OKLAHOMA CITY – Welder, the record-holder for wins at Remington Park with 16, arrived at his new home this morning, Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky. The speedy gray was retired from racing during the fall of 2021.
Owned by Ra-Max Farms of Claremore, Okla. and trained by Teri Luneack, Welder was accepted to live at Old Friends since his farm was ceasing operations. Clayton Rash, owner of Ra-Max Farms, passed away in January 2022.
“Welder arrived at 10am, nice, cool and collected,” noted Barbara Fossum, manager at Old Friends. “He looks fabulous and is remarkably calm.”
Welder, 10, now joins the family of 265 horses under the care of Old Friends. The operation specializes in a retirement home for mostly Thoroughbreds after their careers in racing have concluded. The Oklahoma-bred millionaire was well-known to the founder and president of Old Friends, Michael Blowen.
“Michael is a horseplayer and has known of Welder for a while,” Fossum said. “I mean, 27 career wins! Michael keeps track of specific horses that might be a fit at Old Friends and Welder is one of them. He truly admires horses like Welder, a hard-knocker and a horse that is a superstar in his region.”
Among the many nationally-known horses who also call Old Friends home are Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm and Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, both 29. The Triple Crown was denied Silver Charm in 1997, when Touch Gold won the Belmont.
Welder will be in quarantine for two weeks and will then be introduced with the other residents at Old Friends.
Welder won 27 of 44 career starts in a career that spanned 2015 to 2021. He broke his maiden status at Remington Park in his second lifetime attempt on Nov. 27, 2015 and won his final career race, also at Remington Park, on Aug. 27, 2021. Welder, by The Visualiser from the Tiznow mare Dance Softly, also finished second five times and third another seven, for 39 top three finishes and total earnings of $1,263,359. The sprinter will be inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park on Sept. 23.
For more information regarding tours or how to donate to Old Friends, please visit oldfriendsequine.org.
