Press release:

    The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association and Gilligan Racing, its exclusive racetrack development partner, announced Oct. 28 they have secured control of more than 300 acres in Marion County for a new Thoroughbred racetrack.

    The site purchase marks a key advancement in their efforts to bring a premier racing and entertainment destination to Ocala, Fla. The FTBOA has possessed a nonprofit racing license for many years and the purchase marks a significant step toward putting that license to use.

    The property was selected for its size, topography, and accessibility. The FTBOA and Gilligan Racing expect to announce its exact location in the near future.

    Preliminary plans call for a championship-caliber dirt track and turf course, modern grandstand and hospitality facilities, and dining, entertainment, and event venues designed to operate year-round. The development aims to strengthen Marion County's Thoroughbred and broader equine industry while creating a new destination for tourism and economic activity.

    "There's a reason Ocala is known as the Horse Capital of the World," said John Morgan of Gilligan Racing and founder of the Morgan & Morgan law firm. "Some of the greatest Thoroughbreds in history have been bred, raised, and trained right here. Now we have an extraordinary opportunity to bring world-class Thoroughbred racing to the very community that produces these magnificent athletes.

    "We have the land, we have Florida's sole remaining Thoroughbred racing permit, we have the equine industry and we have an incredible community. Now we need to bring together the public and private leadership to make this vision a reality. We intend to build something that will make Ocala proud and give Florida Thoroughbred racing an extraordinary future."

    The Gilligan Racing team includes prominent owner/breeder and Kentucky Downs co-owner Ron Winchell.

"I am excited to be part of such an important and challenging project, with a combined team of dedicated professionals," Winchell said. "At Kentucky Downs, we've demonstrated what can happen when a racing destination combines a great racing product, competitive purses, and an exceptional guest experience. Ocala has an extraordinary opportunity to build on those principles at an even greater scale. Working with Gilligan Racing and the FTBOA, I believe we can make that happen for Florida's Thoroughbred industry."

    The racetrack will operate under Florida's sole remaining Thoroughbred racing permit held by Ocala Thoroughbred Racing, the FTBOA's wholly owned nonprofit subsidiary. OTR's nonprofit structure is designed to support the long-term sustainability of Thoroughbred racing in Florida, including competitive purses, breeder incentives, and investments in racing infrastructure.

    "Our shared objective is a strong, stable, and sustainable Thoroughbred industry, with competitive purses and awards that benefit Florida's breeders, owners, trainers, horsemen, and the broader community," said George Isaacs, president of OTR and general manager of Bridlewood Farm. "Our driving goal should be what great looks like, and we should accept nothing short of that."

    Dahman’s Bottas (Vekoma- Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) rallied inside the sixteenth pole for his third straight stakes victory in Keeneland’s closing-day featured $400,000, Gr. II Bryan Station, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week. 

    The 3-year-old son of Vekoma notched a 2 ¼-length victory to give trainer Miguel Clement his first stakes win at Keeneland. Bottas added the Bryan Station to his victories in the Gr. II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga and the Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs.

    “Miguel (Clement) and his team have done an outstanding job with him. He’s now three-for-three (in graded stakes) and I think he’s really coming into his own,” Case Clay of Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, representing winning owner Dahman said. “We’re very much (looking forward to his 4-year-old season).”

    Bottas was a $300,000 purchase by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Paul Sharp after breezing in :10 1/5.

    The Keeneland card also saw Paradise Farms Corp. and Case Chambers’ Willy D’s (Lookin At Lucky-Boston Mine, by Mineshaft) win his third graded stakes of 2026 by taking the $350,000, Gr. III Fayette.

    Trained by Mike Maker, Willy D’s added the Fayette to his victory last time out in the Gr. II Charles Town Classic and the Gr. III Kentucky Cup Classic in March at Turfway while boosting his earnings to $1,734,021. Willy D’s was purchased for $60,000 by Greg Compton, agent for Danny W. Brown at the 2023 OBS April Sale from the Woodside Ranch consignment after breezing in :22 1/5.

    At Belmont Park, NBS Stable’s Ground Support (Army Mule-Arch Support, by Arch) earned her second career graded score with a dominant victory in the first division of the Gr. III, $200,000 Glen Cove.

    Trained by Kelsey Danner, Ground Support previously scored in the Gr. II Miss Grillo last October before running third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar. She was offered at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the consignment Tom McCrocklin but failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :21 1/5.

    At Belmont Park Michael Dubb’s Sculcos Folly (Redesdale- Cool Johanna, by Johannesburg) stalked and pounced his way to a score in the $200,000 Hudson Stakes as part of the Empire Showcase Day program.

    Trained by Rick Dutrow Jr., the 3-year-old son of Redesdale notched a two-length win. He was a $70,000 purchase by Chad Schumer at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    Also at Belmont Park, Speedway Stables’ Epic Style (Good Magic—Final Mesa, by Sky Mesa) arrived in the final jumps to capture the first division of the $175,000 Perfect String.

    Trained by Michael Stidham, the 4-year-old daughter of Good Magic has now won three straight. Epic Style was purchased by her owners for $300,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Albuquerque, Arnold Bennewith, Clayton Wiest and Rick Wiest’s Eternal Legacy (Maximus Mischief—Field of Flowers, by City Zip) won the $65,000 Manzano Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, he was purchased by Nick Hines, agent for $240,000 at the 2026 OBS June Sale from the consignment of Randy Miles after breezing in :9 4/5.

    At Mahoning Valley Race Course, Emcee Stable’s Panda Listen (Tiz the Law—Lightning Lucy, by Giant’s Causeway) rolled to an 11 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Best of Ohio John W. Galbreath Stakes. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Panda Listen was purchased by Corbin Blumberg, agent, for $200,000 at the 2026 OBS April Sale from the Grade One Investments consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.