Reddick, FL — The Ocala Jockey Club is pleased to announce their new cross-country courses and jumps are almost complete. Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert, two of the course builders for the 2016 Rio Olympics, were on site this week to finish the custom jumps. The two showcase grass arenas, designed by CIC 4* show-jumping designer Richard Jeffery, are set and ready for competitions.
The CIC 3* course was designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, former head of British Eventing, and the course designer for major events around the world such as the Sydney & Beijing Olympic Games and Kentucky CCI**** for many years. Olympian Clayton Fredericks designed the CCI 1*, and 2* courses.
After inspecting the course recently, Mike Etherington-Smith commented “The footing is looking fantastic, some of the best I have seen in the USA, well done to all”. Master carving artist, Tyson Rementer added “Speaking for the cross-country course, I am very confident we are headed toward a top class course”.
“It has taken a lot of great work by this outstanding design and build team over much of the past year, and a large capital commitment by OJC, to transform some 400 of our 924 acre Thoroughbred training farm into a world class Eventing competition and special events venue”, remarked Ocala Jockey Club President and owner Pavla Nygaard. “We are thrilled with the results and looking forward to hosting the first of exciting future special events and competitions next month”.
The inaugural Ocala Jockey Club International 3-Day CIC 3*, CCI 2* and 1* Event, organized and promoted by Equiventures LLC, is scheduled over this year's Thanksgiving weekend, November 24-27. The event information and entries are available at www.ojc3de.com. It features a $100,000 prize pool, the largest ever for a CIC 3* in North America, of which $15,000 will be awarded to top-placing Thoroughbreds as part of OJC's desire to recognize and incentivize their post-racing careers.
The OJC facility, with its rolling hills and showcase old-growth Spanish-moss-laden oak trees, is a crown jewel in the horse country of Ocala, Florida. About 200 acres of the 950-acre Ocala Jockey Club property serve as a Thoroughbred training farm, and the facility also includes townhouses and an iconic 9,700 square-foot clubhouse, a unique venue for weddings, event hospitality, meetings and other special events.
For more information on the Ocala Jockey Club and preview of the cross country course and new arenas, visit www.ocalajc.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 23, 2016
NEW "FANTASTIC" OCALA JOCKEY CLUB CROSS COUNTRY COURSE NEARING COMPLETION
The cross country design and build team, from left: Tyson Rementer, Clayton Fredericks, Mike Etherington-Smith, Rob.
One of the showcase pieces is a carved fish in the new water feature, masterfully carved to honor the involvement of Seminole heritage on the Ocala Jockey Club property, which served as the location of Fort Drane and neighbors a burial site of Chief Emathla.
The cross-country courses for CCI1*, CCI2* and CIC3* have been carefully improved and maintained over the last year.
One of the many new cross-country jump built onsite.
The new main grass arena has been built with derby banks sloping up towards the clubhouse.
The cross-country course will pass through a jump in this pond right in front of the clubhouse.
The cross-country courses wind over the miles of rolling hills of the farm, through the oak tree-studded parkland setting.