GEORGETOWN, KY – AUGUST 14, 2025 – Special Ring, a multiple Grade One stakes winner and son of international sire Nureyev, has died at 28 after suffering complications from colic. A pensioner since 2005 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement in Georgetown, KY, Special Ring was the last surviving member of the original 15 Thoroughbred retirees who moved from Hurstland Farm to Old Friends’ new property, Dream Chase Farm, in 2006.

“It is particularly difficult to bid farewell to Special Ring. Having arrived in 2005, he was with us for nearly the whole existence of Old Friends. Special Ring was beloved by an entire generation of Old Friends family members. Besides being a respected stakes winner, he was also a horse with a big personality who loved people and excelled at life,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends.

Starting his career in France with trainer Criquette Head, Special Ring raced for seven straight seasons with 10 wins from 29 starts to his name for $915,023 in earnings. The gelding didn’t win as a juvenile but did come close with two placings in the same amount of starts. He came out running at three with his two consecutive wins to start the season including a first stakes victory in the Prix de Saint-Patrick before finishing third in the Prix Daphnis (G3) one start later. He would pick up another stakes win to kick off his 4-year-old season in 2021 before breeder-owner Wertheimer & Frere sold him to Jack Preston’s Prestonwood Farm and he was transferred to trainer Julio Canani in the U.S.

Special Ring turned into a major contender in the California turf division after getting acclimated, with his 10 straight stakes starts from August 2002 to his retirement in May 2005 including wins in two editions of the Eddie Read Handicap (G1) and a win in the Wickerr Handicap. He also finished second in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and American Handicap (G2) with the gelding also making Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) appearances in 2003 and 2004.

Retired by owner Jack Preston to Old Friends in 2005, Special Ring would become a favorite on Old Friends tours as part of a dynamic duo with his best friend, the late Popcorn Deelites. Over the years, the two-some wowed thousands of visitors, with Pops as the charismatic movie star (Seabiscuit), and Ring, who became famous for his trick of “show us your lip tattoo” on command.

“Special Ring, two-time winner of the prestigious Eddie Read Handicap, will be forever known as the Old Friends retiree who flipped his lip on command to reveal his tattoo,” says Old Friends’ Founder, Michael Blowen. “But he was so much more than a one-trick pony. He was kind, smart, tough Thoroughbred who didn’t give up until the very end.”

While it is the mission of Old Friends to find racehorses in need, the truth is, sometimes ex-champs just find us. For instance, Special Ring. In the summer of 2005, Ring’s owner Jack Preston – who campaigned two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Da Hoss in the 1990’s – decided to wrap up his 8-year-old gelding’s first-rate career, and donate the multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning son of Nureyev to Old Friends. Ever since, Special Ring has been our very special guest.

Like several of the Old Friends retirees, Ring began his career racing in France, where he won the Prix Saint Patrick and the Prix Altipan. But it was in the U.S that he made his mark, capturing 10 of 29 grass starts and earning over $900,000 for Prestonwood Farms. In 2002, he dusted the competition and took the Wickerr Handicap in record time. In ’03 and ’04, he had impressive back-to-back victories in the G1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar (chalking up another course mark in ‘03 for 9 furlongs), and placed a game second in both the American Handicap and the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile at Hollywood Park. The handsome bay finished out the 2003 season facing the top grass horses in the world in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, but finished 8th.

In 2004, Special Ring attempted a very special win for his owner when he vied again in the Breeder’s Cup Mile, this time at Lone Star Park. “It means a lot being a Texan now to win one of these races,” said long-time Houston resident Preston. “It would be a great thrill.” Unfortunately, the horse stumbled badly at the start and placed 13th.

Ring arrived at Old Friends in August of 2005 from his California home base.