Prominent American businessman John C. Malone and his wife Leslie have purchased renowned Thoroughbred nursery Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla.
The property and its operations have been turned over to the new ownership effective Aug. 1.
Malone is chairman of Liberty Media Corp. based in Englewood, Colo., and Leslie is a lifelong horse lover, equestrian, and major supporter of the United States Olympic Dressage Team.
"We are all very excited about the future of the farm," said longtime Bridlewood general manager George Isaacs. "The Malones will be great stewards of the property, and are going to dedicate the resources to allow us to do what we do best: breed, raise, sell, and go to the races with their horses."
Built in 1976 by the late Arthur I. Appleton, Bridlewood Farm has been a staple in the Florida Thoroughbred industry and a perennial leading breeder in North America. Over the past 37 years, the farm has bred more than 100 stakes winners, including 12 grade I winners, and numerous Florida champions such as Jolie's Halo, Forbidden Apple, Wild Event, Southern Image , David Junior, Eden's Moon, and more.
Bridlewood also has raised and trained several outside horses, most notably 2004 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Smarty Jones . It's also been home to such blue-hen mares as North Of Eden, dam of grade I winners Paradise Creek, Wild Event, and Forbidden Apple; and granddam to such current top performers as grade I winner Eden's Moon.
Bridlewood has had a long and prominent stallion operation, standing such leading Florida sires as Silver Buck, Jolie's Halo, My Gallant, Buckaroo, Skip Trial, Stormy Atlantic , and Halo's Image. Currently, Bridlewood is home to 10 active stallions, including Florida's reigning champion sire Put It Back.