In 2003, Old Friends thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, KY, put a new face on the concept of Thoroughbred aftercare. Former Boston Globe film critic, Michael Blowen, started our organization with a leased paddock and one horse. Over the years we have expanded to a 236-acre farm, three satellite locations and a herd of over 255 retired former racehorses and breeding stallions.
We opened our doors to the public, inviting fans to visit their turf heroes. As a result, Old Friends is now the “living-history museum” of horse racing. Annually, our horses attract nearly 15,000 visitors, who come to get up-close-and-personal with racing’s superstars, and also meet a few who never saw the inside of a winner’s circle.
While rock stars like 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm draw crowds, the revenue they raise supports hard-knockers like Mikethespike, Nana’s Hope and Mike Man’s Gold. Every horse at Old Friends has a story to tell, and our volunteer tour guides enjoy sharing them with their fans.
In 2014 Old Friends was a proud recipient of a Special Eclipse Award, an industry accolade honoring extraordinary service to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. But perhaps the greatest reward of all has been respect and support of the owners, trainers, and fans who not only donate to the cause of protecting these amazing athletes but come out to the farm often and visit with all of their old friends.
With the end of 2023, which was the 20th anniversary of the opening of Old Friends, Founder Michael Blowen announced he was stepping down as president and turning the reins over to long-time trusted friend, John Nicholson. In a statement Nicholson said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity of joining the Old Friends family to continue and enhance Michael’s vision and values. Old Friends has been at the vanguard of the Thoroughbred Aftercare movement, and I feel privileged to be a part of such an important cause.”
In March 2024, we were thrilled to welcome the fourth Kentucky Derby winner to call Old Friends home, when I’ll Have Another arrived from California after fulfilling his stud duties in Japan. And to make the future even more exciting, in May, we completed the purchase of 161 acres of the former Hillcrest Farm in Georgetown, adding to our ability to help more horses achieve a dignified retirement.
