Set in the heart of Florida’s renowned horse country, the training center is 45 minutes south of Gainesville and just 30 minutes from Ocala, offering easy access to excellent local professional services and suppliers.
About
Comprising 350 acres, Oak Ridge Training Center is divided into 14 lots of 20 acres to form a professional equine community ideal for training racehorses. At its heart, 40 acres are devoted to a world-class one mile dirt track and newly installed 7/8 mile Celebration Bermuda turf course.
…it’s a horseman’s dream
Florida’s climate allows for year-round training and racing, which is why many US trainers send their young horses here to be safely broken and prepared.
Add the benefits of our revered one mile dirt track and 7/8 mile turf course, and it’s not difficult to see why our owners and their clients train and race directly out of the training center, ‘hitting the board’ at all levels.
Track Maintenance Expert | Grading Specialist | Global Consultant
With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Steven Wood Jr. is one of the most respected professionals in track maintenance. A third-generation trackman, Steven blends deep-rooted knowledge with modern techniques to deliver exceptional results on both dirt and synthetic surfaces. Now, trainers and horses at Oak Ridge Training Center can benefit from his world-class expertise.
Steven began operating equipment at just 12 years old under the mentorship of his father, who worked at tracks like Fairplex, Del Mar, and Santa Anita. His grandfather, Dr. Harold Wood, was a Thoroughbred owner in 1960s California. This family legacy shaped Steven’s lifelong passion for racetrack surfaces.
Steven has worked at over 30 U.S. racetracks, holding roles like Assistant Track Superintendent and Foreman at Santa Anita, Del Mar. He maintained Tommy Town Thoroughbred Training Facility for 25 years and most recently assisted Dennis Moore in overseeing some of the Stronach Group tracks nationwide.
Steven’s consulting work spans Australia, New Zealand, India, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Jamaica, and Hong Kong. He has:
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Built all-weather tracks at Randwick and Flemington
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Trained crews in organic track management
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Installed an all-weather surface track in Hong Kong and a synthetic surface in Del Mar
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Rehabilitated a turf course in Florida and a dirt course in Jamaica
A master of heavy equipment including graders, backhoes, and tractors, Steven is a skilled operator and team leader, managing crews of up to 20 with precision.
A bilingual husband and father of three, Steven brings integrity, adaptability, and a lifetime of commitment to safety and surface performance to Oak Ridge, Florida’s premier training center.