Tag Archives: Thoroughbreds

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Belmont Stakes Champion Sarava to Old Friends

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Sarava at Old Friends. Photo: Rick Capone

GEORGETOWN, KY — SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 — Sarava, winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes, has been retired to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY.

Co-owners Gary Drake of Louisville and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain donated the 13-year-old stallion to the organization.

Sarava arrived at Old Friends early this morning from the Appleton family’s Bridlewood Farm near Ocala, FL, where he has stood stud since 2010.

Bred in Kentucky by Bill Entenmann’s Timber Bay Farms, Sarava was sired by 1984 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Wild Again and is out of the Deputy Minister mare Rhythm of Life. He career boasted three wins from 17 starts and earnings of $773,832.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Old Friends Welcomes New York Horse of the Year Dancin’ Renee

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Dancin' Renee at Old Friends, photo by Rick Capone

GEORGETOWN, KY — SEPTEMBER 15 2012 — Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, has welcomed new retiree Dancin’ Renee, a graded-stakes winning mare and 1997’s New York Horse of the Year.

A homebred for owner Sanford Bacon, Dancin’ Renee is the New York-bred daughter of Distinctive Pro out of three-time New York Broodmare of the Year Lolli Lucka Lolli.

For three seasons, Renee had a stellar career on the track, with 14 wins from 21 starts. In her banner year, 1997, she claimed seven consecutive victories, including the GR3 Honorable Miss at Saratoga, the Broadway Handicap at Aqueduct, and the Monmouth Park Regret Stakes, which was her final start. Her earnings totaled $490,258.

For her efforts in ‘97, Dancin’ Renee was crowned New York Horse of the Year as well as Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Female by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.

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Breeds, Racing

Ex-Racehorses Need Second Chance at Life!

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Two Socks, before. (Photos courtesy of Florida TRAC)

Loxahatchee, FL (September 10, 2012) – Florida Trac is a rescue organization dedicated to caring for Florida thoroughbred horses that are no longer able to race. Many of these horses have sustained injuries or acquired medical or even surgical problems that are crippling and/or life-threatening and expensive to treat. Once Florida Trac makes the commitment to care for these horses, they are fed, cared for and given veterinary care on par with privately owned horses anywhere. This care can at times be elaborate and can run into considerable cost. On a number of occasions, such care has been life-saving. Reid & Associates Equine Clinic in Loxahatchee, Florida has provided some of this care for many of these horses. Unfortunately a large number of rescues were made simultaneously with the occurrence of a number of serious illnesses in horses already committed to by Florida Trac and/or Reid & Associates. Consequently, it is possible that Florida Trac will be unable to meet its financial obligations to Reid & Associates in a timely fashion. This has compromised our ability to respond to existing and future urgent medical needs. Any financial contributions to help alleviate this situation would be most appreciated.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Zippy Chippy Comes to Old Friends Georgetown

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GEORGETOWN, KY — JULY 17, 2012 – Zippy Chippy is in the house!

Zippy Chippy, racing’s biggest loser, will be spending the summer at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement center in Georgetown, KY. He is on loan from the organization’s satellite facility in Greenfield Center, N.Y.: Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division.

Zippy arrived in Georgetown (along with his best buddy, Red Down South) courtesy of Salle Vans on Friday July 13 and will be staying through August.  The now 21-year-old gelding is best known for losing 100 consecutive races.

The horses are part of an Old Friends exchange that sent two-time Whitney Handicap winner Commentator to New York and brought Zippy to Kentucky.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

A Bluegrass Welcome for Superstar Gelding Rapid Redux at Old Friends

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Photo by Rick Capone

GEORGETOWN, KY – JUNE 2, 2012 – On Friday June 1st Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, hosted a welcome reception and press conference for media and fans to meet new retiree Rapid Redux.

Despite rainstorms and a drastic drop in temperature, About 35 journalists, photographers, and fans–some from as far away as New York– came out to see the 6-year-old gelding that holds the modern North American record for consecutive wins by a Thoroughbred.

In January of this year, Rapid Redux, a Kentucky bred, earned his 22nd victory at Laurel Park before he was retired from racing.  He bested the 19-race win streaks set by Peppers Pride and 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta by three.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Record Holder Rapid Redux Retires at Old Friends

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GEORGETOWN, KY — MAY 26, 2012 – Rapid Redux, the extraordinary racehorse who holds the modern North American record of 22 consecutive wins, will be permanently pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY.

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement today that the 6-year-old gelding will arrive at the organization’s Georgetown farm on Wednesday, May 30.

Rapid Redux will be coming from trainer David Wells’s farm near Penn National Racecourse courtesy of Morrissey’s Horse Pullmans of Pawling, New York.

To celebrate the horse’s arrival, a press conference will be held at Old Friends’ Dream Chase Farm on Friday June 1st at 11 am. The farm is located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown, KY.

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Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Fundraisers, Racing

New York’s Magnificent Oheka Castle to Host the Inaugural “Belmont Ball”

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Proceeds to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center

GEORGETOWN, KY – MAY 21, 2012 – Just days before the famed Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y. will host the inaugural Belmont Ball. The event is a fundraiser for Old Friends, a Thoroughbred Retirement Center with locations in Georgetown, KY and Greenfield Center, NY.

The gala will take place Wednesday June 6th from 6 pm to 10 pm at the historic Gold Coast mansion located at 135 West Gate Drive in Huntington, NY. Guests will enjoy a small-plate buffet, an open bar, and racing-themed cakes and pastries from Oheka’s Executive Pastry Chef Daniel Andreotte.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Fundraisers, Racing

Old Friends 8th Annual Homecoming Event

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GEORGETOWN, KY – APRIL 30, 2012 – Tickets are still available to the Old Friends, 8th Annual Homecoming on Sunday May 6, 2012 beginning at 4 pm.

A fundraising benefit for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, the festivities will take place at Old Friends’s Dream Chase Farm, located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown, KY.

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

Guests will enjoy a sumptuous BBQ feast by Furlongs Catering/Staxx Barbecue, live music by Lexington favorite Roger BonDurant, guided farm tours, and live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia, collectible stallion halters, jewelry, fine art, and more.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Fundraisers, Racing

Old Friends 8th Annual Homecoming Event

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GEORGETOWN, KY – APRIL 23, 2012 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, will hold its annual Homecoming fundraising event, Sunday May 6, 2012 beginning at 4 pm.

The festivities will take place at Old Friends’s 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:

–Sumptuous fare by Furlongs Catering/Staxx Barbecue;
–Live music by Lexington favorite Roger BonDurant;
–Guided farm tours;
–A yard sale of equine items – including framed horse racing photos, horse books, blankets, and saddle pads – will begin at noon and run until 5pm;
–Live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia, collectible stallion halters, jewelry, fine art, and more;
–A visit from the artists of Pottery Rowe of Louisville. They will be on site taking orders for beautiful raku pots. Guests can bring swatches of horse manes or tails for custom orders.
–Parking on site.

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Breeds, Events, Racing, USEF

Save the Date: April 27 – Thoroughbred Racing Meets Thoroughbred Sport Horses

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation, The Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland are bringing the racing industry and the sport horse world together in April. On Friday April 27, the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet and during the 2012 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone, Keeneland is hosting a reception for stakeholders from both industries.

In 2012, The Jockey Club launched an important initiative called the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). This program is designed to encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding. T.I.P. offers sponsorship for Thoroughbred-only classes and divisions and high point Thoroughbred awards at open horse shows and competitions, a Thoroughbred of the Year Award and a Young Rider of the Year Award.

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