Mixed Pleasure with Old Friends Volunteer John Bradley (Photo by Laura Battles)
GEORGETOWN, KY – OCTOBER 27, 2015 – Mixed Pleasure has died. The 30-year-old resident of Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, was euthanized Monday evening due to complications from colic.
Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement of his passing this afternoon.
Mixed Pleasure, who was a great-great grandson of the great Seabiscuit, had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2012 after being saved by Charlotte Farmer and the nationwide advocacy group Equi-Army-NDO.com. The stallion had stood at Grand Trine Farm in Molalla, OR, and was one of 14 horses seized by the rescue group when former owners attempted to place them for sale in an auction.
A moderately successful racehorse, Mixed Pleasure (Sucha Pleasure – Sea I’m Lucky, Windy Sea) was campaigned by Mel Stute and won five of his 22 starts, earning over $140,000 in his career. As a two-year-old Mixed Pleasure captured the Won Ford Juvenile Stakes as well as the Kindergarten Stakes. He then place second in the GR2 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes and was third in the GR3 Balboa.
His dam, Sea I’m Lucky, was by Windy Sea, who was out of Sea Anemone, a daughter of Seabiscuit. Mixed Pleasure was presumed to be the oldest living descendant of the Depression-Era hero.
“It’s always heartbreaking to lose one of our horses,” said Old Friends’s Blowen. “But at the time of his death Mixed Pleasure was surrounded by those who loved him most. Our vet Bryan Waldridge was here to help him, as were our farm managers Tim Wilson and Carol Oates. Most importantly, Mixy spent his last moments with his best friend, John Bradley, one of our dedicated volunteers who was Mixed Pleasure’s friend and caretaker these last three years.”
“Mixed Pleasure was one of the kindest and easy going stallions we’ve ever had,” Blowen added, “and he will be sorely missed.”
For additional information, contact Old Friends at (502) 863-1775.
Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 110 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 or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Michael Blowen, (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org