Industry & National

During the last week of April, Old Friends Farm purchased 161 acres of land for a sum of $3.5 million dollars, according to a property transfer. “We are excited and exhilarated by this historic step forward for Old Friends,” said Old Friends CEO John Nicholson. Read more about the purchase here.

“Something that has been on my bucket list is to experience the Kentucky Derby. I haven’t even been to Kentucky, so I wanted to soak up as much as I could on my next adventure. Kentucky is celebrating a big year. It’s the trifecta of anniversaries. The Kentucky derby is 150 years old, the state […]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Michael Blowen can step outside his house any day of the week and visit retired racehorses at Old Friends, the thoroughbred retirement farm he founded in Kentucky two decades ago that attentively cares for former winners and losers alike. From his home’s backdoor, Blowen can watch one former racehorse great in particular […]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (LEX 18) — The horses on the track are trained for moments like these from birth, but their racing window is relatively short. The average lifespan of a horse is between 25 and 30 years old. Remember, every horse on the track for the Derby is just three years old. Read more on […]

Ever wondered what happens to Kentucky Derby horses after they retire from racing? Some lucky ones, like Silver Charm here, end up at a luxurious facility for thorough bred horses called Old Friends in Kentucky. Founded by former Boston Globe movie critic and columnist Michael Blowen about 20 years ago, Old Friends is a place where retired […]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Michael Blowen can step outside his house any day of the week and visit retired racehorses at Old Friends, the thoroughbred retirement farm he founded in Kentucky two decades ago that attentively cares for former winners and losers alike. From his home’s backdoor, Blowen can watch one former racehorse great in particular […]

Old Friends Farm has many Triple Crown race winners, as well as a few Kentucky Derby winners. Read more on Whas11.

  GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Michael Blowen can step outside his house any day of the week and visit retired racehorses at Old Friends, the thoroughbred retirement farm he founded in Kentucky two decades ago that attentively cares for former winners and losers alike. From his home’s backdoor, Blowen can watch one former racehorse great in particular […]

Three Kentucky Derby winners are buried at one of the cemeteries at Old Friends Farm. Read more on Whas11.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — More than 250 retired racehorses, including two Derby winners, call Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky home. Strutting among the herd, Old Friends’ most confident resident has never run in a professional horse race. In fact, he isn’t even a thoroughbred. “This is Little Silver Charm,” Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said, petting […]