I’ll Have Another, the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, was one of the newest Thoroughbred retirees that Old Friends’ Homecoming attendees got to meet.
(Photo by Rick Capone)
GEORGETOWN, KY. – May 12, 2024 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., held its 19th Annual Homecoming event on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon, May 5, 2024, and, thanks to all who attended, it was a tremendous success.
Over 300 people attended the event, which is held each year on the day after the Kentucky Derby, and enjoyed meeting some old friends like Silver Charm, Touch Gold, Game on Dude, Little Mike, and, of course, Little Silver Charm, and some new friends like I’ll Have Another, Lava Man, Bold and Bossy, and Channel Maker.
Attendees also got to greet some old acquaintances and meet some new ones, while enjoying some good food, listening to great music, seeing some lovely equine artwork, getting horse racing books signed by some of the sport’s most talented authors, and bidding for equine memorabilia in both the silent and live auctions, with all proceeds going to the care and feeding of the farm’s horses.
“Our Homecoming gathering had such a joyful sense of love and gratitude for all that makes Old Friends special: Love for our horses as well as our incredible sport and gratitude that so many people who share this love could gather and celebrate together. It really was a day to remember,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends.
Old Friends would like to thank everyone that attended the event for supporting the farm’s mission of providing a peaceful and dignified retirement to some of the sport’s beautiful Thoroughbreds.
The farm would also like to thank Country Boy Brewing and Kalmbach Feeds for sponsoring this year’s Homecoming event.
Also, a thank you to Proud Mary BBQ for once again providing their delicious food for the event.
Three other people to thank for the event’s success are Curt Sharff, who was the engaging auctioneer who handled the live auction, Robert Clark, the very talented artist who created another masterpiece during the event that was then auctioned off in the live auction to raise money for the farm, and Steve Norman and Friends for their enjoyable music. All three have donated their time and talents to the farm’s Homecoming event for many years.
Old Friends would also like to thank all of the authors that came out to sign their books and greet their readers, and Bluegrass Greyhound Adoption for bringing out a few of their wonderful dogs and discussing their mission of providing homes for retired racing greyhounds.
Finally, a big thank you to all of the Old Friends’ staff, and hardworking and dedicated volunteers that helped set up and run the event. It could not have been done without them.
