Blog

We are saddened by the passing of Old Friends’ longest-time Thoroughbred resident, Riva Way, who has lived at Old Friends in Kentucky since 2005—almost twenty years. On the track, Riva was just a claimer, but he was one of the most loved personalities at Old Friends. Read More

“Ide was on the Kentucky Derby trail with wins in the 1996 Southwest Stakes (G3) and Rebel Stakes (G3) when an injury derailed his career.” Read more.

Sun King achieved his public debut at a week old as one of the cutest babies of 2002. He was featured in the Bloodhorse foal slide show. He had yet to catch up to the huge star on his forehead but his strapping physique already hinted at the muscular sturdiness to come. Read more here.

Work All Week dominated impressively where it mattered, on the track. He made his win at in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint look easy, but he beat some exceptionably fast horses, such as Fast Anna and future Old Friends resident Private Zone. Read more here.

For an all too short three years Old Friends was fortunate to be the home of Tom’s Ready. He died last Monday due to complications from colic surgery, and we miss his kindness and the sweet, expressive ways he convinced us that a carrot is ok but a few more are much nicer. Read more […]

“Eclipse Award champion sprinter Amazombie, who resided at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., was euthanized on Monday due to a fractured ankle. The California-bred son of Northern Afleet was 16.” Read more on Daily Racing Form.

“Rapid Redux made history by winning 22 consecutive races in a little over two years – more than Citation, Cigar or Zenyatta. Amanda Duckworth caught up with this everyday equine celebrity at the Old Friends equine retirement home.” Read more at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

Eye of the Tiger was bred and raced by John D. Gunther, who also bred Triple Crown winner Justify. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, then Kiaran McLaughlin, he won the Washington Park H (G2) and Affirmed H (G3) and was a competitor in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. After doing stud duty he retired to Old Friends […]

Two days ago our grand old man Afternoon Deelites was euthanized due to inoperable colic. He passed just days after his racing owner and breeder, Burt Bacharach. Read more on the blog here. 

Among Laura’s latest photos this morning I was wowed by this one of Quindici Man, just as a really striking picture. Too bad he’s so muddy, I thought. If he was clean I’d have uses for that photo on OF materials. Then I realized it’s the lines of the mud, the trees, and his mane […]