Another historic win for Bridlewood Farm

Jockey Umberto Rispoli, wearing the distinctive Bridlewood Farm silks, celebrates guiding Journalism, which got his early training at the farm in Ocala, to a win in the May 17 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. [Photo by Skip Dickstein Photography]

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Posted May 20, 2025 | By JoAnn Guidry, Special to the Gazette

Carrying the distinctive big red apple racing silks of John and Leslie Malone’s Ocala-based Bridlewood Farm, Journalism won the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. In an exciting deep homestretch rally, Journalism, with jockey Umberto Rispoli in the saddle, overtook Gosger to win by half a length in 1:55.47 for the 1 3/16th-mile test.

The Preakness Stakes is the middle jewel of the Triple Crown races, which also includes the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Journalism, who received his early training at Bridlewood Farm prior to beginning his racing career, was second in this year’s Kentucky Derby to fellow Bridlewood Farm graduate Sovereignty. There may be a rematch of the two rivals in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

Purchased for $825,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August sale, Journalism is co-owned by the partnership of Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Don Alberto, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. Trained by Michael W. McCarthy, Journalism has to date won five races in seven starts and banked $2,838,880.

As is the case with most partnerships, each entity’s racing silks are rotated race by race. As fate would have it, it was the Bridlewood Farm silks’ turn for the Preakness Stakes.

“I was beyond thrilled for the Malones to have Journalism win in their silks,” shared longtime Bridlewood Farm general manager George Isaacs, who was at Pimlico to witness the Preakness Stakes win. “And then it was very emotional to watch the Pimlico racehorse weathervane being painted in the Bridlewood Farm silks right after the race. It was all so surreal.”

Bridlewood Farm has deep roots in the Ocala/Marion County thoroughbred industry. Established in 1976 by the late Arthur and Martha Appleton, the farm has been a perennial leading thoroughbred breeding and racing operation since its inception. Arthur Appleton was named the 1991 Florida Breeder of the Year, bred more than 100 stakes winners and seven Florida-bred millionaires. Also an art collector, Appleton and his sister, Edith-Marie Appleton, established the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala in 1987.

Appleton, who was preceded in death by Martha in 1998, died on Jan. 15, 2008. Bridlewood Farm was then operated by The Appleton Family Trust until the Malones purchased it in 2013. The operation under the Malones has grown to more than 2,200 acres and continues to be a prominent breeding and racing operation.

“When the Malones bought Bridlewood Farm, I suggested to them that they have their own racing silks designed,” said Isaacs, who has been the Bridlewood Farm general manager since 1996. “They graciously decided to honor Mr. Appleton by retaining the big red apple, choosing only to make it a maroon color and adding diamonds on the sleeves. It was a wonderful gesture to tie the history of the farm to the present and future of it.”

Bridlewood Farm’s present includes its highly successful training operation, which can number 200 during peak fall season. Joan “Meda” Murphy is the farm’s head trainer, who oversees the development of Bridlewood Farm star graduates like Journalism and Sovereignty.

“Bridlewood Farm’s success in every aspect is a team effort. And to give credit where credit is due, Meda Murphy and her team contribute greatly to Bridlewood Farm graduates’ success on the racetrack,” noted Isaacs. “And we are happy to share all our successes with the Malones, who are wonderful owners and stewards of Bridlewood Farm.”