WIRE TO WIRE.NET SPECIAL 2017 SUMMER EDITION facebook.com/thefloridahorse Published by Florida Equine Communications Inc. FTBOA.COM Summer Classes Feature Ocala Horse Industry Then & Now series features the history of the horse industry and its future in summertime programs June through July. “A 1950’s Old Timer’s Perspective” will be held on June 28, featuring storyteller Gus Gray. A horseman for life, Gray grew up in a very poor family in 1950’s rural Alabama, one of 14 chil - dren in a time of discrimination. When he came to Florida, he worked for the famed thorough - bred breeder and owner Fred Hooper for more than 30 years as a stallion manager and tour guide at Hooper Farms. His book, “They Call me Gus” shares the stories of his everyday life and his work with famed horses including Tri- Jet, the great grandsire of Triple Crown cham - pion . He currently works at Double Diamond Farm in Ocala. During the class, he will share his stories of the past in a way only he can as a vivid storyteller that brings the past to life. The series kicked off on June 21 as part of the Master the Possibilities lifelong learning O program at On Top of the World. The first class T O H P

Gus Gray with Tri-Jet E L I See Ocala Horse Industry on page 2 F Florida...the Best State for Business

FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner • 850-617-7289 • Fax 850-617-7281 Lonny T. Powell, CEO and Executive Vice President e-mail: [email protected] • 407 S. Calhoun 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160 The Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399 Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • [email protected] www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse WWW.FTBOA.COM • JUNE, 2017 SPECIAL EDITION • 2 www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse O T O H P

S R O D A E M

S T E E K S Florida-bred on his way to the winner’s circle after winning the Derby

currently stands there in honor of the location of Master the Possibilities is a nationally-rec - one of the original farms of the county. ognized educational program that provides hun - Horse racing history buff Tammy Gantt from dreds of courses throughout the year to active the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ adults in the surrounding region. The faculty Association organized the classes. works with the community to design learning Ocala Horse Industry from page 1 Paul Buhlman, the founder of GoldMark experiences that stimulate and engage students in the series featured Bonnie Heath III, whose his - Farm, is hosting two classes to discuss inno - to pursue their interests and passions. The to ric family with Jack Dudley campaigned Nee - vations in the industry in horse health and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owner’s As - dles, the first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky care. His premier state-of-the art farm is one- sociation plans with the leaders of the program Derby in 1956. Attendees learned first-hand of-a-kind combining science and technology. each quarter creating series that promote the about Needles from Bonnie who was only 6- Thoroughbreds at GoldMark Farm are treated role of the Florida thoroughbred, thoroughbreds years-old in 1956. The racing feat was the gen - regally with mattresses for sleeping, padded in general, and the role all equines contribute to esis for what we know as the “Horse Capital of stalls with high ceilings and super cooled, plus the fabric of the community. n the World ®” today. The class celebrated the life fresh water from stainless steel bowls. The of Florida’s first National Champion who set sev - classes are July 19 and July 26 from 8 a.m. to ® eral track records and retired to Florida. His 10 a.m. RSVP is required. Horse Capital of the Worl d presence was an incredible vote of faith in the The cost for each class is $5 for residents of Ocala/Marion County was trademarked in budding industry at the time. Heath also shared On Top of the World and $10 for non-residents. stories about the late National Champion Holy Advance registration is encouraged. Register at 2002 as The Horse Capital of the World after an Bull, one of the last horses born on the farm pre - MasterThePossibilities.org at 352-854-3699 or American Horse Council study detailed the viously located on highway 200 at the Heath - stop to pre-register at Circle Square Commons county accounted for more horses and ponies brook Mall location. A statue of Needles at 8415 SW 80th St., Suite 2 in Ocala. than any other in the United States. Get in Front of the Equine Crowd Wire to Wire DAILY RACING DIGEST (Ads starting at $135 monthly) Horse Capital Digest (monthly and weekly) Call: 352-732-8858 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala FL 34474 • www.ftboa.com WWW.FTBOA.COM • JUNE, 2017 SPECIAL EDITION • 3 www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse Equine Happenings Online Worthy Websites Educate bringing the business and equine com - Join Club Godolphin at club.godolphin.com by Visit Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Conven - munity together. Also visit www.equineal - midnight on Friday, June 30 to enter to win farm tion Bureau’s new website where you can book at - lianceofmarioncounty.com tours, plus more exclusive prizes quarterly. tractions and tours and explore Equestrian Marion County Farm City Week - @Marion - offerings like horse farm visits, horse shows, rid - CountyAgricultureAlliance – Check out the events Podcasts on the Go ing and tours, equine event venues and self- coming this Fall and take photos now to enter the Around the Track Podcast at www.ftboa.com - guided tours at www.ocalamarion.com/equestrian/ annual photo contest in October. Winners are fea - A few thoroughbred racing personalities include Equine portal – Visit the Horse Capital of the tured in Florida Equine Communications publica - Maggie Wolfendale; Andrew Beyer; Art Sherman’s World ® page sponsored by the Chamber & Eco - tions throughout the year. Journey; The ‘Incomparable’ Tom Durkin; NBC nomic Partnership at thehorsecapital.com for events. Marion County & UF/IFAS - @SmallFarmsUfI - Sports’ Donna Barton Brothers; Bill Nack-The fasMarionCountyExtension - Meet Caitlin Bainum, Master Storyteller; Chris McCarron and From Fun Facebook Pages the new Farm Management Extension Agent. Her Movie Stars To Racing Stars among others. n Carole Fletcher – @trickhorse.com (Trick - primary goal is to assist farm managers on topics onometry) - Follows world-renowned trick like productive manure management, grazing horse trainer as she posts scenes from the strategies, stocking rates, and pasture manage - FREE! Florida Thoroughbred Horse Capital and shows her progress with ment. She also provides the tools for best man - Museum and Gallery equine pupils learning trick training agement practices. She can be reached at (352) See a Florida Horse Park - @FloridaHorsePark and 671-8792 or e-mail [email protected] The birth of the Horse Capital of the World also visit Partners of the Park (POP) for sum - Southeastern Livestock Pavilion - Marion began with Needles, a little horse born in the mertime shows @PartnersOfTheParkPOP. County, FL – Visit the venue page for equine county, who went on to become the first to win Horse Sense Ocala – @horsesenseocala - Find events or google the name to get to the website equine news from the Horse Capital of the World ® for a yearlong event listing. the Kentucky Derby for Florida. His presence, it with the mission to Connect, Communicate and is said, sold more real estate than any realtor. Great Groupon Offers Both the equine world and non-equine people Check out Groupon at groupon.com, enter flocked to see how this land with mineral-rich Marion County’s Equines soil, abundant spring water and limestone-en - Ocala, for discount coupons on Horseback Rid - riched grasses could produce a top runner from 18% of the County GDP ($1.6 billion of county’s ing and Horse Riding Lesson s. Sign up to watch $8.7 billion GDP) for horse farm tours at half price. a modest bloodline. Today, those bloodlines run Thoroughbreds are the majority of any breed through the likes of Triple Crown winner Amer - in the county Win Stuff ican Pharoah whose ancestors are prominently Thoroughbreds sold at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Win the Breeders’ Cup Experience That featured in the museum, along with the Needles (OBS) brought $142 million in 2014 Money Can’t Buy – Enter the VIP sweepstakes Derby trophy. Visitors are so close to the trophy, OBS buyers came from 42 states and for a chance to win one of four once-in-a-life - they can take a picture with it. Plus, see a real 18 countries in 2014 $2.62 billion total time experiences at the 2017 Breeders’ Cup on speeding ticket issued to the fastest horse in direct/indirect economic impact November 3-4. Each experience includes a cus - the world. In addition to the museum, the art Wire to Wire Daily Racing Digest , a daily tomized, VIP trip for two to the Breeders’ Cup gallery is a must-see featuring original paintings publication in Marion County promoting the at Del Mar and a $1,000 wager on the Breeders’ by local artists of thoroughbred champions thoroughbred industry, is the only printed daily of any breeding region in the world. Cup Classic. Enter Racing with the Stars at through history. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.- www.breederscupvip.com/ noon and 1:00-4:30 p.m., the museum is free. n

     at Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala FL 34474 The program gives inmates an opportunity to learn equine skills so they can find employment in Florida’s equine industry after release. The farm is funded by Florida Thoroughbred Charities, a subsidiary of Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.  at Lowell Correctional Institute CH Registration number (CH8627) issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE Florida Horse of the Year Forbidden Apple (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Photo by Sally Moehring WWW.FTBOA.COM • JUNE, 2017 SPECIAL EDITION • 4 www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse