Old friends Equine Winter Fundraiser

At Old Friends, the non-profit Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, the horses may not be racing anymore, but they are winners every day. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, Old Friends now cares for more than 150 horses across three states whose racing and breeding careers came to an end. A “living history museum of horse racing”, the farm attracts nearly 20,000 tourists annually that get up close and personal with such stars of the turf as 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, three-time Santa Anita Handicap victor Game on Dude, Breeders’ Cup Champions Gulch and Amazombie, and Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip.

The formation of Old Friends kicked into high gear when the news broke that Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand had perished in a slaughterhouse in 2002 (learn more about Ferdinand here). That discovery gave the organization even more impetus. "We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds," notes Blowen. We knew such a death should never happen again, and so the plan became to bring at-risk racehorses--those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end--to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve, and invite the public to visit. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need.

We are the only Thoroughbred rescue / retirement facility that specializes in accepting stallions, and so we take exceptional pride in our pensioned champions, among them Silver Charm and Gulch, along with Belmont Stakes winner Sarava and stakes winner You and I. These champions live alongside retirees like Swan's Way star and Mikethespike, horses who never earned much more than our love and respect.

Our guests come to visit a few ex-racehorses, but they often leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero.
But every horse at Old Friends has a story to tell, and visitors to the farms can hear them all. The farm is open to the public daily for guided walking tours (click here for tour information). Racing fans in New York can also visit some Old Friends champs. Our first satellite division, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, is just a short drive from the Saratoga racecourse and is home to biggest loser Zippy Chippy, Travers Stakes home to biggest loser Zippy Chippy, Travers Stakes winners Thunder Rumble and Will’s Way and multiple stakes winner Be Bullish. (Click here to learn more about Cabin Creek). Our guests come to visit a few ex-racehorses, but they often leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero.