Winding Oaks Farm

 

Winding Oaks Farm began operation in January 2002,  owned by Eugene and Laura Melnyk, it stretches over nearly 1,000 acres in beautiful Marion County, Florida. An historic property, it was previously the site of both Tartan Farm and Mockingbird Farm. 

Winding Oaks Farm is now home to Melnyk Racing Stables which has become one of the top thoroughbred racing stables in North America. The farm employs a staff of 90 and is home to over 400 thoroughbred horses including such notable legends as Archers Bay, winner of the 1998 Queen's Plate, the 1998 Prince of Wales Stake, and the 1998 Sovereign Award as Canada's top three-year old colt.  Speightstown, the son of legendary Gone West, has won the 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint and the 2004 Sprint Eclipse Award. In 2005, Flower Alley won the Travers and in 2007, Marchfield won the Breeders' Stakes.

2007 brought another first for Eugene when his homebred filly Sealy Hill won the Sovereign Award for Horse Of The Year in Canada, 3 Year Old Filly of the Year, Female Turf Horse and became the first Canadian filly to win the Triple Tiara. Additionally, Melnyk Racing Stables won the Sovereign Award for 2007 Owner of The Year. In 2008, Marchfield was named Canadian Champion Older Male on the Main Track.

Other Graded Stakes winners amongst the Winding Oaks stable include; Arch Hall, Bishop Court Hill, Bridgetown, Fisher Pond, Gemswick Park, Gouldings Green, Graeme Hall, Harlington, Harmony Lodge, Host (CHI), Indian Vale, Lodge Hill, Marchfield, Marley Vale, Pico Teneriffe, Pool Land, Sealy Hill, Sterwins, Strong Hope and Tweedside.

Eugene's achievements and meritorious contributions to the sport of thoroughbred racing led him to be named the co-recipient of the 2002 Joe Palmer Award issued by the National Turf Writers Association. In 2005, Eugene and his wife Laura were awarded TOBA's National Owners of the Year Award.