Ocala Stud Thoroughbred Farm - History

A half century of quality

Ocala Stud sold its first crop of two-year-olds in 1958. Since that time, it has become a tradition for the farm to sell its entire juvenile crop, either at the Ocala Breeders’ in training sales in Ocala, Florida (obssales.com), or privately, right off the farm.

The Farm never races, and never holds back promising juveniles. Yet year after year, runners bred, raised, and sold by Ocala Stud rank among the best of their divisions in the U.S. and abroad.

A lasting success

The success of this policy had an immediate impact, as our Farm gained a well-earned reputation for integrity which has endured for more than 50 years.

Generations of results

Over the years, Ocala Stud has bred and sold more than 155 stakes winners, most of whom are also by Ocala Stud sires, including a Horse of the Year and four Divisional Champions. Equally important is the earnings power of our graduates. Since 2000, more than 50 horses bred by Ocala Stud have earned at least $200,000; 27 have earned at least $300,000; and 17 have earned more than $600,000.

Legendary performers

Ocala Stud’s breeding program has produced at least 12 Group/Grade 1 winners, led by Eclipse and Breeders' Cup (G1) Champion MUSICAL ROMANCE and Wood (G1) winner BELLAMY ROAD. Over the past seven years alone, we have produced 12 Grade 1 horses, led four-time G1-winning millionaire TURBULENT DESCENT, Oak Leaf (G1) winner RIGOLETTA, 2015 GSW/multiple G1 pl.  CALCULATOR, Champion and 2015 sp ASIA EXPRESS ($1,510,647).

A reputation you can trust

Buyers of Ocala Stud two-year-olds bid with the confidence that they are getting the very best the farm has to offer. And results certainly bear this out. In 2010, Ocala Stud was America’s Leading Breeder of U.S. Graded stakes winners—and each GSW was indeed sold as a two-year-old.

A Proven Source for Stallions

Besides earning a place in Thoroughbred history for giving birth to the modern day juveniles in training sales, Ocala Stud is a proven source of top sires. Home to Florida Foundation Sire ROUGH’N TUMBLE in the 50s and 60s, Ocala Stud has stood Florida’s Champion Sire nine times since 2000, and stood the second-ranked stallion two other times.

Dr. Fager and Holy Bull

The male line of ROUGH’N TUMBLE is directly responsible for Hall of Fame Champions Dr. Fager and Holy Bull. Dr. Fager remains the only runner in Thoroughbred history to be named Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse, Champion Grass Horse, and Champion Sprinter the same year. Holy Bull has sired 51 stakes winners to date, including a Kentucky Derby winner and a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner.

Montbrook and Trippi

The Ocala Stud stallions have maintained an international influence through six decades. Progeny by our stallions - who include Champion Sires MONTBROOK, HIGH COTTONTRIPPI,NOTEBOOK, and most recently, KANTHAROS - continue to impact the breed, with victories in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Wood Memorial (G1), Hopeful (G1), Oak Leaf S. (G1), Super Derby (G1), Spinaway S. (G1), Fountain of Youth (G1), and Saratoga Special (G2) in recent years.

Stallion Roster