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 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 two to five 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.