Industry & National

SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Michael Blowen wouldn’t trade places with any person on the planet. He’s spent the past 20 years growing Old Friends Farm from an idea to a popular Kentucky tourist destination, growing it to become larger than he ever could have imagined. “Who wouldn’t want to do this all day, […]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WKYT) – The founder of Old Friends, a retirement home for thoroughbreds, is stepping down, but he says he will remain in the saddle. Michael Blowen started Old Friends in 2003. The retirement home for champion thoroughbreds has grown over the years from 52 acres to 300 acres. One hundred sixty-one retired thoroughbreds […]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Michael Blowen’s love for horses stretched far beyond the racetrack and spurred him into starting a mid-life career as founder of a retirement farm in Kentucky, where older thoroughbreds could spend their remaining years in dignity and security — long after their earning days were over. For two decades, his Old […]

“Stormy Liberal is one of a select number of Breeders’ Cup winners to repeat the feat. Always dead game, the former claimer’s final half-dozen career victories had connections and fans regularly holding their collective breaths as his biggest margin was just a neck. The tough and classy veteran raced on three continents, earned an Eclipse […]

Old Friends Farm is asking for blanket donations going into winter. You can find out more about donating in the WKYT story here.

Stormy Liberal is one of a select number of Breeders’ Cup winners to repeat the feat. Always dead game, the former claimer’s final half-dozen career victories had connections and fans regularly holding their collective breaths as his biggest margin was just a neck. The tough and classy veteran raced on three continents, earned an Eclipse […]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WKYT) – Former Governor Brereton Jones, lay in state at the Kentucky Capitol on Monday. He was passionate about several causes, but none closer to his heart, than the equine industry. “There was nobody ever in the history of the horse racing business in Kentucky that has meant more to these horses, than […]

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) announced today that grants totaling over $821,000 were awarded this year. 75 organizations were approved for a grant including 45 aftercare organizations, 20 backstretch and farm worker programs, six equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs, and one research organization. Grant recipients can be found on www.tca.org. Over the last 33 […]

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced today winners for the 38th annual TOBA National Awards. The TOBA National Awards were presented across two days of ceremonies. The National Awards Luncheon was held on Friday, September 8 at WinStar Farm, honoring State and Canadian Breeders of the Year for 2022. The National Awards […]

“He had a great life,” said Bill Spawr. “He was a happy horse, always running around. Unfortunately, it was because he was such a happy horse and feeling so great that he hurt himself.” Spawr was talking about Amazombie, the horse he partly owned and trained to win the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), six […]