by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — As Hurricane Irma crashed through Florida last weekend, the Allen family’s Golden Cross Farm in Ocala, was a safe harbor for dozens of horses and ponies evacuated from hard hit areas south of them.

The farm’s concrete block, center aisle barns kept 75 horses, nine dogs and a bird safe in the storm. The 14 people who arrived with the animals were sheltered in a cottage and apartment on the farm.

Rod Allen was unable to get home from Ontario, where he will race 3-year-old trotting filly Dream Baby Dream in the Elegantimage this Saturday.

His wife, Dawn, farm manager Arturo Gonzalez, daughters, Kaylie and Janine, their husbands and children, ranging in age from 11 to 13, prepared 75 stalls for the refugees, many from the hard-hit Sarasota area.

The farm is also home to 1995 Horse of the Year CR Kay Suzie, now 25, and her 31-year-old mother, Hall of Fame broodmare Country Kay Sue.

The farm lost trees, and has extensive debris on the ground, but all people and animals stayed safe. They lost power, though they have generators to pump water.

Dawn Allen, who said she had to turn away about 150 horses due to lack of space, says she is looking forward to having electricity again to wash “billions of wet towels.”

To read more on the Ocala.com website, click here.