Press Release

GEORGETOWN, KY – Jan. 30, 2023 – Star Plus, an Argentinian thoroughbred, who, thanks to Earle I. Mack, had purchased him, brought him to the United States to race, and then was determined to retire him, died at Old Friends on Saturday night, Jan. 28, 2023, due to a paddock accident. A reason for his death is […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – Jan. 17, 2023 — Old Friends is pleased to announce that guided tours of the farm will start on Monday, March 6, and run through November. We are very excited to welcome you back and also let you know we are returning to 7-day per week tours, highlighted by our 18th Annual Homecoming […]

  GEORGETOWN, KY – Jan. 20, 2023 – Thornfield, the 1999 Canadian Horse of the Year, died on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at Old Friends thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., due to a paddock accident, announced president and founder Michael Blowen today. He was 29. Bred and owned by Steve Stavro’s Knob Hill Farms, Thornfield was […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – Jan. 6, 2023 – Kudos, a multiple-stakes winning gelding, died on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Old Friends thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., announced president and founder Michael Blown. The 26-year old bay thoroughbred by Kris S.–Souq, by Damascus, was found dead in his paddock during late-afternoon feeding. A reason for […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – Dec. 30, 2022 – A New York fan-favorite, Cool N Collective was euthanized on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at Old Friends at Cabin Creek due to laminitis. He was 25. “I loved this horse so much,” said Cabin Creek owner and manager JoAnn Pepper. “He was unique. He required a lot of […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – Dec. 6, 2022 – Ruler On Ice, the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner, has been pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky. The now 14-year-old gelding arrived December 5. Ruler On Ice is the fourth Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and seventh overall Classic winner to be retired to Old […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 19, 2022– Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, will host an Open House on Saturday November 26 from 12 noon to 2pm for fans to meet new retiree Lava Man. The event is free and open to the public. Pizza and Lava Crunch Cakes will be served. The now […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – OCT. 13, 2022 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY., has welcomed a new retiree, Get Western. The winner of the final running of the Old Friends Stakes, the son of Get Stormy out of Marquetessa—a daughter of Old Friends retiree Marquetry—broke his maiden as a 3-year-old at Churchill Downs for […]

GEORGETOWN, KY – OCT. 8, 2022 – Breeders’ Cup Champion Albertus Maximus has died. Recently pensioned to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement from Shadwell’s Nashwan Stud, the 18-year-old stallion suffered a paddock accident that proved fatal, though a full necropsy is still pending. The son of Old Friends retiree Albert the Great, out of the Forty Niner mare Chasethewildwind, […]

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY., initiated construction on a distinct equine sculpture by renowned artist Kiptoo Tarus. The sculpture, sponsored by the Baffert family, will be crafted from the dying stump of the nearly 100-year Sycamore tree on the farm’s property, and will pay tribute to graded stakes winner Medina Spirt, […]