James Gammon, a long-time character actor who owned a Thoroughbred farm in Ocala, died on July 16 at age 70.

Gammon and his wife, Nancy, established Milagro, a nine-acre farm, in 1988 and considered Marion County their permanent home, according to the Ocala Star-Banner. They named the farm after the movie The Milagro Beanfield War, in which Gammon played a horse thief.

Perhaps best known for his role as Cleveland Indians manager Lou Brown in the comedy Major League, Gammon bred 2000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) winner Penny Blues with his wife and raced her in partnership with Don Johnson, his co-star in the television series “Nash Bridges.”

Penny Blues also won the 2001 Davie Stakes at Hialeah Park and placed in five other stakes races.

The Gammons bred 2004 Tropical Park Oaks runner-up Cold Wynnter in partnership with T. Wynn and Mary Jolley and Christian Chiari.

Playwright Sam Shepard told the Orlando Sentinel that he owned a Thoroughbred with Gammon and did several plays about horse racing with him.