Tag Archives: Old Friends

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Personalized Euthanized at Old Friends

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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.

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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”

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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.”

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Auctions, Benefits, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Old Friends Day at River Downs Honors Appygolucky

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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.

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Noor Arrives in Kentucky

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GEORGETOWN, KY — AUGUST 29, 2011 — Having traveled cross-country from the Loma Rica Ranch in Grass Valley, CA, the body of deceased Hall of Fame champion Noor will be re-interred in Kentucky at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, on Wednesday August 31.

Members of the press and fans are invited to attend the ceremony, which will be held at 10 am at Old Friends’s Dream Chase Farm, 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown.

In attendance will be Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, and Charlotte Farmer, the woman who led the effort to exhume Noor and bring his remains to Kentucky.

Noor died in Grass Valley in 1974 at age 29 and was buried in the infield of the old Loma Rica Ranch Racetrack, but the property is now in development for residential and commercial use. He will be re-interred in a new cemetery for Hall of Fame inductees near the entrance of Old Friends.

Noor, son of the superstar stallion Nasrullah, was campaigned by owner-breeder Charles S. Howard (also the owner of Seabiscuit) after the colt’s 3-year-old season in 1948.

Trained by Burley Parke and ridden by Johnny Longden, Noor was voted 1950 handicap champion after winning four out of five head-to-head sprints with Citation and defeating the then 7-year-old Assault. The victories made Noor the first horse to beat two Triple Crown winners.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Multiple Stakes Winner Prized Arrives at Old Friends

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GEORGETOWN, KY — AUGUST 4, 2011 — Old Friends, Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, today welcomed Prized, the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Turf champion and sire of the great Brass Hat.

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

The 25-year-old Prized (Kris S -My Turbulent Miss by My Dad George) arrived at the Georgetown farm in excellent condition from Randy and John Funkhouser’s O’Sullivan Farms near Charles Town, W.VA.

Bred by Florida’s Meadowbrook Farm, which campaigned him along with Clover Racing Stables and trainer Neil Drysdale, Prized raced on both the dirt and the turf and had total career earnings of $2,262,555.

As a 3-year-old, Prized won the GR 1 Molson Million at Woodbine and the GR2 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park where he famously upset Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sunday Silence.

Later that year the dark bay stallion won the Breeders’ Cup Turf, which was his first start on grass.

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Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Racing

Awad, Winner of the 1995 Arlington Million, Dead at 21

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GEORGETOWN, KY – JULY 23, 2011 – Millionaire and four-time GR 1 winner Awad has died.  The 21-year-old stallion was discovered early this morning in his paddock at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, where he has been pensioned since 2006.

According to veterinarian Dr. Douglas Byars and Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen, the cause of death was a sudden heart attack, but a full necropsy is currently underway at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington.

The hard-knocking son of Caveat, Awad raced for seven seasons as a homebred for Maryland’s Ryehill Farm, capturing 14 of his 70 starts. His career earnings totaled $3,270,131.

Awad’s first GR1 win came in the 1993 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International, which would prove to be a lucky course for the Maryland bred throughout his career. In 1995 he captured the GR1 Arlington Million in record time, 1:58.69, shaving one-fifth of a second off the course mark set by Perrault in 1982.

With the win he not only gave trainer David Donk and jockey Eddie Maple their first Million triumphs, he also became the first horse to ever win both of those GR1 turf events at Arlington.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Old Friends to Hold Memorial Day Service for Departed Champions

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GEORGETOWN, KY – MAY 25, 2011 – On Memorial Day Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, KY, will have a commemorative service for the six retirees that passed away since last spring.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday May 30 at Old Friends’ Dream Chase Farm, 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown.  Refreshments will be served.

Honored will be:

–Academy Award (1986-2010), one of the few remaining sons of Secretariat, he was the sire of 10 stakes winners;
–The Wicked North (1989-2011), a California superstar, he was named Eclipse Champion Older Male in 1994;
–Polish Navy (1984-2011), a great son of Danzig and multiple GR1 winner;
–Bonnie’s Poker (1982-2010) one of Old Friends’ mares, she was the dam of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm;
–Glitterman, (1985-2011) a world-record-setting sprinter and sire of four millionaires, including Balto Star;
–Jade Hunter (1984-2011), a GR1 winner and sire of Horse of the Year, Azeri.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Stakes Winner Afternoon Deelites Arrives at Old Friends

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GEORGETOWN, KY — MAY 24, 2011 — On Sunday Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, happily welcomed GR1-winner and top sire Afternoon Deelites.  The 19-year-old son of Private Terms will be permanently pensioned at the farm alongside one of his sons, 12-year-old Popcorn Deelites.

He was donated to the organization by Val Murrell’s Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, LA where he was retired from stallion duty earlier this year.

Bred and raced by Burt Bacharach’s Blue Seas Music, Afternoon Deelites hit the ground running as a 2-year-old, capturing his first three starts, including the GR1 Hollywood Futurity and the GR3 Hollywood Preview Breeders’ Cup Stakes. The following season the handsome bay won the GR2 San Felipe Stakes and the GR1 Malibu before coming second by a head in the Santa Anita Derby.

He capped off his four-year-old season with a win in the GR1 Metropolitan Handicap before being retired to Airdie Stud in Midway, KY with seven wins in 12 starts and earnings of $1,061,193.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Events, Fundraisers, Racing

The Annual Old Friends Homecoming – Sunday May 8, 2011

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GEORGETOWN, KY – APRIL 26, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, will hold its annual Homecoming fundraising event, Sunday May 8, 2011 beginning at 4 pm.

The festivities will take place at Old Friends’ Dream Chase Farm, located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown, KY.

Tickets are $25; Old Friends members and shareholders and students with IDs are $15. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling (502) 863-1775.

Highlights of the event include:

Live music by Lexington favorite Roger BonDurant;
Guided farm tours;
Live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia, collectible stallion halters, jewelry, photographs, fine art, and more;
Sumptuous BBQ fare by Tommy Walters’ Furlongs Catering Company. The menu features pulled pork ribs, potato salad, baked beans, buttered rolls, and dessert;
A live demonstration on the making of Raku/horse hair pottery by the artists of Pottery Rowe in Louisville.
Parking on site

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Events, Racing

Old Friends Retiree Danthebluegrassman to Make Special Appearance at the Governor’s Annual Derby Celebration

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GEORGETOWN, KY – APRIL 25, 2011 – Old Friends retiree Danthebluegrassman, a 2002 Kentucky Derby contender, will be a special guest of Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear at the 2011 Governor’s Derby Celebration, held Saturday May 7 in the state capital city of Frankfort, KY.

The 12-year-old horse has been pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, since 2008. Many devoted fans and tourist visit him there annually.

Dan will be at the Capital City Museum at 325 Ann Street from 8am to noon, where he will meet and greet fans and be available for photos. Michael Blown, founder and president of Old Friends, will also be on hand.

Bred in Kentucky by Dan Mallory, Danthebluegrassman was campaigned by trainer Bob Baffert and owner Mike Pegram, who named the colt after his friend Dan Chandler, son of the former Kentucky governor and the bon vivant uncle of U.S. Representative Ben Chandler.

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