The Starting Gate
Established in 2010, Reid and Sarah Nagle purchased their initial 20-acre lot with 2 barns and 50 stalls at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston, FL to accommodate their own training operation. Initially, they occupied one barn and rented out the other. Over time the Nagles continued to purchase additional Oak Ridge properties, such that by the fall of 2021 Big Lick owned 11 of the 14 20-acre parcels at Oak Ridge. Having learned the needs of a top-flight racing and training operation from their own racing and training experiences, Reid and Sarah understand the unique qualifications a facility must have to support trainers at the top end of the sport. The Nagles have continued to invest in Oak Ridge with a belief that most other training facilities closer to Ocala are no longer investing, with the expectation that many of them are likely to be purchased by the World Equestrian Center and its sport horse enthusiasts and at some point will cease being thoroughbred training centers. To fill that expected void, the Nagles have committed to making every aspect of Oak Ridge the best that it can be.
The Quarter Pole
Today, Big Lick Stall Rental boasts 220 acres including 22 barns containing 440 stalls with direct access to high-performance training facilities set within a quiet, calm environment. With a superior one-mile dirt track, 7/8-mile turf course, starting gate, eurocisers, a Kraft Water Aquaciser, ECB cold saltwater spa, swim ponds, vibrating Vitafloor, round pens, paddocks, fly control systems in all barns, commercial ice machines accessible to all barns and professional staff, Big Lick Stall Rentals is Florida’s premier training facility and home to world-class trainers and equine athletes.
The Finish Line
Training racehorses continues to evolve and requires innovation, hunger, and passion. Big Lick Stall Rentals intends to meet every future need to include building facilities such as an onsite equine rehabilitation clinic, onsite veterinary clinic, and new barn expansions. Much like thoroughbreds, only thoughtful growth and conditioning produce desired results. Establishing your racing operation at Big Lick Stall Rentals’ facilities at Oak Ridge ensures you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities for breaking, training, and rehabilitating successful racehorses.
About
Our Team
Track Maintenance Expert | Grading Specialist | Global Consultant
With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Steven Wood Jr. is one of the most respected professionals in track maintenance. A third-generation trackman, Steven blends deep-rooted knowledge with modern techniques to deliver exceptional results on both dirt and synthetic surfaces. Now, trainers and horses at Oak Ridge Training Center can benefit from his world-class expertise.
Steven began operating equipment at just 12 years old under the mentorship of his father, who worked at tracks like Fairplex, Del Mar, and Santa Anita. His grandfather, Dr. Harold Wood, was a Thoroughbred owner in 1960s California. This family legacy shaped Steven’s lifelong passion for racetrack surfaces.
Steven has worked at over 30 U.S. racetracks, holding roles like Assistant Track Superintendent and Foreman at Santa Anita, Del Mar. He maintained Tommy Town Thoroughbred Training Facility for 25 years and most recently assisted Dennis Moore in overseeing some of the Stronach Group tracks nationwide.
Steven’s consulting work spans Australia, New Zealand, India, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Jamaica, and Hong Kong. He has:
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Built all-weather tracks at Randwick and Flemington
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Trained crews in organic track management
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Installed an all-weather surface track in Hong Kong and a synthetic surface in Del Mar
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Rehabilitated a turf course in Florida and a dirt course in Jamaica
A master of heavy equipment including graders, backhoes, and tractors, Steven is a skilled operator and team leader, managing crews of up to 20 with precision.
A bilingual husband and father of three, Steven brings integrity, adaptability, and a lifetime of commitment to safety and surface performance to Oak Ridge, Florida’s premier training center.
Adam Lites is a strategic financial leader with over 25 years of experience guiding organizations to operational excellence and sustainable growth. As Chief Financial Officer of Big Lick LLC, a diversified holding company, Adam oversees financial strategy and performance across a portfolio that includes logistics, hospitality, storage, and equine training businesses.
A Certified Public Accountant with an MBA from the University of Central Arkansas, Adam has held leadership roles in both private equity-backed and publicly traded companies. His background spans manufacturing, telecom, and resource-based industries, where he has consistently driven improvements through data-driven analysis, innovative problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration.
At Big Lick, Adam leads enterprise-wide improvement initiatives, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting while managing finance and administrative teams. He works closely with business leaders to shape strategy and implement change that delivers results.
Prior to Big Lick, Adam held senior finance roles at Conifex USA, Evergreen Packaging, Domtar Corporation, and Alltel Corporation.
Adam and his family live in the Gainesville area and enjoy outdoor adventures, sports, and traveling.
Reid and Sarah Nagle are the passionate founders behind Big Lick Stall Rental, one of Florida’s premier Thoroughbred training facilities. Their journey into equine facility development began in 2010 when they acquired their first 20-acre parcel at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston, Florida. Initially established to support their own Thoroughbred racing operation, their vision quickly expanded into something much larger.
Reid began his professional journey in the financial sector, founding SNL Financial in 1987. Under his leadership, the company quickly became a recognized name in financial analysis and data services. After decades of success in the business world, Reid redirected his focus toward the equine industry, where his strategic mindset and eye for development laid the foundation for numerous ventures in the horse industry.
Sarah, an accomplished Thoroughbred trainer, brings deep industry knowledge and hands-on experience to the operation. With over $2 million in career earnings and multiple stakes placements to her name, she continues to oversee the care and conditioning of racehorses at the facility.
Together, Reid and Sarah Nagle have cultivated Big Lick into more than just a training center—it is a community grounded in professionalism, innovation, and a deep respect for the sport of horse racing. Their leadership ensures that Big Lick remains at the forefront of excellence in Florida’s equine landscape.
