Why Ironhorse Stallions and Why New York?
Ironhorse Stallions & Ironhorse Racing Stable Secure Long-Term Home at Former Stone Bridge Farm in Schuylerville, NY
Schuylerville, NY – [Oct 1, 2025] — Ironhorse Stallions and Ironhorse Racing Stable proudly announce that they have entered into a long-term agreement to establish a permanent base of operations at the former Stone Bridge Farm Training Center in Schuylerville, New York. This milestone move creates a uniquely integrated equine hub—breeding, foaling, raising, and race preparation all under one roof—right in the heart of New York’s storied Thoroughbred region.
A Strategic Home for New York Breeding & Racing
The Schuylerville property, just minutes from Saratoga Springs, offers world-class farmland, barns, training facilities, and paddocks. By anchoring their operation in-state, Ironhorse strengthens New York’s Thoroughbred breeding program—helping retain valuable mares and foals, creating jobs, and keeping investment dollars local.
While Kentucky and Florida will always play vital roles in the development of top racehorses, Ironhorse’s goal is to ensure that New York breeders and owners have every opportunity to keep their mares and foals in state whenever possible, maximizing the benefits of New York’s incentive programs and enriching its racing scene.
Birth-to-Racetrack Integration
With a mare band of 25+ and a growing roster of in-house stallions, the integrated Ironhorse operation now occupies a unique position in the marketplace: the ability to produce its own horses entirely in-house, from conception to the starting gate. Stallions can be bred to the farm’s mares, foals are born and raised on site, and young stock can be pre-trained and readied for the races without ever leaving the property. This vertical integration allows complete oversight of quality and care, ensuring consistency from breeding shed to winner’s circle.
Leadership Perspectives
Harlan Malter, Managing Partner of Ironhorse Stallions and Ironhorse Racing Stable, highlighted the broader significance of the move:
“This location isn’t just a facility—it’s a statement. To be able to breed, foal, raise, and campaign in one unified base is a dream for any stallion and racing operation. It allows us to keep breeding capital, talent, and energy right here in New York, while continuing to collaborate with the important programs in Kentucky and Florida. This farm gives breeders and owners every reason to stay, and it shows that world-class breeding and race horse development can thrive right here on home turf.”
John Dowd, who will be on-site managing operations, breeding shed and bloodstock, added:
“I’ve spent my career working across farms, tracks, and sales, and I know how critical it is to offer breeders a complete program. With this facility we can stand stallions, manage our mares, and raise top-class foals that never have to leave the state. New York breeders gain a true cradle-to-track solution while continuing to benefit from the broader national industry.”
Malter concluded with a strong message of commitment:
“This is about John and my belief and commitment to New York’s breeding and racing industry. I said last year we were doubling down on this state as home for our stallion operation, now this year our racing operation, I guess that means we are quadrupeling down!”
Synergy for the State Program
Ironhorse’s integrated approach provides:
* Standing premier stallions in New York to attract quality mares and capitalize on state breeder incentives
* A local option for mares that might otherwise ship to Kentucky, ensuring more foals are conceived and born in New York
* Foaling and raising offspring in-state, reducing the need to send all young horses to Florida or other regions
* Training and prepping those horses for the track within the same facility, keeping investment and employment opportunities in New York
Every mare bred and foal raised locally supports New York’s economy, enhances the state-bred program, and strengthens the foundation of New York’s racing future.
About Ironhorse Stallions & Ironhorse Racing Stable
Ironhorse Stallions is dedicated to developing durable, marketable, and high-performing racehorses rooted in the New York breeding program. Their foundation stallion, Bucchero, has already demonstrated elite performance, including producing Grade 1 winner Book’em Danno.
Ironhorse Racing Stable, founded and led by Harlan Malter, has campaigned horses across national and international circuits, including Breeders’ Cup and Royal Ascot races, and is known for an ownership model where partners never pay a mark up and Ironhorse only makes money when their horses succeed on the track.
Harlan Malter - Managing Partner
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Harlan Malter has been involved in the thoroughbred industry since 2007 as an owner, breeder, stallion owner/manager and syndicate manager. The founder and managing partner of Ironhorse Racing Stable, Harlan has campaigned, with his partners, horses in races from the Breeders’ Cup to Royal Ascot and all types of races in between.
Instrumental in standing Bucchero first in Florida and now in New York, Malter has managed every aspect of Bucchero’s career from racing to stud. An entrepreneur at heart, Harlan has founded 3 successful businesses and brings enthusiasm and innovation to Ironhorse Stallions.
A college baseball player during his years at Columbia University (the impetus of the name Ironhorse, in honor of Columbia baseball player Lou Gehrig), Harlan views the horse business as a team sport and highly values the deep network of equine professionals, breeders and partners that he has worked with during his years in the sport.
John Dowd - Bloodstock / Operations
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
John Dowd has spent a lifetime in horse racing working in almost every aspect of the business. Born and raised on a farm, John is a second generation horsemen who trained horses for 21 years leading him to both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup. After retiring from training, Dowd moved to Ocala where he worked for Adena Springs, Woodford Thoroughbreds and OBS.
Branching out on his own as a bloodstock agent, John has bought multiple Graded Stakes winners for some of the top owners and groups in the game. Having built up a large network of industry participants, John brings both operational expertise and extensive horse racing experience to his role at Ironhorse Stallions.
John will be on site for the majority of the breeding season as he splits time between his residence in Florida and his new role at Ironhorse Stallions.