Who We Are

Horse Racing's Living History Museum

Old Friends provides a dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. By promoting these once celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of equine aftercare.
In January 2024, our Founder, Michael Blowen, announced he is stepping down as President of Old Friends. On February 1, 2024, we welcomed John Nicholson as our President and CEO.

A Message From Michael

Twenty years ago, Old Friends started out with Diane and I and a golf cart and feeding the horses; a little mom and pop operation on the corner. Today it’s a multi-million-dollar enterprise. To have somebody of John’s experience, his sensitivity for the horses, his love of the horses, along with his administrative abilities, he was the obvious choice. Old Friends is responsible for hundreds of horses already here and many more into the future. I’m very confident that, a few years from now when we look in the rear view mirror, we’ll see an Old Friends with more horses, more fans and a stronger foundation.

A Message From John

I am so pleased to join the Old Friends team. What Michael’s vision and tenacity have accomplished is beyond remarkable. Old Friends is making an important and vital contribution, not only to the racing industry, but most importantly to the lives of the horses who have given so much to us. Together we can help assure that Old Friends will remain a strong and viable force for all the good things it does for decades and generations to come. If our hearts and minds stay focused on the wellbeing of the horse, then there will always be a growing and thriving Old Friends.

Our History

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.

Little Silver Charm's Old Friends Timeline

2001

A Dream is Born

2003

FIrst Horse Narrow Escape

2004

First Return from Japan

2006

Dream Chase Kentucky

2009

Cabin Creek New York

2014

Silver Charm Comes Home

2016

Rising From Ashes

2017

Major Expansion

2019

North Dakota Friends

2020

Ashton Grove

2021

15 Years Dream Chase

2022

Lava Man Arrives

2023

AGS Returns from Korea

2023

Ms. Josephine Abercrombie Center

2024

John Nicholson Takes the Reins

2024

KY Derby Winner I'll Have Another Arrives

2024

Old Friends Buys Hillcrest Farm

The ups and downs, the ins and outs, I’ve been here since the beginning. I’ve seen it all. I am Little Silver Charm. I am the eyewitness to Old Friends history."

Our Farms

Dream Chase Farm, our main facility in Georgetown, KY., is home to more than 165 former racehorses and breeding stallions. Residents include Silver Charm, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, I’ll Have Another – 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Hall of Fame Member Lava Man, and three winners of the Belmont Stakes – Touch Gold, Birdstone, and Ruler On Ice. Our roster also includes Breeders’ Cup champs Little Mike, Eldaafer, and Stormy Liberal, plus three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude. Located just minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park and Keeneland Racecourse, we are open to the public for tours by reservation.

Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, located in Greenfield Center, NY, is just a few minutes from the Saratoga Race Course. Run by farm managers JoAnn and Mark Pepper, Cabin Creek features 15 retired Thoroughbreds, including two-time Whitney Handicap winner, Commentator, and 2007 New York-bred Horse of the Year winner, Naughty New Yorker.

Old Friends at Ashton Grove, also located in Georgetown, KY, showcases a unique relationship between Old Friends Farm and the Ashton Grove Senior Living Community. The location combines horse retirement with exemplary senior living. Based on approximately 40 acres once owned and operated by Hill ‘N’ Dale Farms, the Ashton Grove location features 13 Old Friends retirees.

Old Friends at Hillcrest Farm: The newest member of the Old Friends family in Georgetown, KY, purchased in April 2024 from the Bluegrass Land Conservancy. The history of the 161 acres dates to the 1800’s, when two families arrived in Central Kentucky with Thoroughbred horses and a dream. In more recent times, the farm was known as Echo Valley Farm, where two members of Racing’s Hall of Fame, Winning Colors and Chris Evert, were foaled. Now known as Old Friends at Hillcrest Farm, we are working with potential partners to create a hybrid community of retired racehorses and select development. We are thrilled to begin this new chapter of creating a safe, secure retirement for more of our Thoroughbred heroes!

Team Old Friends

Administrative

Alyssa Coleman

Amy Berry

Barbara Fossum

Donna Petrulis

Mary Greene

Matt Barmes

Susan Smith

Beth Shannon

Horse Care & Facilities

Alexis

Antonio

Bill

Billy

David

James C.

John H.

Jose.

Jeremy

Marisa

Rafael

Rutbel

Tammy

Zach

Old Friends Tour Guides and Concierges

Amy

Andy

Barb

Becky

Beth

Bill

Carol U.

Carol W.

Charlie B.

Dianna

Dora

Howard

Jill

Joyce

Julie

Kelly

Ken

Kurt

Laura

Lisa C.

Lisa W.

Lloyd

Marc

Mary

Matthew

Pat

Paul

Steve

Tom

Wendy

The best job to have at Old Friends, by far, is that of a tour guide. We’re pretty much the face of the farm, the first people our wonderful guests meet when they come to visit our horses. Although our backgrounds are as diverse as the pedigrees of our retirees, we share one thing in common, and that’s our admiration of the great equine athletes whose stories we tell day after day, rain or shine. We’re all unpaid volunteers, so it’s not a job we have to do. To us it’s an honor and a privilege to share the legendary racing and breeding careers of our horses with the thousands of tourists who visit the farm each year.” — Tom Beatty, Senior Tour Guide

Old Friends Mini-Managers

Little Silver Charm

Old Friends and Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Spokes-Horse

Gorgeous George

Old Friends and Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Spokes-Horse

Fonzi

Mari Hulman George Annex Mascot
A Clowder of Cats

Buddy

Chief Greeter, 2004-2022

Lucy

Office Potato

Bobby

Rodent Control

Bebe

Assistant Guide

Rufus

Farm Patrol

Zoro

House Attendant

Pearl

Mini’s Mom

Mini-Pearl

Pearl’s daughter
Board of Directors

    Officers

  • John Nicholson

    President and CEO

  • Bill Van Den Dool

    Vice President

  • Barbara Fossum

    Secretary

  • Pat Riley

    Treasurer

  • Cynthia Grisolia

    Chairman

    Members

  • Jill Baffert

    Owner

  • Michael Blowen

    Founder

  • Kerry Cauthen

    Attorney

  • Susan Chu

    Baoma Corporation

  • Peggy Gdovka

    Breeders' Cup Ltd.

  • Corey Johnsen

    CJ Throughbreds

  • Suzanne Mundy

    Canamer Farm

  • Clark Nyberg

    Finance

  • Bev Passerello

    Ashton Grove

  • Pat Riley

    FInance

  • Mark Simon

    Daily Racing Form

  • Dr, Bryan Waldridge

    Veterinary Medicine

  • Ron Wallace

    Equine Farm Management

  • Diane White

    Old Friends

Old Friends Volunteer Experience

The following volunteer positions are currently available:

We have limited volunteer opportunities for hands-on horse care. If you have experience working with horses and
would like to volunteer with our horse-care staff, please include detailed information of your equine experience.

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