Back in 1976, Billy Joel foretold the story on "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)," where he flees New York for Florida — but nowhere in the tale did he mention horses.

And yet last month, the Long Island native reportedly purchased a horse ranch a bit west of Miami in the equestrian capital of Wellington, Fla., for $3.5 million, according to the Miami Herald. The five-acre Palm Beach Boulevard property designed for dressage —a competitive art in which "horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements," according to the International Equestrian Federation — is lined with mirrors so that riders can check those moves. The property also features a 12-stall barn with grooming quarters, a tack room and five paddocks.

According to the Herald, this comes in addition to an adjacent property Joel purchased in April 2016 for $3.6 million. But both pieces of real estate were purchased by limited liability corporations, and Joel, who has historically preferred waterfront homes, has not confirmed the buys.

Last weekend, he and his wife, Alexis Roderick, an accomplished rider and horse owner, attended the Winter Equestrian Festival, where they watched showjumping from the VIP pavilion. Friends and fellow rockers Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa, who also attended, also own property in Wellington, and are often in town to watch their daughter Jessica, a champion equestrian, compete.

Roderick gave birth to the couple's second daughter in October; they also have a 2-year-old, in addition to Joel's 32-year-old daughter Alexa, with ex-wife Christie Brinkley.

Just days ago, Joel announced his 56th Madison Square Garden show, part of his ongoing monthly residency at the New York City arena. In addition, he'll be performing at stadiums for a fifth consecutive summer, including at Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago's Wrigley Field and Philadelphia's Citizen's Bank Park.

 

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