The Ocala Jockey Club farm was sold to Golden Ocala Equestrian Land in August 2021, the company associated with the Roberts family and the grandiose WEC Ocala equestrian facility. The farm complex, along with other land bought by GOEL/WEC nearby, totaling 1024 acres, is going through a rezoning application process with the Marion County Board of Commissioners.
Our position as the former owners of the Ocala Jockey Club property is that we support the development of the venue as an equestrian venue and community. This concept at a high conceptual level is similar to the vision we had for the property and we believe that the community was on board. However, we believe that the scope of the intended rezoning application goes far outside what is reasonable for a development within the boundaries of the Farm Preservation Area and what is good for the nearby community. While a residential community expanding on the existing townhome village is reasonable, we believe that the design and density are not a match for the FPA. Similarly, we believe that a 9,000 seat stadium is excessive for the area, and that opulent signage such as the 35' signage proposed as part of this development, is inconsistent with the Farm Preservation Area.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN INFORMATION
The Ocala Jockey Club was the host venue for the annual International CCI4*-Long 3-Day Event. It ran between 2106 and 2019 and quickly gained a reputation for world class eventing and as an Olympic qualifying event.
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WEC at Ocala Jockey Club
Marion County Board of Commissioners is voting on the rezoning TUESDAY JUNE 21, at 2 pm. McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala.
