Cardinal Training Center, a Thoroughbred training facility that has been a fixture in northwest Ocala for nearly 20 years, has been listed for sale for $8.5 million.
Cardinal Training Center, a 170-acre training, breeding, and foaling operation, has been home to a number of prominent Thoroughbreds over the years, including multiple graded stakes winner Carterista, and Cherokee Dame, the dam of 1994 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Cherokee Run.
The facility was built by Norman Casse, current owner Janelle Mertins said. Mertins has scaled back on the number of horses she has from 80 to 20, but intends to continue her association with the Thoroughbred industry. She plans to devote more time to her family and business, Pegasus Realty and Associates.
Cardinal has a 5/8-mile irrigated dirt track, seven barns, 97 stalls, and a 150-foot by 275-foot indoor riding arena. It has 60 acres that have been used for broodmares.