Daja Clayton

1 week ago | wcjb.com | Daja Clayton

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - The Manager at the Ocala Stud Farm - David O’Farrell - has been working with his team for months to keep the decoupling bill from being approved. He says although it is a relief now, it could come up again. “This will come up again. We’re going to be fully prepared to help negotiate a deal that will be a win for Florida, a win for our industry, and solidify the future of the thoroughbred industry in the state of Florida,” said O’Farrell.

1 week ago | wcjb.com | Daja Clayton

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Horse trainer and owner Eddie Woods says he’s worked in the horse industry for over two decades. “I was born into the industry in Ireland. Come here to the States in ‘86, went to my own in ‘93, and built this place 25 years ago,” said Woods. Woods told TV20 he usually has about 100 horses on the farm of more than 200 acres. ‘Citizen Bull’ and ‘Rodriguez’ are just two of his many success stories - both will be racing in the Kentucky Derby. “We’ve had a lot of runners in the derby.

2 weeks ago | wcjb.com | Daja Clayton

FORT MCCOY, Fla. (WCJB) - There are several horses with ties to Ocala competing in this year’s Kentucky Derby. American Promise was trained in Marion County at Woodside Ranch. Owners of Woodside Ranch and trainers Bryan and Holley Rice say they’ve trained several horses that made it to popular races. Holley says it’s like watching a student graduate from school. “It’s very rewarding.

2 weeks ago | wcjb.com | Daja Clayton

BELLEVIEW, Fla. (WCJB) - Neighbors say they were awakened by lights and sirens as early as 2 a.m.Some say they even had to call out of work because of what was happening outside. “I couldn’t leave to go to work. I had to call my boss Jennifer at work to let her know that I couldn’t come in because I had no sleep. I was up all night,” said one resident. The shooting happened near the intersection of Southeast 107th Court and 128th Street in a neighborhood between Belleview and Ocklawaha.

2 weeks ago | kktv.com | Daja Clayton |Akim Powell

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - A 10-year-old boy in Florida died by suicide after his parents say he was bullied by his teacher, according to a lawsuit. Louis Johnson’s parents filed a lawsuit nearly two years after his death against the Marion County School Board on Monday. The wrongful death lawsuit claims that fifth-grade teacher Dawn White bullied Johnson, a Legacy Elementary School student, and recruited other students to bully him.