter of Muscle Hill who hails from the maternal family of the incomparable matron Amour Angus, dam of Andover Hall, Angus Hall, Conway Hall and Emilie Cas El, the dam of Huntertonbred Hambletonian winner Trixton. Fire Start Hanover p,3,1:49 ($1,273,448) won Dan Patch divisional honors at age two and at age three captured the Fan Hanover Stakes. Her pedigree is impressive as well: she is a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and from the maternal line that has produced the $2 milliondollar winners Glowing Report and Well Said. 

At the 2022 yearling sales, Hunterton’s results were evidence of the farm’s commitment to quality. 

Hunterton Sales Agency sold 155 horses at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and Standardbred Horse Sale yearling auction in Harrisburg. Hunterton Sales Agency sold more than $11 million in yearlings at the two venues and in Lexington generated an amazing average price of more than $100,000. 

On opening night at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Hunterton’s yearling Epoch, a Chapter Sevensired filly and the fourth foal of the prolific Jolene Jolene, sold for $725,000, which turned out to be the highest price for a yearling sold at any sale in 2022. During the second sale session in Lexington, a Huntertonconsigned colt from the first crop by Greenshoe brought $500,000. 

Hunterton has plenty of reasons to look forward to its 2023 yearling sale. Its consignments will include the following: 

• 10 by Walner, led by a halfbrother to Double Deceiver 3,1:50.2’22 ($770,954) 
• 11 by Muscle Hill, led by a colt from Woodside Charm 2,1:53f ($531,658) 
• 14 by Tactical Landing, led by a filly from Maven 4,1:51.4h ($2,001,461) 
• 7 by Tall Dark Stranger, led by a filly from Put On A Show p,1:47.3 ($2,406,628), 

        already the dam of Meadowlands Pace winner Best In Show 

• 6 by Gimpanzee, led by: Fillies from Jolene Jolene, Mission Brief, Evident Beauty 

The dawn of a new breeding season is upon us, and with it the anticipation of great racehorses to come. Steve and Cindy would like to thank their partners and clients for their support and trust each year. As the saying goes, “when you see a turtle on the top of a fence post, chances are he didn’t get there on his own.”