Roberts puts Ocala training center on market
Robert "Country" and Bea Roberts, who dispersed nearly all of their racing and breeding stock at the 1999 Keeneland November sale, have placed their Post Time Training Center near Ocala on the market. No price has been advertised, but Country Roberts said it would be "around $10-million."
The reason for the sale stems in part from Roberts' ongoing legal battle with Peter Callahan and Barry Golden over the sale of Saints Cup during the November sale, Roberts said Friday. The suit, filed earlier this year, alleges that Saints Cup had a pre-existing physical problem before being purchased by trainer Billy Badgett on behalf of Callahan on a bid $850,000. The suit remains unresolved and the three-year-old colt is currently at Post Time but not in training.
Roberts said the sale of the training center would relieve financial pressures. He noted that since the lawsuit was filed, he has not received the $850,000 bid for Saints Cup.
"I bought the farm about five years ago," Roberts said. "It takes in a good amount of money. The training center makes money and has done a good job."
The approximately 400-acre facility features 18 stalls with a stall capacity of 470, a six-furlong lighted training track, 125 full paddocks, and a complete irrigation system.
"It stays full all the time," Roberts said. "It's just a showplace around the Ocala area. I've had a lot of good clients there, including (pinhooker) Eddie Woods, who has been there the last three years."—Tom Law