Natalie Cuomo

Vanguard sophomores Lyla Hallick (7th of 398, 17:55) and Christopher Taylor (15:56) led Marion County at the New World Fall Spectacular on Oct. 17, 2026. Belleview's Asher Inman placed third in the boys' B race in 16:00, and North Marion's Brooklyn Smith ran 16:13.

In December, Marion County commissioners said no to 71 homes on a horse farm off SW 80th Street. On Oct. 6 they voted 4-0 to certify the farm as an agricultural enclave, because a new state law gave them little choice. The 71-home plan still goes through county staff review. Commissioners said the state keeps taking decisions away from the people closest to them.

Ocala City Council introduced Ordinance 2027-1 on Oct. 6 to repeal the city's local business tax, known as the business tax receipt (BTR). The final vote is scheduled for Oct. 20. Staff also asked to refund businesses that already paid for 2026-27.

The 2026 OBS October Yearling Sale in Ocala ended Oct. 7 with 267 yearlings sold for $6,775,500. The average rose to $25,376 and the median to $17,000. A Girvin filly bred by Ocala's Glen Hill Farm topped the sale at $190,000.

Marion County voters will decide Nov. 3, 2026, whether the county may issue up to $140 million in bonds for parks, trails, clean water protection, farms and forests, repaid by a countywide property tax of no more than 0.35 mill. Here is the ballot language, the rules the commission attached and the county's project list.

The first Go and Gobble 5K runs Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. on the grounds of the Florida Horse Park in Ocala. Registration is $40 through Nov. 21 and includes a long-sleeve shirt and finisher medal.