Tag Archives: horse racing

Join the Old Friends Royal Excursion Tour

GEORGETOWN, KY – SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 – This October, you’re invited to a Kentucky Royal Excursion experience featuring Old Friends Farm.

On October 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd (four consecutive Tuesdays) a small group of guests will board a luxury shuttle and take a guided tour of Keeneland Racecourse, Old Friends Farm, and the stately Kentucky Castle.

Keeneland Racecourse is a celebrated national landmark in Lexington with timeless beauty. Here tour guests will get a unique look at the sport of Thoroughbred Racing, including a track-side view of horses in their morning workouts.

From Keeneland, travel to Old Friends Farm, a Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown that cares for over 200 retired horses. Experience a tour led by founder Michael Blowen to meet Kentucky Derby-Preakness winners Silver Charm and War Emblem, and many other equine champions.

From there you will enjoy a scenic drive to the Kentucky Castle, a boutique hotel set in a medieval-style castle on scenic grounds featuring landscaped gardens. End the day with a guided Castle tour, and a three-course seasonal lunch in the Grand Ballroom.

Tours begin at 9 am at the Kentucky Castle, 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY, and will be offered on Tuesday October 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd.

Tickets are $85 per person and include all transportation and a luxury lunch.

Tickets can be reserved online by visiting the Kentucky Castle, using the EVENTS tab, and choosing your preferred date, or CLICK HERE.

For more information, visit www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (502) 863-1775, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; or Barbara Fossum, (502) 863-1775, barbara@oldfriendsequine.org

Melbourne Cup Horse Race 2019

The 2019 VRC Melbourne Cup is a Group I handicap race and it is Australia’s most famous annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 1.988 mile race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November and is known locally as “the race that stops a nation”.

The Melbourne Cup field typically comprises a star-studded array of both local and international horse racing champions. The horses that compete in the Melbourne Cup are chosen according to a range of parameters. Inferior racehorses are balloted out based on a range of metrics, such as handicap weight and performance in certain races. If you love horse racing betting, claim the TVG promo code! You can get money back when you place your first bet.

Balloting conditions are that the race directors retain the absolute discretion to exclude any horse from the race, or exempt any horse from the ballot on the race, but in order to reduce the field to the safety limit of 24, horses are balloted out based on a number of factors which include

1000 in prize money earned in the previous two years, 9 wins or placings in certain lead-up races and 3 allocated handicap weight.

Betting on the Melbourne Cup is one of the most Australian things you can do and millions of people have a flutter every year in an attempt to snare the win. The ultimate test of stamina and staying power, the Melbourne Cup is raced over a punishing distance of 3,200 metres (1.988 miles). More grueling than any other major event in Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival, the prestigious race places extraordinary demands on the contestants, and bestows exceptional glory upon the winners.

In addition to the huge Australian audience that drops everything each November to follow the race, the Melbourne Cup has also captured the imaginations of countless international racing fans.

With close to half of the field for the 2017 Melbourne Cup being raiders trained outside of Australia and New Zealand, the event has blossomed into a truly global affair. Australia does not have a reputation for breeding genuine stayers so, each year, the Melbourne Cup field features more and more internationally bred and trained horses. In recent years, international horses have dominated Melbourne Cup races.

The total prize money for the 2019 race is $8,000,000, plus trophies valued at $250,000. The first 12 past the post receive prize money, with the winner Cross Counter being paid $4 million, second $1 million, third $500,000, fourth $250,000, fifth $175,000, with sixth through twelfth place earning $150,000.

Prize money is distributed to the connections of each horse in the ratio of 85 percent to the owner, 10 percent to the trainer, and 5 percent to the jockey.

For thoroughbred racehorses, the prestigious Melbourne Cup is the world’s richest handicap. The competitive landscape has changed considerably in Australia in recent times, leaving the Melbourne Cup as one of few authentic, two-mile horse races. The Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington Racecourse and the Sydney Cup in NSW are the only other 3,200 metre Group 1 races on Australian shores.

The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition, with the first race held in 1861. It was originally over two miles (3.219 km) but was shortened to 3,200 metres (1.988 mi) in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system. This reduced the distance by 18.688 metres (61.312 ft), and Rain Lover’s 1968 race record of 3:19.1 was accordingly adjusted to 3:17.9. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3:16.3.

Lasting for approximately three and a half minutes, the Melbourne Cup is the ultimate test of strength, speed, and endurance. A Bart Cummings-trained horse Kingston Rule famously obliterated the competition back in 1990 to set an all-time record of 3:16.30 minutes.

Breeders’ Cup World Championships 2018 Race Results

Image Source.

A sport that undertakes a lot of pride, horse racing, continues its legacy to become a well-known sports event in today’s time. Individuals gather yearly to witness the event’s calendar of activities.

While there are people who went to the race to witness and cheer for their favorites and to have fun, most of the individuals who are attending horse racing events are going for the sole reason of betting.

Among the famous horse racing events in the world are the Triple Crown Races; Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Others are the Dubai World Cup, Epsom Derby, and the Breeders’ Cup which will happen this upcoming November 2 & 3, 2019.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is a yearly event of horse races for Grade I Thoroughbred racehorses. The venue in which the sport is partaking varies each year. Thus, the attendance differs depending primarily on the host track’s ability to hold a lot of people.

However, the horse racing is held in two days, having a series of races that caters a lot of racehorses depending upon their potentials. The Breeders’ Cup Classes, has a total of $6 million purses. This thing makes every individual feel wanting to join the event.

2018’s Breeders’ Cup has a unique flow of events. Held at Churchill Downs, and for the very first time, Juvenile races happened on the first day of the championships, and “Future Stars Friday” was the theme of the program. As it celebrates its 35 years in the horse racing industry, a new set of notable winners are known and commended.

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Despite the difficulty of loading and breaking the 14th position, Accelerate made his way to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic race.  With a time of 2:02.93, Accelerate contained the one ¼ mile track. The horse’s victory gave his trainer John Sadler’s first win in the Breeders’ Cup, while his jockey Joel Rosario his ninth time to win.

Winning the race, it was Accelerate’s fourth time finishing a race first at a distance of 1 ¼ mile in 2018.

Longines Turf

The two-time Arc heroine Enable fended off famous horse Magical to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Enable was drawn around the six or seven turns as both horses made a close fight reaching the finish line.

Frankie Dettori, jockey of Enable, had a hard time making position because all others are competitive enough to win the race. Thus, as Dettori found the perfect pacing, he then did correctly guide Enable to finishing the race first.

Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile

In 1:33.83, the City of Light, trained by Michael McCarthy and guided by Javier Castellano, completed the one-turn mile on a fast track.

City of Light as a 4-year-old picked up his third Grade 1 win out of his ten career starts. It was the third time for the racehorse to win a horse racing event.

Longines Distaff

Winning the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup, Monomoy Girl capped an almost perfect season. A distance of 1 ⅛ mile raced by the horse at a time of 1:49.79.

The racehorse once again demonstrated to be the top of her class, beating inferior mares and fillies to win the Churchill Downs Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Mile

The Breeders’ Cup Mile seemed to have four various horses in the stretch with a full potential winning the race, but Expert Eye rallied won and fought the outside win.

Thus, unleashing a powerful late show under Frankie Dettori, Expert Eye (GB) claimed the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile last November 3, 2018.

TwinSpires Sprint

Racehorse Roy H drew away to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, becoming the second repeat champion of the day.

Moreover, Roy H made his title defense look like a casual jog in the park on November 3 in the $2 million worth TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint. It was the racehorse’s third win in five starts in the year 2018, and ninth since his racing career started.

Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf

Sistercharlie, who began her horse racing career in France, went down with pneumonia after coming second in her U.S debut in July 2017.

Despite the situation, the racehorse demonstrated her core in every race in 2018. She bravely ran in the one ⅜ mile racetrack, racing against a lot of competitive horses. Thus, it was the racehorse’s third consecutive Grade 1 win.

Turf Sprint

Stormy Liberal asserted a transcendent fight in repeating his Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victory. The horse ran down a lot of driven racehorses, including the pacesetter World of Trouble.

For two consecutive years, Stormy Liberal raced through the event, and fortunately, it was also his second time winning the competition. Furthermore, in the year 2018, the racehorse received the Eclipse Award Champion Male Turf Horse.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Shamrock Rose, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr, covered the seven furlongs on a significant fast track in 1;23.13 finishing time.

For the improving racehorse, winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint was the horse’s fourth consecutive victory.

Among the Juvenile races, here are the winning racehorses who ranked first in each of the events:

  • Sentient Jet Juvenile – Game Winner, trained by Bob Baffert and guided by jockey Joel Rosario.
  • Juvenile Fillies – Jaywalk, score handed by trainer John Servis and escorted again by famous rider Joel Rosario.
  • Juvenile Fillies Turf – Newspaperofrecord (IRE), having Irad Ortiz Jr. as the jockey.
  • Juvenile Turf – It was Line of Duty who won, ridden by William Buick and upskilled by Charles Appleby.
  • Juvenile Turf Sprint – Won by Bulletin, trained by Todd Pletcher and guided by jockey Javier Castellano.

Breeders’ Cup World Championships/Melbourne Cup

By The Javelina from The Suburbs of Angels, USA – Breeders Cup 2009 001, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35175632.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders’ Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. The host track for the two-day event typically rotates to varying tracks each year. Most recent notable tracks are Santa Anita, Del Mar, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs. In 2019, the Breeders’ Cup will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, and for a record-breaking 10th time following Breeders’ Cup’s most recent appearance at the track in 2016. An exclusive pre-sale will take place prior to the public ticket sale launch on March 4.

Concurrently on another hemisphere, you have the 2019 VRC Melbourne Cup group I handicap race in Australia – its most famous annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 1.988 mile race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November and is known locally as “the race that stops a nation.”

Melbourne Cup 2019 promises to yet again be an unrivaled racing spectacle! Year after year the event continues to grow in popularity and attracts new fans worldwide. If you want to join in on the hype for the race that stops a nation, learn about Melbourne Cup favorites and get the latest Melbourne Cup tips all you need to do is read through our comprehensive guide.

The Melbourne Cup field typically comprises a star-studded array of both local and international horse racing champions. The horses that compete in the Melbourne Cup are chosen according to a range of parameters. Inferior racehorses are balloted out based on a range of metrics, such as handicap weight and performance in certain races.

Balloting conditions are that the race directors retain the absolute discretion to exclude any horse from the race, or exempt any horse from the ballot on the race, but in order to reduce the field to the safety limit of 24, horses are balloted out based on a number of factors which include 1000 in prize money earned in the previous two years, 9 wins or placings in certain lead-up races and 3 allocated handicap weight.  Betting on the Melbourne Cup is one of the most Australian things you can do and millions of people have a flutter every year in an attempt to snare the win.

Back to United States, there are a maximum of 14 starters are allowed in each of the Breeders’ Cup Championships races (depending on track dimensions, some races such as the Turf Sprint or Dirt Mile may be limited to 12 starters). Breeders’ Cup Limited has adopted a field selection system to select runners in the event fields are oversubscribed. Winners of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge races automatically qualify. Other pre-entries are ranked by (1) a point system for graded stakes performance during the year, and (2) the judgment of a panel of racing experts. After pre-entries are taken approximately two weeks before the Breeders’ Cup, the ranking determines eligibility in oversubscribed races. After pre-entry, any vacancies in the fields are filled by horses in order of panel preference.

In 2018, there were 14 races in total, all but one of which were Grade 1. The Breeders’ Cup typically marks the end of the North American horse racing season, even though a few grades I events take place in late November and in December. The Breeders’ Cup is two full days of events that you can place bets on. There is a lot to cover but follow this guide for breeders cup entries to give you some highlights of horses that Breeders’ Cup betting participants staked their money on. It’s always important to thoroughly research your bets, especially during Breeders’ Cup betting season. Use our guide as a good starting point. In addition, you will find out the best Breeders’ Cup live stream places to watch.

From 2008 to 2014, the Breeders’ Cup was held at either Churchill Downs or Santa Anita Park, both major tracks with a demonstrated record of success in hosting the event. In 2015, however, Keeneland was selected as the host track for the first time, in large part because of Lexington’s position as the center of the North American thoroughbred breeding industry. Although concerns were raised over Keeneland’s limited amount of permanent seating, the 2015 event was considered a success, with record Friday attendance and a sell-out on Saturday.

2015 marked the first time a Triple Crown had been won since the inception of the Breeders’ Cup, and thus the first opportunity to win the so-called Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing, consisting of the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic. American Pharoah completed the feat in a decisive wire to wire victory. In 2016, Santa Anita had the record upon hosting the Breeders’ Cup for a record ninth time. The 2017 event was held at Del Mar for the first time.

The 2018 event was held at Churchill Downs. For the 2018 event, the Friday card was known as “Future Stars Friday” and featured five races for two-year-olds, including the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Distaff moved back to the Saturday card. Additional Breeders’ Cup changes arrived with the Breeders’ Cup Future Wager, similar to the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, and the first time the Equestrian event which was intermingled with Breeders’ Cup and Churchill Downs activities.

Mike Smith Awarded 2019 ESPY Best Jockey Award

Mike Smith and Justify. Photo by Adam Coglianese.

Gilbert, AZ – July 16, 2019 – On Wednesday, July 10, top athletes around the globe gathered together to be awarded some of the most prestigious awards in sports. When it came time for the jockeys to step into the spotlight, it was American Equus Chosen Rider Mike Smith who was handed the 2019 ESPY Best Jockey Award at the event Presented by Capital One.

Kicking off the tradition of hosting the ESPY Awards annually in 1993, ESPN gives out awards to the best individual athletes, teams, and sports moments in Los Angeles, California. The awards occur on one of the two days that no games from any of the four major pro sports are held and benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research in memory of Jim Valvano, a college basketball coach and analyst.

Among one of the four nominated athletes, Smith was given the top honors this year over jockeys Florent Geroux, Irad Ortiz Jr., and Jose Ortiz, who was the 2018 winner. Both Irad Ortiz Jr. and Florent Geroux share the title of American Equus Chosen Rider with Smith, but the celebrated 2018 Triple Crown winner was the one to hold the ESPY Best Jockey trophy this year for the first time since 1994.

“We are incredibly proud to have a legendary jockey like Mike Smith representing American Equus so well,” said David Shano, Founder and CEO of American Equus. “He has continued to make history throughout his career, most recently with his Triple Crown win last year to become the 13th winner. He is a wonderful example of what being a Chosen Rider means-his passion for the sport and the horses he shares the track with is truly inspiring.”

The Racing Hall of Famer has garnered incredible results with his top horses of the year, Midnight Bisou and McKinzie, accumulating earnings over $5.7 million so far. Now 53 years of age, Smith is showing no signs of slowing down following his 5,527 career wins and earnings close to $324 million. At the top of his game, he is focused on continuing to pilot some of the most talented thoroughbreds in racing to victory after victory.

Media Contact: Lenore Phillips
561-753-3389 | lrb@phelpsmediagroup.com

Equine Events in New York State – Summer

New York State is home to a ton of horse and equine events. Hunters, jumpers, Dressage, Western, polo, horse racing, and more.

The annual Saratoga horse racing summer meet is underway, and there are several significant changes to this year’s meet. Among them, the meeting will be longer in duration but with shorter race weeks, and the New York Racing Association is changing the format of its Pick 6 bet. Be sure to get your Betamerica Promo Code before you go.

Concrete Rose’s domination of last Saturday’s Belmont Oaks gave Arnold his first Grade 1 win in 2019 and had the third-generation horseman hearkening back to his first top-level victory in 1982, when he saddled Wavering Monarch to win the Haskell Invitational.

Region 16 Arabian Horse Championship is at New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd in Syracuse. Then, at the New York State Fair in August, there will be hunters and jumpers.

Rolex Central Park Horse Show

Every year, in late September a four-day equestrian competition takes place at Central Park’s Wollman Rink. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show features a diverse program of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. One day of the competition usually offers free admission. The family-friendly celebration includes face-painting and educating equestrian exhibitions.

The New York Polo Series continues every Sunday, at Bethpage Polo at the Park.  Watch an exciting polo match led by world-renowned polo players. Gates open at 2pm, Game time 3pm.  Cheer from the sidelines during the match and participate in the divot stomp. Reserve your tickets now.  For more information, visit bethpagepolo.com.

Get Ready for Polo Hamptons 2019 Hosted by Christie Brinkley

The Polo Match & Cocktail Party will be held in Bridgehampton, 900 Lumber Lane, on Saturday, June 29, 2019 and July 6, 2019. The Match and Cocktail Party will take place between 4 pm to 7:30pm. As guests enjoy the thrill of the polo match they will have access to an open bar paired with hors d’oeuvres and preferred seating. There is complimentary parking, but we suggest taking Uber. Only 500 tickets will be available for each date, so please purchase your tickets today. Rain or shine. To see more information, email: mj@madisonavenueagency.com.

Social Life will host its 3rd annual Polo Hamptons event this summer. Last year over 600 attendees & 20 plus sponsors joined forces to enjoy the afternoon festivities. All sat back in awe watching polo players on the field, while sponsors promoted B2C & B2B to the well-received affluent while enjoying cocktails & fine cuisine.

Social Life Magazine will produce the event. Its staff are experts in producing and managing high-profile events, with experience in managing celebrities and the media. The Polo Match setting is glamorous and exclusive. Ideal for luxury brands to showcase product or services. Professional production and management of your on-site activation throughout the event. A strong network of sophisticated, affluent, and influential clientele.

Horse Racing in the Garden State

Horse racing fans will appreciate the legacy of the sport found in New Jersey. With three racetracks offering thoroughbred racing, there are plenty of opportunities to catch all the action.

Race Tracks

When it comes to horse racing, visitors and residents alike have no shortage of choices with three tracks that feature harness and thoroughbred racing at its best. Get 2 Risk-Free Bets up to $1,000 with the Pointsbet promo code. Freehold Raceway, in Freehold, is the nation’s oldest and fastest daytime half mile harness racing track and home to the Cane Pace, which is the first leg in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers. Located in central New Jersey, in the historic town of Freehold, Freehold Raceway was established in 1853 and features live Standard bred harness races for trotters and pacers. The raceway’s season runs from August through early June. The racetrack is also open seven days a week and seven nights for year-round thoroughbred and harness racing simulcasts from tracks throughout North America. Freehold Raceway is located at the intersection of Rt. 9 and Business Rt. 33 in Freehold, New Jersey and is directly across the street from the Freehold Raceway Mall.

Nearby, in Oceanport, is Monmouth Park, which hosts thoroughbred racing. Monmouth Park has been a Shore tradition since 1870. It’s also the home of the $1 million Haskell Invitational that’s held every August. On Haskell Day, admission gates open at 10am with the first race at noon. In addition to all the great racing, Monmouth Park hosts numerous special and family events. Every Sunday from noon to 4pm is Family Fun Day Starting “On the Green” and spreading all the way to the picnic area, visitors will find clowns, face painters, live music, pony rides, a bounce house, the park’s mascot Cocoa Puff, and more. In addition, there is a playground in the picnic area and an arcade on the first floor of the Grandstand. Monmouth Park has a variety of dining options from casual concessions to upscale dining in the dining terrace.   Monmouth Park is the Jersey Shore’s premier destination for live Thoroughbred racing with free Family Fun Days every Sunday (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Check out monmouthpark.com for a list of season events such as the Shore Chef Crabcake Cook-Off and BBQ & Craft Beer Festival. Live racing May – Sept. $3 Grandstand admission, $5 Clubhouse admission, and children 12 and under are always admitted free.

East Rutherford is home to the Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment across from MetLife Stadium, which is the home field to the New York Giants and New York Jets. Live harness racing began at the Meadowlands in 1976 before an opening day crowd of 42,133. Nighttime harness racing was an immediate hit in New Jersey and racing was about to change for the better – and for the bettor. The following year thoroughbred racing debuted at the racetrack before a crowd of 25,158. The Meadowlands Racetrack is also host to the world’s most famous trotting event, the Hambletonian, which has had a number of different homes and was first held at the Meadowlands on Aug. 8, 1981.

Equestrian Centers

Glouster County DREAM Park is a state-of-the-art equestrian facility not far from Philadelphia. The park hosts many locally and nationally acclaimed equestrian events including Horse breed shows that feature Paint horse, Quarter horse, Saddlebreds, Morgans, Warmbloods, equine sports shows including Reining, Mounted Games, Hunters, Jumpers, Rodeos, Clinics, Community Fun Days, and more.

The Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern is a 185-acre equestrian center that offers something for every horse lover. From show riders to dressage practitioners, trail-riders to trainers, the center offers regular equestrian events for the most experienced riders to the first-timers.

The United States Equestrian Team (uset.org) makes its home at the historic Hamilton Farm west of New York City. The team has won several equestrian events at the Olympic Games and hosts a variety of events throughout the year from dressage to side saddle.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation eBay Auction of Rachel Alexandra Memorabilia

Lexington, Ky – July 12, 2019 – The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation in collaboration with Stonestreet Farms, a global breeding and racing operation, celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Rachel Alexandra’s 3-year-old campaign, during which she went undefeated in eight starts and earned Eclipse Awards for Three-Year-Old Filly and Horse of the Year. With this momentous occasion fans will have the opportunity to participate in the Stonestreet Giving Challenge through an online auction that concludes on July 21st at 10pm. The auction includes a signed Robert Clark print of Rachel Alexandra, a Rachel Alexandra halter, goggles signed by Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra’s regular rider, and many other racing memorabilia items. Donations can also be made in honor of Rachel Alexandra through the Grayson tribute program. More information about the charity auction and tribute program can be found here.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided more than $27.5 million to fund 366 projects at 44 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.

Old Friends Welcomes Stakes Winner Soi Phet

GEORGETOWN, KY – JULY 8, 2019 – Old Friends welcomed new retiree Soi Phet, the 11-year-old son of Tizbud who was pensioned following his 64th and final start on June 29 at Los Alamitos.

Bred in California by ARCHA Racing, Soi Phet was claimed by conditioner Leonard Powell for $16,000 in May of 2013 at Hollywood Park for the partnership of Mathilde Powell, the Benowitz Family Trust, and Paul Viskovich. He went on to earn nearly $1 million for his new owners.

He scored his first stakes win in the 2014 Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos (a race he captured again in 2018), and later that year he returned to the one-mile oval to register a 7 1/4-length romp in the inaugural $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile.

In 2018, Soi Phet became the oldest stakes winner in Santa Anita history when, at 10, he captured The Crystal Water.

Soi Phet finished his career with 15 wins, including eight stakes, and a grade 1 placing in the 2013 Awesome Again Stakes, when he finished behind Mucho Macho Man and Paynter. His lifetime earnings total $1,023, 917.

“I’m such a fan of Soi Phet, and I’m so excited to welcome him to Old Friends,” said the organization’s founder and President Michael Blowen. “We hope all of his fans will visit him here, and we thank Leonard and his owners for sharing this great champ with us.”

For more information, please call (502) 863-1775 or visit the website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Michael Blowen (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org

Old Friends to Close Kentucky Downs Satellite

Rumor Has It, the Kentucky Turf Stakes winner, is one of the seven retirees at Old Friends at Kentucky Downs.

GEORGETOWN, KY – JULY 3, 2019 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, announced that the organization will permanently close its satellite division based at Kentucky Downs, the racetrack and historical racing gaming facility in Franklin, KY, at the end of July.

The division is home to seven Old Friends retirees, including Canadian Horse of the Year Thornfield, Kentucky Turf Stakes winner Rumor Has It, and Grade 2 winner Ball Four. It has been open to the public since June of 2015, and tours were scheduled and conducted by staff at the Simpson County Tourism office.

The horses will be returned to Old Friends’ Georgetown location and are currently expected to ship on July 25.

The collaboration was originally designed by Old Friends president Michael Blowen and former Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen to help raise awareness of retired racehorses and to promote local attractions in Simpson County.

“We had a wonderful run, but unfortunately, we did not achieve the level of tourism or growth we had hoped for,” said Blowen. “We felt it was no longer cost effective to remain open.

“We are eternally grateful to Dan Ware and his staff at the Simpson County Tourism Office for the enormous support they supplied this venture, and to our farm manager Jennifer Jones for the impeccable care she provided our horses,” Blowen continued. “The staff at Kentucky Downs has been a very gracious host, and we can’t thank them enough for their backing in this project.”

Public tours will continue to be conducted at Kentucky Downs and the gift shop will remain open until July 15. To schedule, please contact the Simpson County Tourism office at (270) 586-3040.

For more information, please call (502) 863-1775 or visit the website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Michael Blowen (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org