09/12/2022
The horse is Needles, the first Florida born Kentucky Derby winner. The rider is Elmo Shropshire - 40 yrs later he would record the song you hear this time of year, “Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer”. The story: Elmo's father was the manager of the first race horse farm in Ocala. Elmo graduated from Ocala High School, the University of Florida, and Auburn Veterinary School, becoming a race track vet. In California he had a good practice, dabbled with his guitar and had an infectious grin. In 1979 he recorded “Grandma” on a lark and you know the rest. After Needles won the Derby and the Belmont in 1956, other breeders flocked to Florida. It is said “Needles sold more land than all the real estate agents in Marion County.” Today there are over a thousand horse farms in the area. Doctor Elmo has recorded 12 albums, 17 videos and is a champion marathoner at the age of 83. Thank you for this story! Ocala, Florida
