Timeline 1990 to 1999
1990
- William McKnight of Tartan Farms and co-founder of Calder Race Course, named leading U.S. breeder.
- McKnight bred and owned Dr. Fager, Ta Wee, Dr. Patches, Unbridled and others.
- Unbridled of Tartan Farms wins the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders Cup Classic.
- Unbridled won $4.5 million in his racing career.
- Unbridled ranks third highest among Florida-breds as of Dec. 31, 2002.
- The number of pinhookers, those who buy a weanling or yearling and sell it after a year or less, begins to grow.
1991
- January - Bonnie M. Heath II leases his 440-acre farm to son and daughter-in-law, Bonnie M. Heath III and Kim.
- Champion racer Holy Bull is born five nights later.
1994
- Holy Bull, Bonnie Heath Farms of Ocala, named North American Horse of the Year.
- Holy Bull earned nearly $2.5 million in his racing career.
- Ranks ninth among top Florida-bred money-earners as of Dec. 31, 2002.
- Frank Stronach, owner of the Gulfstream Race Track in Miami, buys the 330-acre Lin-Drake Farm on Highway 27 West just outside Ocala for $1.9 million.
- Farm is called Adena Springs South. He buys 2,700 more acres and creates the largest breeding farm in the U.S.
1997
- Silver Charm, who was born at Dudley Farm, wins the Kentucky Derby.
- Owned by pinhookers J.B. and Kevin McKathan of McKathan Brothers Training Facility in Ocala.
- Silver Charm earned $6.9 million.
- Ranks second among Florida-breds as of Dec. 31, 2002.
- Honor Glide, bred by Bonnie Heath Farm and owned
by Ron Chattel of Tennessee, wins best U.S. turf horse honors.
1998
- Skip Away, a Florida-bred, named North American Horse of the Year.
- Skip Away earned $9.6 million in his racing career - the top spot among Florida-bred thoroughbreds as of Dec. 31, 2002.
- Ocala Breeders' Sales Company posted thoroughbred sales totaling $63 million.
- Feb. - Sale of Bonnie Heath Farm, Dudley Farm, Tartan Farms to Richard Seimans, a developer, to create Heath Brook, a golf course, apartments, houses and retail stores.
- For tax purposes, the Heath Brook deal is set up so it takes the buyer seven years to possess all the property.
- Jack Dudley, Needles' co-owner, dies.
- The Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap is created in his honor.
1999
- After a bad 1998 season, Honor Glide is sent back
to Bonnie Heath Farm for rehabilitation.
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