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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 […]

Star Plus was a longtime favorite and loved by many visitors. Some met him a decade ago when he had the paddock where Birdstone now lives and played enthusiastic host to every tour. Read more here.

Thornfield, by Sky Classic out of Alexandrina, a daughter of Conquistador Cielo, was bred in Canada by Knob Hill Stable, which raced him. He specialized on the turf and ran all but one of his starts at Woodbine in Ontario. Read more here.

He was not famous. He never won a stakes race. But Hussonfirst was one of the sweetest horses ever to grace Old Friends. Read more here.

Grade 1 winner. Record holder. Character. Survivor. Friend. When Kudos died we lost one of our most beloved residents and a foundation builder for Old Friends. Read more here.

If ever there was a Hall of Fame race horse who needs no introduction, that horse arrived at Old Friends last week. That horse is Lava Man. Of living horses, he is one of the few who can genuinely lay claim to the title of superstar. Read more here.

You probably know Laura Battles as the photographer whose knowledge of Old Friends’ horses as individuals, as much as her camera skills, make her photos so extraordinary. Read more here.

Albertus Maximus won the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In 2009 he prevailed in the prestigious Donn Handicap, and he also won the Windy Sands Handicap in 2008. Read more here.