Danthebluegrassman and Cappucino Kid are settling in very nicely. We are very grateful to everyone who helped get them to us and we promise to take great care of them. We now have 40 Old Friends (29 here and 11 off-site) and we need more room. We are hemmed in on one side by the new subdivision. We have a very good relationship with the residents and I think they’ll be great neighbors. Fortunately, there are 44 acres that adjoin the gelding field that may be available for purchase. We have been pre-approved by the Citizens-Commerce Bank (thank you, Mr. Duckworth) and we’re working up an offer sheet. If we can acquire the additional property that obviously will allow us to expand. There is an overwhelming demand for our services. (The funniest thing I’ve heard was from a supporter who was at a party and was told that they’d heard that “it is harder to get your horse into Old Friends than it is to get you kid into Harvard”). The hardest part of this job is turning horses away. Mrs. Suzanne Gottlieb has made an extremely generous contribution of $10,000 to get us started. If you’d like to make a donation to help we’d really appreciate it. If anyone wants to buy it and donate it to Old Friends we’ll name it anything you like. Thanks so much for all your support and I hope you’ll all get to visit sometime soon. These great athletes love to mug for the camera.
There are still a few wine bottles available at Liquor Barns here in Kentucky. They have both the Albert Brooks and Anjelica Huston bottles. Kentucky Ale has released the second Bourbon Barrel Ale with our own Kiri’s Clown gracing the label with jockey Jean Cruget. Jean very kindly signed each of 2600 bottles. A percentage of sales of each bottle goes to Old Friends and The Don MacBeth Memorial Fund for Retired Jockeys.
Another exciting event coming up is on Friday, April 18th 5:00 – 8:00pm at Whole Foods Market 4944 Shelbyville Road, Louisville 502-899-5545 “Five After Five” FRIDAY Benefit for Old Friends Retired Thoroughbreds Enjoy the flavors of our Derby menu paired with your favorite local beers! Your $5 donation will help Old Friends continue to provide dignified retirements for our thoroughbreds. Five Kentucky beer samples with Derby meal pairings are included with admission – and you get to keep the mug!
Our 2009 FEED FOR A DAY calendar is in full swing. World class photographer Katey Barret is again spearheading the publication. You can help feed and care for the horses at Old Friends with your $100 donation. Receive a free calendar as a gift and have a loved one’s birthday, anniversary, or a memorial note on the date of your choice. (first come, first serve) Donors who had a date on the 2008 calendar get first dibs on their previous date. Deadline is June 20, 2009. 2009 calendars will be shipped free to donors this fall. If you want to help, print off the calendar donor form here: http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/pdfs/calendar2009.doc complete the form and send along with your donation to Old Friends, 1841 Payne’s Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324. You can also donate with paypal or call the office with credit card info at 502-863-1775
There are still tickets available for this Sundays ball game at Louisville Slugger Field. We’ll have a silent auction of a jersey and baseball signed by the players, and the eBay auction of the opportunity to throw out the second pitch.
As always, thank you for your support.
