Horse racing is one of the most watched sports in the United States, with a record-number of people tuning in to NBC to watch the historic Kentucky Derby in 2026. High viewing figures are expected to continue for the Middle Leg of the Triple Crown, and you can find the Preakness expert picks by TwinSpires here.
However, breeding plays a key role in the potential success of a thoroughbred, and few regions have created as many superstars in recent history than Florida. But, what is the breeding operation like in the state and which superstars have links back to the Sunshine State?
Horse Capital of the World
Only five cities are able to call themselves the ‘Horse Capital of the World’, but Ocala is one of those. The city is one of four in the U.S. with the title, and the breeding industry is worth a staggering amount.
Around 44,000 jobs are sustained in the region through breeding, training or other horse-related industries, generating a huge $2.2 billion in annual revenue. As well as being a leading location for breeding, the city also plays host to the largest horse shows in the count.
Among those include Horses in the Sun, which has featured over 100 different breeds since its inception. This is also a notable sector for growth in the region, with the horse shows being worth $7 million to the local economy each year.
Early Steps into Breeding
The first steps into the breeding industry in Ocala were made in 1943 when Carl G. Rose established the first thoroughbred far. A key reason for the choice of location was the Ocala limestone, which is revered for building strong horse bones.
This logical application to breeding would soon lead to winners in the USA’s biggest races, with Needles becoming the first Florida-bred winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1956.
The three-year-old for trainer Hugh Fontaine would also land the Belmont Stakes in the same year. Following retirement, Needles would stand for stud in Marion County, producing arguably one of the most important Florida horses in history.
Triple Crown Domination
Following two wins in Triple Crown races, Needles would be a leading stallion back in Florida, ultimately leading to the birth of Affirmed. The celebrated equine would be trained Laz Barrera in Florida, and he would make history in 1978 by becoming the eleventh American Triple Crown winner.
Notably, his success would be the final time a horse would achieve that feat before American Pharoah ended a 37-year wait in 2015. However, Affirmed’s dominance would stretch far beyond just the Derby, winning 14 Grade Ones, including the Santa Anita Derby and Jim Dandy.
He would also be named American Champion Older Male Horse during his four-year-old season. His dominance on the track highlighted the benefits of breeding in Florida, leading to a boom in the money within the sector.
Following his retirement, Affirmed would continue to play a major role on track as a stallion. Despite never running on turf, he would produce strong running on the grass. Among those include Trusted Partner, who would win the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas and Narita Top, who was a Grade One winner on the turf in Japan.
Continued Success on Track
Florida continues to be a hub for creating champions, with Kentucky Derby winners such as Unbridled and Silver Charm being bred in the Sunshine State. The state also has a strong record of producing Breeders’ Cup Classic champions, with White Abarrio (2023), Mucho Macho Man (2013), and Skip Away (1997) all being bred in Florida.
The continued success of the breeding operation is down to a long-standing interest in the sport within the region. Meanwhile, the climate ensures that racing can be staged year-round at Gulfstream Park.
The location is widely considered to be one of the best race tracks in the United States, with the course having served as the home of the Florida Derby for the last 70 years. It is also home to the prestigious Pegasus World Cup annually in January.
Bright Breeding Future in Florida
The sector continues to thrive in this modern day, and the success enjoyed by Ocala Studs is likely to ensure that champions continue to be produced in Florida.
At present, Ocala Studs houses seven high-quality stallions, including high-quality options such as Roadster, Win WinWin, and Colonel Liam. The latter was a back-to-back winner of the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf during his racing career, and he is already beginning to make waves in his post-racing life as a stallion. Win WinWin is also a high-quality stallion, having produced multiple-time stakes winning fillies Nooni and Win N Your In. Khozan has also produced competitive stakes winners as a stallion, including Princess Secret and Me and Mr. C.
