Among the winners of the Resolute Racing is Goodnight Olive. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
John Stewart’s Resolute Racing and MiddleGround Capital to Sponsor Keeneland Stakes during Spring Meet
Two-time champion Goodnight Olive to appear at April 6 Sunrise Trackside
Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland today welcomed new sponsors of two dirt sprint stakes that will be run opening weekend of the Spring Meet: Resolute Racing, which is sponsoring the $600,000 Madison (G1) on Saturday, April 6, and MiddleGround Capital, which is sponsoring the $400,000 Beaumont (G2) on Sunday, April 7. John Stewart owns Resolute Racing and is founder and managing partner of MiddleGround Capital.
“Keeneland is pleased to welcome Resolute Racing and MiddleGround Capital to our team of race sponsors,” Keeneland Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Christa Marrillia said. “Their participation signifies John Stewart’s passion and growing involvement in the Thoroughbred industry.”
John Stewart at the Keeneland Sales. (Keeneland Photo)
“My partner Scot Duncan and I have always enjoyed taking our family, friends, co-workers and investors to the races at Keeneland,” Stewart said. “The Spring Meet is a significant event for the local community and the Thoroughbred horse racing industry. Everyone in Kentucky looks forward to the Spring Meet with enthusiasm and optimism. We are honored to support these prestigious events that historically represent the Bluegrass region as well as many of the best competitors in horse racing.”
The Resolute Racing Madison is a 7-furlong race for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, that was named for Madison County of Central Kentucky and first held in 2002. Among the winners are champions Goodnight Olive, Judy the Beauty, Groupie Doll and Informed Decision.
Inaugurated in 1986, the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont is for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs and 184 feet. The race was named for Beaumont Farm of Keeneland co-founder Hal Price Headley, the track’s first President. Winners include champions Xtra Heat and Go for Wand.
Goodnight Olive brought $6 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Goodnight Olive to Parade in Paddock
Stewart’s Goodnight Olive, who won the 2023 Madison during a campaign in which she captured the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) for a second time and earned a second Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter, will appear at Keeneland on April 6 during Sunrise Trackside, the popular Saturday morning program at the track.
Fans will be able to see Goodnight Olive while she is paraded in the Paddock between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. ET.
The winner of nine of 12 races, Goodnight Olive earned $2,196,200 before being retired to Stewart’s broodmare band.
The Resolute Racing Madison and the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont are among the 19 stakes worth a season record $8.1 million that Keeneland will hold during its 16-day Spring Meet from April 5-26. Stakes include the 100th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 6.
About Resolute Racing Resolute Racing is a Lexington-based Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation. Resolute Racing operates Resolute Farm, a 1,000-acre horse farm in Midway, Kentucky, and Resolute Bloodstock for breeding, racing and acquiring Thoroughbred racehorses. Resolute Racing was formed in 2023 by John Stewart, Gavin O’Connor, Chelsey Stone and Noel Murphy. Resolute has quickly established itself as a top competitor on the track and in the sales ring, winning its first graded stakes in March 2024, with multiple graded stakes-placed horses at tracks around the country and as an acquirer of many top broodmare prospects sold in 2023 and 2024. Visit us on social media (Facebook, Instagram and X): Facebook – Resolute Racing and Farm; Instagram – ResoluteRacingKy and X – rresoluteracing and jstewartrr.
About Middle Ground Capital MiddleGround Capital is a private equity firm based in Lexington. MiddleGround makes control equity investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution businesses. MiddleGround works with its portfolio companies to create value through a hands-on operational approach and partners with its management teams to support long-term growth strategies. MiddleGround was formed in 2018 and managed by Kentucky natives and Toyota alumni John Stewart and Scot Duncan. https://middleground.com/
