World champion Walner and Meadowlands Pace winner Legendary Hanover to stand at Deo Volente Farms beginning in 2027

by Preferred Equine

David Reid, syndicate manager of both stallions, today announced that world champion Walner (Chapter Seven–Random Destiny) and Meadowlands Pace winner Legendary Hanover (Huntsville–Lillian Hanover) will stand at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey beginning with the 2027 breeding season.

Walner, the leading North American money-winning sire of trotters in 2026, and Legendary Hanover, one of the fastest 3-year-old pacers of his generation, formerly stood at Southwind Farms in Pennington, NJ, which has announced its closure. The move keeps both stallions in the Garden State and places them at a full-service New Jersey breeding farm with a longstanding commitment to quality.

Deo Volente Farms is a beautiful, state-of-the-art standardbred breeding farm. With a well-known and professionally staffed team that has served the industry at the highest level for nearly two decades, the farm has earned a reputation for excellence in raising and standing top-quality standardbreds. Previously named New Jersey Standardbred Breeder of the Year, Deo Volente has been home to champion stallions and has produced or raised numerous stakes winners while maintaining a focus on quality over quantity.

As of late October 2026, Walner leads the all-age trotting sire list with progeny earnings of approximately $14.7 million from 261 starters, ahead of his own sire, Chapter Seven. He also ranks as the leading sire of 2-year-old trotters. Lifetime, his progeny have earned more than $64 million, including roughly 226 performers in 1:55 or faster and 10 millionaires. His standout offspring include International Trot and major stakes winner Jiggy Jog S (1:49.2, ~$3.1 million); 2026 Hambletonian winner Apex (3, 1:49.2-’26), who set a stakes record of 1:49.2 at the Meadowlands; Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle (1:50f); Kentucky Futurity winner Emoticon Legacy (3, 1:49.2); and Breeders Crown open trot winner Winner’s Bet (1:49.3).

On the racetrack, Walner himself was a phenomenon. He retired with a record of 2, 1:51.3; 3, 1:50.2 and earnings of $567,652 from nine wins in 10 starts. At 2 he set a world record of 1:51.3 at The Red Mile and captured the Breeders Crown, Kindergarten Classic, International Stallion Stakes, and New York Sire Stakes events. At 3, he won the Stanley Dancer Memorial in 1:50.2. He was named the 2016 Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year and retired a world champion. Walner’s stud fee will remain $50,000 for the 2027 breeding season, unchanged from 2026.

Legendary Hanover, the 2023 O’Brien Award-winning 2-year-old pacing colt of the year, will enter his third season at stud in 2027. At 3, he became the first sophomore pacer to record multiple sub-1:47 miles, capturing the Meadowlands Pace in a stakes-record 1:46.3 and the Cane Pace in a track- and stakes-record 1:46.2. He also won the Empire Breeders Classic in a track-record 1:48.1f. A 12-time winner, he retired with approximately $1.48 million in earnings and is the richest and fastest son of world champion Huntsville. Legendary Hanover’s stud fee will remain $7,500 for the 2027 breeding season, unchanged from 2026. He combines elite speed, a powerful gait, and a strong pedigree.

“The decision to move both Walner and Legendary Hanover to Deo Volente Farms for the 2027 breeding season reflects our confidence in the continued strength of New Jersey’s breeding and racing programs,” Reid said. “Walner has established himself as the dominant trotting sire of his generation, while Legendary Hanover brings exceptional speed and a proven record as one of the fastest pacers of his crop. Keeping both stallions in New Jersey allows their foals to benefit from the enhanced New Jersey Sire Stakes program and the ongoing support of The Meadowlands Racetrack.”

The New Jersey Sire Stakes program has been strengthened in recent years. For 2027, Silver Series elimination purses increase 50 per cent to $15,000, with finals rising to $50,000 for fields of eight or more, while Platinum Series purses remain at $25,000 eliminations and $225,000 finals. Entry and nomination fees are unchanged from 2026. New Jersey-sired horses are also eligible for a 20 per cent bonus for winning certain stakes races at The Meadowlands, supported by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and The Meadowlands.

Foals by both stallions standing in New Jersey remain fully eligible for the Platinum and Silver series and related New Jersey programs.

For breeding information, contact Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc at [email protected] or [email protected].