Love this video!
Early the morning of August 12 I rode around some of Ocala’s beautiful horse farms in the York area, home to a few spectacular Thoroughbred horse farms like Double Diamond, Live Oak Stud, and Stonewall Farm.
There were even some horses being exercised on the track at Double Diamond when I was filming, so I hope you enjoy this little drive with me.
Double Diamond Farm in Ocala, established in 1983, has a proven history of “commitment and attention given to every aspect of raising a winner.”
The Double Diamond property is impeccable, horses were breezing on the spotless training track this morning (video to follow this post), and the early morning weather was spectacular.
Contact information for Double Diamond Farm:
Double Diamond Farm
899 S.W. 85th Ave
Ocala, FL 34481
Phone 352.237.3834
Fax 352.237.6069
Here is a Secretariat teaser (movie in theaters October 8, 2010). Disney’s Secretariat is a ‘must see’ movie if you love horses.
Here is a related story about “Secretariat,” which features Diane Lane portraying owner Penny Chenery, and John Malkovich cast as trainer, Lucien Laurin.
Ocala and Marion County are full of beautiful, rolling horse farms … these scenes from an Ocala Thoroughbred farm are why I love living here.
Horse breeders, trainers, jockies, artisans, and retailers feed the Florida horse industry and can be seen almost anywhere you go, in and around Ocala. LIKE!!
Yesterday I filmed part of a visit to an Ocala horse farm full of potential Kentucky Derby winners. Ocala, and the surrounding Marion County area, is home to approximately 75% (450 +/-) of the Thoroughbred farms and training facilities in Florida. I’m seeing many photo and video opportunities.
Ocala is also a ‘breeding ground’ for equine services and vendors, such as veterinarians, horse transportation companies, feed and tack stores, horse trailer sales, farriers, etc., and is the home of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
The rolling pastures full of Thoroughbreds in and around Ocala (Marion County) not only beautify the horse farm properties, they make it hard for me to get anywhere on time. During the summer months, there are new foals by their mothers’ sides, weanlings, and yearlings almost anywhere you go in Ocala. LIKE!
Florida is home to approximately 600 Thoroughbred farms and training centers, with over 75% of these farms and training centers being located in the Ocala, Marion County area ~ providing a major economic impact.
The horse farms and pastures full of Thoroughbreds in Ocala provide a major visual impact as well.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association is a quick jog from the Ocala Breeders Sales Co. (“OBS”) property, where I spent a glorious day on Tuesday at the Two-Year-Old Sale. The June sale at OBS has produced good, solid runners, as reported by Nick Fortuna of Wire to Wire.
If you are interested in membership in the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association, here is a link to the membership information.
© Susie Blackmon
Here are a few photos from my heavenly day yesterday at the Thoroughbred sale at Ocala Breeders Sales Co. on Airport Road. Here is the link to the Thoroughbred Times article about the sale.
Results of the very successful sale can be found here.
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