Category Archives: Racing

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Diamond Stripes Retires at Old Friends

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY — JANUARY 3, 2012 — Diamond Stripes, the 9-year-old son of Notebook, has been retired to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY,

Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, made the announcement today.

Bred in Florida by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rogers Jr, for their Four Roses Thoroughbreds, Diamond Stripes won six of his 16 starts, including three black-type victories. His earnings total $1,479,014.

Diamond Stripes broke his maiden in the 2006 Pegasus Stakes (GR3) and the following year he captured the Meadowlands Cup (GR2). The win earned him entry into that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he finished 8th on an off track.

His greatest victory, however, came in 2008 in Dubai where he triumphed in the $1-million Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) under jockey Edgar Prado.

Continue reading Diamond Stripes Retires at Old Friends →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Ferdinand’s Star Retires to Old Friends

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY – DECEMBER 19, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, has joined with Lexington’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center and CANTER Michigan to permanently retire two Thoroughbreds, Ferdinand’s Star and Mikethespike.

Michael Blowen, Old Friends founder and president, made the announcement today.

Ferdinand’s Star, a son of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand out of the Dare to Command mare Rose and Betty, comes to Old Friends from The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center, an equine adoption and rehabilitation facility located at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The 16-year-old gelding is a testament to the versatility of the Thoroughbred as he has run the gamut of careers since making his first start on the racetrack in 1998.

Continue reading Ferdinand’s Star Retires to Old Friends →

Auctions, Benefits, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Racing

“Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Kentucky Derby Hats Continues with a Chapeau Inspired by Breeders’ Cup Champion Prized

Leave a comment

Proceeds to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement

GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 30, 2011 – “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” a charity auction of fashionable Kentucky Derby Hats, continues December 1st as bidding opens on “The Prized.”

“The Prized” hat is the second chapeau to go on the virtual block in this six-month-long auction, which kicked off November 1st.

Proceeds from this exclusive event benefit Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in central Kentucky, and features beautiful hats handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of Maggie Mae Designs.

Each of the six unique designs are inspired by one of the pensioned racehorses at Old Friends, and a new hat will be offered for bid each month leading up to the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby, held in 2012 on May 5th at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.

Continue reading “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Kentucky Derby Hats Continues with a Chapeau Inspired by Breeders’ Cup Champion Prized →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Vosburgh Winner Fabulous Strike to Old Friends

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 23, 2011 – Fabulous Strike, winner of the 2007 Vosburgh Stakes, has been permanently pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY.

The 8-year-old Pennsylvania bred was retired from racing in September and was donated to Old Friends by his owner and breeder, Walter Downey and his Tea Party Stable.

Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike – Fabulous Find by Lost Code) is a five-time graded stakes winner and was one of the nation’s top sprinters between 2007 and 2009. In addition to the Vosburgh, his victories include the GR1 Aristides Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2007 and the GR2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. in 2009. In all, the gelding captured 15 of his 28 starts and had total career earnings of $1, 448, 399.

Continue reading Vosburgh Winner Fabulous Strike to Old Friends →

Auctions, Breeds, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Racing

“Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Couture Kentucky Derby Hats Returns for Third Year

Leave a comment

Proceeds to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement

GEORGETOWN, KY – OCTOBER 31, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, is happy to announce the launch of the third annual “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” an online auction of exclusive Kentucky Derby hats.

The first of six hats exclusive Derby chapeaus will go on the virtual block November 1st and bidding will be open for 10 days. The first hat will commemorate Hall of Fame Champion Noor.

Interested bidders can visit www.oldfriendsequine.org and follow the link.

In the past two years this the six-month-long charity auction, featuring beautiful hats handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinman, has raised nearly $9,000 for the more than 100 retired racehorses cared for by Old Friends.

Continue reading “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Couture Kentucky Derby Hats Returns for Third Year →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, Racing

Celebrate Breeders’ Cup Day at Old Friends Sunday November 6

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY — OCTOBER 31, 2011 — Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, and its 30 retired Breeders’ Cup stars, invite fans to join them for a special celebration of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup on Sunday, November, 6 at 12 noon.

The festivities will take place at Old Friends’s Dream Chase Farm, located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown. Tickets are $25. Members or students tickets are available for $15, and reservations can be made by calling (502) 863-1775.

Guests will enjoy a full BBQ buffet by Tommy Walters of Furlong’s Catering, farm tours, live and silent auctions, a demonstration on the making of Raku/horse hair pottery by the artists of Pottery Rowe, and music by Lexington favorite Roger BonDurant.

And this year guests can also look forward to a special appearance and performance by singer/songwriter Liza G Fly, best known for her song “Zenyatta.”

Continue reading Celebrate Breeders’ Cup Day at Old Friends Sunday November 6 →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Stakes Winner You and I Arrives at Old Friends

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY — OCTOBER 28, 2011 — On Wednesday October 27 Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, happily welcomed GR1-winner and top sire You and I.  The stallion arrived from Washington state and will now be permanently pensioned at the farm.

Woodstead Farm in Chehalis, WA, where he most recently stood stud, donated the 20-year-old son of Kris S to Old Friends.

Campaigned by prominent owner Edmund A. Gann and legendary trainer Bobby Frankel, You and I (Kris S – La Chaposa, by Ups) won 6 of 16 starts including the GR2 Cowdin stakes as a 2-year-old.  The following year he set a track record in the GR3 Riva Ridge Stakes, running the 7 furlongs in 1:20.33. At 4 You and I finally earned his GR 1 capturing the 1995 Metropolitan Handicap and later that year the GR 2 Brooklyn H. His career earnings totaled $701, 235.

During his stallion career You and I sired 15 stakes winners, most notably the five-time GR1-winning filly You.

Continue reading Stakes Winner You and I Arrives at Old Friends →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Personalized Euthanized at Old Friends

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY — OCTOBER 20, 2011 — Personalized, one of only four foals produced by Hall of Fame champion Precisionist, has died.

The 21-year-old mare was humanely euthanized at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, where she had been pensioned since 2008. The mare was discovered in her paddock having suffered a fractured hip.

“We welcomed Personalized to Old Friends because of our great love for her sire but it wasn’t long before her kind eyes and gentle disposition made her special regardless of her lineage,” said Old Friends president and founder, Michael Blowen.

Owned and bred by Florida-based Fred Hooper, who also bred her sire, Personalized (Precisionist – Ski Title, by Baldski) only had eight starts in her career and no wins, earning only $1,050.  She was discovered in a feedlot Yakima, WA in 2008 by the Columbia Basin Equine Rescue and then found a permanent home at Old Friends.

Continue reading Personalized Euthanized at Old Friends →

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Old Friends, The National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, and Nick Ryan’s Saloon to Present “Hall of Fame Day at Old Friends”

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY – OCTOBER 6, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, has partnered with the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Lexington’s Nick Ryan’s Saloon to proudly present “Hall of Fame Day at Old Friends” on Monday October 17, 2011.

The event will kick off at 3pm at Old Friends, 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown, with an observance for the three great Thoroughbred Champions who have been laid to rest at the farm’s official Hall of Fame Cemetery: Skip Away, Noor, and Precisionist.

The afternoon will be highlighted by tours of the farm and visits with many of the stars of the turf now retired at Old Friends.

Hall of Fame Day continues with an evening soiree (6pm) at Nick Ryan’s Saloon, located at 157 West Jefferson Street in Lexington.

Tickets to Nick Ryan’s are $50 and include a BBQ buffet, drinks, live music, and many special guests; reservations can be made by calling (502) 863-1775.

“We’re flattered that the National Racing Hall of Fame has honored Old Friends by designated us as the official cemetery for Hall of Famer’s whose final resting spots may be in jeopardy,” said Old Friends founder, Michael Blowen. “We’re grateful to Nick Ryan’s for their participation and support and we welcome everyone to the event, especially members of the Hall of Fame.”

Continue reading Old Friends, The National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, and Nick Ryan’s Saloon to Present “Hall of Fame Day at Old Friends” →

Auctions, Benefits, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Old Friends Day at River Downs Honors Appygolucky

Leave a comment

GEORGETOWN, KY – AUGUST 30, 2011 – Monday, Sept. 5 is Old Friends Day at River Downs racetrack in Cincinnati, OH.

Join us for an exciting day of racing as River Downs celebrates the careers of Ohio millionaire Catlaunch and recently retired fan favorite Eagle Time. The benefit will raise money for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY.

In addition to the second running of the “Old Friends” race, the event, held from 11 AM – 5 PM, will feature a silent auction of select racing memorabilia. Featured items include a Moneigh by Old Friends retiree Danthebluegrassman and other unique collectibles. All proceeds will benefit Old Friends.

While at the track fans are invited to stop by the Old Friends booth and learn more about the organization and its many retired equine athletes.

The Old Friends benefit at River Downs began last year as a tribute to Appygolucky, an Old Friends retiree who was once considered the King of the Claimers at the River Downs. He also set the track record for a mile at Beulah Park, which still stands.

Appy passed away in 2009, but his legacy of helping fellow claiming horses lives on.

For additional information contact Vivien Morrison at val226@aol.com.

About Old Friends
Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 100 retired racehorses.  Its Dream Chase Farm, located in Georgetown, KY, is open to tourists daily by appointment. Old Friends also has a satellite facility in Greenfield Center, New York, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which is also open to visitors. For more information on tours, reservations at the Old Friends B&B, or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.