OLD FRIENDS FARM: A RETIREMENT VILLAGE FOR RACEHORSES

OLD FRIENDS the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, has put a new face on the concept of equine aftercare. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, the thoroughbred retirement home has grown from a leased paddock to a 236-acre farm home to a herd of over 200 rescued and retired ex-racehorses.
Old Friends is home to champions such as Amazombie, Little Mike, Alphabet Soup, Sarava, Touch Gold, Game On Dude, Silver Charm, Afternoon Deelites, Fabulous Strike, Special Ring and the late War Emblem.
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Silver Charm was trained by Bob Baffert, amassing 12 wins from 24 career starts, retiring with purse earnings of over $6.9M USD. The gorgeous grey son of Silver Buck holds a special place in the hearts of horse racing fans around the world.
Winner of the 1997 Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs) and the Preakness Stakes (Pimlico Race Course) under champion jockey Gary Stevens, Silver Charm was on course to claim America's Triple Crown. He was denied in the dying strides of the 1997 Belmont Stakes by Touch Gold.
Retiring to stud in 2000 at Three Chimneys Farm, Silver Charm was relocated to Japan in 2005 standing at JBBA’s Stallion Station until 2014, later being repatriated to Old Friends Farm in December of that year where he thrills visitors to this day.
Big race wins:
1996 Del Mar Futurity (Gr. 2)
1997 San Vicente Stakes (Gr. 3)
1997 Kentucky Derby (Gr. 1)
1997 Preakness Stakes (Gr. 1)
1998 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (Gr. 2)
1998 Strub Stakes (Gr. 2)1998 Dubai World Cup (Gr. 1)
1998 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Gr. 3)
1998 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (Gr. 2)
1998 Clark Handicap (Gr. 2)
1999 San Pasqual Handicap (Gr. 2)
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2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem was bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols. The handsome, nearly black colt was purchased for $20,000 USD and won his first start at Arlington Park ridden by Alfredo Juarez, Jr. for then-trainer Frank Springer.
He entered the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Illinois Derby with jockey Larry Sterling, Jr. in the irons. Purchased by The Thoroughbred Corporation, War Emblem was thereafter trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza.
On Kentucky Derby day 2002, War Emblem outran the speed and put away the challengers. He scored a repeat performance in the 2002 Preakness Stakes, but a Triple Crown was not to be. War Emblem was denied the Belmont Stakes by fellow future Old Friends retiree Sarava.
His final win in the prestigious Haskell Stakes resulted in purse earnings of $3,491,000 USD.
War Emblem’s entire stud career was spent at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan. He proved a shy breeder with only 118 foals in a dozen years at stud; nevertheless, his progeny includes Japan’s 2012 champion juvenile filly Robe Tissage and Shuka Sho winner Black Emblem.
War Emblem was retired from stud in 2015 and donated by the Yoshida family to Old Friends. He passed away aged 21 in March 2020.
Big race wins:
2002 Kentucky Derby (G1)
2002 Preakness Stakes (G1)
2002 Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1)
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[@anetaheinzova9691]

It's great that people like Mr. Blowen exist.

[@johnwalsh3215]

The world needs more people like the people at Old Friends! Thank you one and all for all you do for the horses!

[@joseguedes2498]

Michael and staff are angels God put on Earth.

[@jodymaley3674]

You captured the spirit of this special place, Silver Charm gave me a horsey kiss, we had a private moment I treasure, guess he felt my horsemanship or smelt my horses, lol

[@jmeryllman]

LOLs War Emblem is such a character.

[@comesahorseman]

Good to see them living comfortably. And, yes, I'd much rather have Silver Charm in my barn; he was interested in being a racehorse.

[@staceyspangler219]

We have to take care of are old friends .bless the ones that care for are old horses.

[@mikecrawford73]

great farm and happy horse's good stuff

[@keeferdog5617]

KEEP-UP THE GREAT WORK “MY FRIENDS”

[@rockybudgeboa]

This place is on my Bucket List

[@emtquiver1588]

..this is crazy😍i was just thinking of silver charm. I have newspaper clippings of this beauty😎🐎

[@abdullahaboobakker1758]

Honorable work my friend 💞👌😊

[@Kaleidofy.FaeryGirL13]

I L💖ve it!!! More old time horse winning & personality stories PLEASE!!😍😘😘😘

[@johnwalsh3215]

War Emblem says I like what I like in my women and nothing else will do and you can’t make me do things I don’t want to do anymore! Haha He’s a good boy!!!

[@lespangen]

Adore what Mr. Blowen and company have accomplished saving deserving and lucky OTTBs from slaughter )Glad FB now lets Old Friends be the beneficiary of a birthday fund raiser since that allowed for a larger donation than I could do individually 😬Hope1) to volunteer to help at Old Friends if/ when I overcome my stoke-induced hemiplegia and 2) when h r latest foal is old enough that the Moses would donate Zenyatta to O F since I understand they are retiring her from her broodmare career and maybe her current turnout buddy at Lane’s End could come too: since she reportedly loves attention and the camera : she should be happy at Old Friends and I’m sure she’d be well taken care of while welcoming visits from her adoring fans/ helping to support the current residents 😬❤️❤️

[@josh80s]

Before commenting, I checked out the website. It has no information about the facilities or care that is offered. The "About" page boasts centers around and mostly boasts about its founder, Michael, and its deceptive, contrary to what Michael would have you believe, "Thoroughbred Retirement" was around long before him - he was not the pioneer of the industry. The longest and oldest such retirement facility is in Pennsylvania (founded in 1946).There are many others and perhaps better. If you're asking for public donation, be transparent, s at least show the damn facilities and what you do exactly for the horses entrusted to your care.

[@lespangen]

They get to be horses and do what they want: For example Silver Charm comes in at night : his preference they get vet care as needed one of the clinics provides it free of charge also hoof trims as needed shod if they need it there is one Wallenda? With a suspensory issue that needs and has a special shoe ( I’ve watched the blog videos: source of this info ) sadly dumped OTTBs eg, Ferdinand, have ended up in a slaughterhouse and various rescues try to buy and save them from the slaughter pipeline per you Tube I didn’t know there was a facility in PA for OTTBs

[@lespangen]

The barn they built allows the horses to choose between stall and outdoor paddock weather permitting

[@thelionheartzr1341]

Do something in my country also I save tow race horses but I m not reach to save more so please do some things to save the loyel animal of the earth.

[@aubreycasados2027]

I hope they live comfortably there rather than their abusive old life

[@meganproffitt424]

I hope you do your research on a certain organization before you comment negatively in the future.

[@lespangen]

They get turnout and carrots from visitors per the video blog I have not visited in person yet (am disabled)

[@lespangen]

They get turn out and carrots from visitors

[@just-a-bajan6643]

Yanks always have excuses for losses.

[@klarapasztor4871]

Yes only few of the racehorses will end up retiring, all the others are sent to slaughter in horrible conditions. But they don´t want us to know it.

[@meganproffitt424]

@@klarapasztor4871 It's not that we don't want you to know it, just that you're spewing baseless accusations without proof. And no, PETA doesn't count.