GEORGETOWN, Ky. – June 9, 2024 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is saddened to report that multiple graded-stakes winning stallion, Ide, was euthanized at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on Friday, June 7, 2024, due to colic. He was 31.

The beautiful chestnut stallion had been at Old Friends since Aug. 29, 2016 thanks to the Ide Group, which consists of three cousins, Allen Peltier, Bryan Harang, and Harvey “Drew” Peltier. In addition, Peter Willmott retained a share in the horse.

“Although we are sad that IDE has left us, we are also filled with gratitude that Harvey Peltier and the IDE Group allowed us to share this friendly and accomplished horse with tens of thousands of people throughout the years,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “Ide was a special part of Old Friends and a great Ambassador for the sport of Thoroughbred Racing.”

Harvey Peltier of the Ide Group, was also sad to hear about the loss of Ide.

“I was saddened to hear of Ide’s passing, but I was thrilled that Michael Blowen accepted Ide to live out his days at Old Friends,” said Peltier. “Ide got lots of attention at Old Friends where he was fed treats and carrots on a regular basis.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t give thanks to Clear Creek Stud for the wonderful job of caring and promoting Ide at stud,” he continued. “Also, I’d like to give thanks for all the breeders for their support, and all the people at Old Friends for their care and a special thank you to Michael Blowen.”

Bred by David B. Garvin, Ide, who was by Forty Niner–Maytide, by Naskra, was foaled in Kentucky on May 5, 1993.

Trained by Peter M. Vestal and owned by Willmott Stables for his entire career, Ide began racing as a 2-year old in 1995.

Ide won his first race in his third start, a maiden special weight race at Turfway Park on Sept. 13, which was the beginning of a seven-race win streak over a two-year period that included five stakes wins, four of them graded stakes.

His first stakes win was in the Fort Springs Stakes (Listed) at Keeneland, followed by two graded-stakes wins at Churchill Downs in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G3). His second two graded-stakes wins came at Oaklawn Park in 1996 as a 3-year old in the Southwest Stakes (G3) and the Rebel Stakes (G3). Those wins marked him as one of the favorites for the 1996 Kentucky Derby.

Unfortunately, while preparing for his next start in the Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park, Ide suffered a career-ending injury and was retired.

Ide began his stud career in 1997 at the Lavin Family’s Longfield Farm in Goshen, Kentucky. Then in 2003, he was purchased by the Ide Group and moved to Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana for the rest of his stud career.

Ide was a very successful sire. According to the Louisiana Bred Blog, Ide “was the leading sire in Louisiana for 2003 by number of winners and North American earnings, and stayed at or near the top of the leading Louisiana sires list for the remainder of his career. He was the A.L. “Red” Erwin Louisiana Sire of the Year in both 2009 and 2013, leading all other sires of Louisiana breds in earnings those years.”

During his stud career, Ide sired 16 stakes winners, including Louisiana-Bred Horse of the Year Ide Be Cool, and champion colt Ide Like a Double.

Ide was pensioned in Jan. 2015, and then sent to Old Friends for his retirement thanks to the Ide Group. He arrived at the farm on Aug. 29, 2016.

“Ide was as kind as any Thoroughbred at Old Friends,” said Michael Blowen, Founder of Old Friends. “He graced us with his confident demeanor and, even though he lived a long, full life it wasn’t long enough.”

The now 25-year-old Ide was among the early favorites for the 1996 Kentucky Derby, having decimated the competition in a five-race win streak that culminated with victories in both the Southwest and the Rebel Stakes. But just prior to an expected romp in the Arkansas Derby, he suffered a career-ending injury. The news came as a tremendous shock to his owner, Peter Willmott (who also campaigned Old Friends retiree Williamstown). “When his trainer called me about his injury on April 1st, I thought it was an April Fool’s joke,” he has said. “That was a real blow. He deserved a shot at the classics.” Ranked among the top colts of his generation, Ide was on the board in eight of nine starts and retired with earnings of $363,780. Ide entered stud in 1997. After initially standing at the Lavin Family’s Longfield Farm, he moved to Louisiana and stood at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom for The Ide Group throughout the rest of his career. (In addition to Willmott, the Ide Group consists of partners Bryan Harang, Allen Peltier, and Harvey “Drew” Peltier, III) The handsome son of Forty Niner carried his talents over to the breeding shed. He is the sire of 16 stakes winners, including Louisiana-Bred Horse of the Year Ide Be Cool and champion colt Ide Like a Double. Noted Ide Group manager Drew Peltier: “The opportunity to live out his days at Old Friends where I know he will have plenty visitors and attention is like having a happy ending to a book or a movie. I couldn’t be happier for him.” And we couldn’t be happier to have him. Old Friends extends grateful thanks to Clear Creek Farm, Louisiana, for enabling flashy, personable Ide’s retirement with us. Share sheet info – click here. Donate to sponsor Ide. Receive a certificate & 8×10 photo