About Old Friends

Mission Statement
Old Friends is a 501©3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe
harbor and dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding
careers had come to an end. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses
through a campaign of education and tourism, we hope to draw attention and
raise funds for all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need. Our Dream
Chase Farm, in Georgetown, KY., is open to the public and we conduct tours
daily by appointment. 

About Us
In the racing business, the stallion rules: He is the star, the celebrity, the
newsmaker. Old Friends began as a retirement facility, much like the Hall
of Champions at the famed Kentucky Horse Park. A place were former stars
of the industry could ponder their glory days and live out the remainder of
their lives after giving their hearts and souls to the game. Then, just after
Old Friends was launched in 2003, news broke of the inconceivable death
of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan. The
discovery gave even more impetus to our organization. “We went from
getting five emails a day to hundreds,” noted President and founder Michael
Blowen. And so Old Friends began raising funds to return other great
stallions whose breeding careers had come to an end. These were horses
that could no longer earn their keep and thus became liabilities.

The concept was simple: Such notable horses could earn money again
by attracting tourists and former fans to a public facility where visitors
could get up close and personal with the ex champs, hear about their
past careers, learn about the racing industry, browse memorabilia, and
in turn be educated about these great athletes.

We’re happy to report that it’s working.

Since then, Old Friends has returned five horses from stud duty in Japan:
European Champion Creator, Eclipse-award winner Sunshine Forever;
Breeders’ Cup Champion Fraise; the last great son of Damascus, Ogygian;
and Super Derby winner Wallenda. Other stallions have also been retired
with us, some via their owners and others through a network of supportive
industry people. These include Hall of Famer Precisionist, eight-time
stakes winner Ruhlmann, who was donated to Old Friends by his owners,
Jerry and Ann Moss of California, Bluegrass stakes winner Taylor’s Special,
BullIntheHeather, a son of Ferdinand, record-holder Awad, Multiple graded
stakes winner Kiri’s Clown, Millionaire Flying Pidgeon and the great Florida
sire Fortunate Prospect, among others.

Sadly, Fraise, Precisionist, and Taylor’s Special passed away. And while
everyone misses them, we also know that this is the regrettable reality of
dealing with horses in their twilight years.  Old Friends now has 29 retirees
that include a grandson of Secretariat (Riva Way), a Seabiscuit star
(Popcorn Deelites), and the dam of a Kentucky Derby winner (Bonnie’s Poker).

Old Friends grew so rapidly that in the summer of 2006, we moved to our
own 52-acre Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, KY., which is open to the
public. We now have a well-stocked gift shop and a bed and breakfast,
located in the main house on the farm.  While most visitors come to relive
the glory days of the champions, their generous donations contribute to
the care of all our retirees, many of whom never saw the far side of a finish
line first.
 
Our guests come to visit a few ex-racehorses, but they leave touched
by the spirit of a Thoroughbred hero.

Tours daily by appointment at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:00. 

Visit Old Friends at
1841 Paynes Depot Rd.
Georgetown, KY  40324
502-863-1775
www.oldfriendsequine.org