A 186-acre horse ranch in Marion County that was once owned by one of the most renowned Thoroughbred horse trainers in the world, and one of the earliest adopters of pinhooking, was just sold for $3 million.

Indian Prairie Ranch was sold by Jean Rice, the widow of Clyde D. Rice, to Brooklyn Farms, LLC, for $3,000,000 on January 23, according to a deed filed with the Marion County Clerk of Courts on Monday.

Indian Prairie Ranch in Anthony was sold for $3,000,000 on January 23, 2025.
Indian Prairie Ranch in Anthony was sold for $3,000,000 on January 23, 2025. Credit: Showcase Properties of Central Florida

State corporate records show that Brooklyn Farms, LLC, is owned by Peter M. Barba and has a registered address in Tequesta, Florida.

Located at 6853 NE 90th Street Road in Anthony, the Rices bought the 186.74-acre property in 1986 to make a permanent home for their family and to have the ability to train horses through the winter.

Rice is best known as one of the earliest adopters of pinhooking, which is the practice of buying a horse at a yearling auction and selling it the following Spring at a 2-year-old sale.

The four parcels that comprise the site total over 186 acres
The four parcels that comprise the site total over 186 acres Credit: Marion County Property Appraiser

In a 2017 interview, Rice’s son Bryan said that his father saw potential in the idea, leading to his early adoption.

“My dad certainly wasn’t the only one, but he was one of the first to put a foot in the water and figure it out,” said Rice to BloodHorse Magazine.

The large ranch features four homes, according to a listing from Showcase Properties of Central Florida.

The largest of those residences is a 5-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home that boasts over 5,600 square feet of space.

The property features four residences, including a main home that is over 5,600 square feet in size.
The property features four residences, including a main home that is over 5,600 square feet in size. Credit: Showcase Properties of Central Florida

That home also features a gas fireplace, sauna, in-ground saltwater pool, and an additional cabana.

Furthermore, the property offers a 1/2-mile irrigated dirt track, four barns with a total of 48 stalls, multiple paddocks and pastures, and a main training barn with a barn office, among additional amenities.

Race track at Indian Prairie Ranch in Anthony, Florida
The property features several equestrian upgrades, including a race track Credit: Showcase Properties of Central Florida

According to a press release from Showcase Properties of Central Florida, when Rice passed away at the age of 79, his children had already long since established their own careers. Although his widow remained at the estate for several years after his passing, eventually, she decided it was time to move on.

“This farm has been our love story, and now it’s time for someone else’s. There’s no need to cling to the past. We had our story, our children have their own to write, and it’s time for the farm to begin a new story,” said Mrs. Rice in the press release.

The sale of the legendary site comes nearly eight years to the day after Clyde Rice’s passing. It follows the sale of multiple, large equestrian estates in Marion County in recent months:

  1. A 39-acre horse farm in northwest Ocala sold for $2.4 million
  2. A 25-acre horse rehabilitation center sold for $2.7 million
  3. A 21.84-acre horse farm in northwest Ocala sold for $2.8 million,
  4. A 100-acre farm in northwest Ocala sold for $6.4 million
  5. A 38.65-acre farm in northwest Ocala sold for $3,665,000
  6. A nearly 47-acre farm in northwest Ocala sold for $4,400,000

Do you have memories of your experiences at Indian Prairie Ranch? Share them in a comment below or write a letter to the editor.

UPDATE: After this story was published, Ocala-News.com was contacted by a realtor to clarify the acreage of one of the properties cited in this story.

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