Author Topic: Best winter training centers  (Read 6559 times)

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doublegaited

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Best winter training centers
« on: March 25, 2025, 12:31:03 PM »
Which winter training centers in the South are better than others?

rainman2

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2025, 03:03:57 PM »
Sunshine Meadows in Delray Beach Florida.

Well kept and maintained track. Sand based not limestone.

Harness racer

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2025, 03:08:32 PM »
Which winter training centers in the South are better than others?

Excellent first post considering Spring is right around the corner!   ngc3

LUCPARK

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2025, 03:40:35 PM »
Southern oaks in sorrento Florida

Is the best.  Not even close

REAL AMERICANS DONT TAKE A KNEE

jupiter

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2025, 04:17:05 PM »
Sunshine Meadows, great track and a nice area

Parked

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2025, 04:20:04 PM »
:most every trainer that goes to Fl to train say they are at the best.  I have visited 3 this winter. One is terrible, one is quite good and one is unbelievably good. 
The further South a trainer goes to guarantee a good track is going for himself and not the horse.   

rainman2

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2025, 04:34:02 PM »
:most every trainer that goes to Fl to train say they are at the best.  I have visited 3 this winter. One is terrible, one is quite good and one is unbelievably good. 
The further South a trainer goes to guarantee a good track is going for himself and not the horse.

My trainer doesn’t agree with the above statement as the farther south you go it is only better for the trainer and not the horse. A very nice sand surface at Sunshine Meadows and easier on the feet of the horse!

doublegaited

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2025, 04:36:59 PM »
Southern oaks in sorrento Florida

Is the best.  Not even close

I think so !  lol  Have heard good things about Southern Oaks.

PineHurstPacer

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2025, 06:01:18 PM »
most likely where Burke and Ake go

seems easiest way the to answer this

Chips N Salsa

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2025, 06:18:22 PM »
Ben White was the best by far.  Downtown Orlando and the track was perfect

doublegaited

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2025, 06:21:00 PM »
most likely where Burke and Ake go

seems easiest way the to answer this

Looking into both of those now thanks.  Can’t help but notice your username Pinehurstpacer? Do you not recommend Pinehurst?

gh2009

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2025, 06:24:34 PM »
Looking into both of those now thanks.  Can’t help but notice your username Pinehurstpacer? Do you not recommend Pinehurst?

Burke has his own training center now. There's an article and video on Harness Racing Update about it.

hoosierboy

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2025, 06:41:38 PM »
Southern Oak

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2025, 08:52:17 PM »
I've been to all of them and hit almost every one of them each winter. Which is the best? If you're looking at the track, it depends on what your beliefs are---clay, sand, mile, 5/8ths, straight-aways, etc.

Just an FYI, Burke bought the Winter Miles Training Center in Astor, FL. Here's a thought provoking question.....name a top trainer, other than Burke, who winter trains there? Things that make you go, Hhhmmmmm. LOL. Southern Oaks used to be the Simpson family, until Pinske bought it. Brian died two years later, so the stable really downsized and it became a lot more of a public training center. Sunshine Meadows is a quality facility, but they became the only game in town when South Florida Trotting Center began its decline. Spring Garden Ranch is a bit off the radar, underrated, etc., for a variety of reasons. I don't know if they are long for the game.

That said, simply looking at track(s), track conditions, how maintained, and facilities.....th e best FL training center I've seen is.....Palema Trotting.

Ohracing

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Re: Best winter training centers
« Reply #14 on: March 26, 2025, 04:45:32 PM »
I've been to all of them and hit almost every one of them each winter. Which is the best? If you're looking at the track, it depends on what your beliefs are---clay, sand, mile, 5/8ths, straight-aways, etc.

Just an FYI, Burke bought the Winter Miles Training Center in Astor, FL. Here's a thought provoking question.....name a top trainer, other than Burke, who winter trains there? Things that make you go, Hhhmmmmm. LOL. Southern Oaks used to be the Simpson family, until Pinske bought it. Brian died two years later, so the stable really downsized and it became a lot more of a public training center. Sunshine Meadows is a quality facility, but they became the only game in town when South Florida Trotting Center began its decline. Spring Garden Ranch is a bit off the radar, underrated, etc., for a variety of reasons. I don't know if they are long for the game.

That said, simply looking at track(s), track conditions, how maintained, and facilities.....th e best FL training center I've seen is.....Palema Trotting.

Burke bought the Reville training center in Astor Florida.  It was owned by a collection of people they all owned their own barns then shared ownership of the track.  Winter Miles Training Center was in Oveido Florida which is a suburb of Orlando.  It closed in the early 90s

 

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