E.C. "Pug" Hart, DVM

Dr. E.C.”Pug” Hart is the consummate horseman. He graduated from Texas A&M and worked for legendary veterinarian Dr. Charlie Graham who taught him both veterinary skills and incredible work ethics.

Pug has done it all from racehorses to cutting horses, rodeo and even foxhunting. After moving to Florida, he worked at the Miami tracks until he bought and developed Hart Farm in Ocala into one of the larger training and breeding centers in the area.

While practicing in Ocala, Pug had the opportunity to work on some of the great racehorses of our times including Mr. Prospector and  Slew o Gold. The farm grew to the point that there were often in excess of 300 horses in residence. His clientele included such well known names as Mace and Samantha Siegel, Will Farish, Morton Rosenthal, and Cal Partee just to name a few.

In 1998, Pug and Susie sold their Florida facility to Jerry Bailey and embarked on a new venture in Va. They developed a raw piece of land into a state of the art equestrian property where they continue to be active in every facet of the business. The farm has already produced 2 Va bred 2 year old champions plus numerous sales toppers and stakes winners. Pug served a 4 year stint on the Grayson Jockey Club Research committee and is a member of the AAEP. He is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in numerous states

Susie Hart

Susie Hart is a lifelong horsewoman whose career has evolved around her love for horses. She started out showing hunters and jumpers and made the transition to the racehorses as a young woman.

She has been involved in almost every aspect of the Thoroughbred industry.  In 1986 she set a world record for a pinhooked 2 year old with a Danzig colt that she sold at the Fasig Tipton Calder sale.

Before moving back to Virginia in 1998, Susie and her veterinarian husband E.C. “Pug” Hart owned and operated a large Thoroughbred training and breeding center in Ocala, FL where they stood stallions, bred and foaled mares and always had 75-85 horses in training.

In addition to owning and racing Champion Victory Gallop who they purchased as a yearling at Keeneland, the Hart’s developed and managed the racing career of Eclipse champion Maria’s Mon and more than 100 other stakes winners for themselves or their clients. Susie continues to be active at the sales and the races advising clients as well as buying and selling horses she and her husband raise and/or pinhook. Susie is an avid rider and still foxhunts whenever times allows yet the farm is a busy place between foaling, layups, sales prep and the swim facility so there isn’t much spare time for hobbies. Maybe that’s why Susie’s motto is that her vocation and avocation are one and the same.