THE OLD FRIENDS WINNERS CIRCLE

  Old Friends, in partnership with Daily Racing Form, has established
The Old Friends Winners Circle. Under this innovative program,
Thoroughbred owners can nominate any of their athletes in exchange for
a donation of 5% of the winners purse. The DRF will run a free ad each
week announcing which Winners Circle horses are entered and, if they
win, there'll be a follow-up announcement in a subsequent edition.
  "It's only for the winners," said Old Friends president Michael
Blowen. "And everybody wins: the horse, Old Friends' retirees, the
owners and, the sport."
  Owners interested in nominating a horse or discussing more details
can call Old Friends at 502-863-1775.
 "We're very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Brereton C. Jones for nominating
Mark Valeski and Mr. Bowling in Sunday's Louisiana Derby to the Old
Friends Winners Circle," said Blowen. "We're hoping for the best."

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Special Tours of Old Friends Merefield! Join Michael Blowen on Sundays in April & meet our horses at Merefield Farm.  Visitors will be picked up at 1:00 at 815 Prime located at 31 East Main in Midway.  Call for reservations 502-863-1775.

Ferdinand's Ball May 3rd   An elaborate charity ball held Derby weekend in Louisville, Ky to benefit retired thoroughbred racehorses. This is the only Derby week benefit in Louisville to actually give back to the horses. Without them, there would be no Derby! All proceeds benefit Old Friends.  Tickets $100.  Event begins at 9PM.  click here for more info

Homecoming Event 2012   Our Signature Annual Event!    May 6th at 4:00 PM Fantastic BBQ dinner by Furlongs Catering/Staxx BBQ, live music by Roger BonDurant, Silent & Live auctions of racing memorabilia, equine art, gift items and more!  Yard Sale of horse stuff, books, vintage photos and lots more!  Tickets are $25.  Members, share holders & students are $15.  Reservations call us at 502-863-1775

Derby Party for Old Friends Cabin Creek at the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame located at 191 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY.     May 5th 4:00 to 8:00 PM    $65 per person.  518-698-2377 for reservations. More info at www.oldfriendscabincreek.com

Old Friends began as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. Then news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002 (read more about Ferdinand). 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. We knew such a death must 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 open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need.

We are the only thoroughbred rescue / retirement facility that accepts stallions, & so we take exceptional pride in our pensioned champions, among them 1988 Eclipse-winning Turf Champion, Sunshine Forever & one of  the last great sons of Damascus, Ogygian.  In addition to our pensioned stallions, Old Friends is home to some very deserving retired mares & geldings. (See Our Horses). 

Old Friends hosts tours daily (See Visit Us), and while our guests come to visit a few ex-racehorses, they leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero.