Old Friends

Eclipse Award-winner and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Amazombie (Northern Afleet) was euthanized on Monday, Sept. 18, at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, due to a fractured ankle. The 16-year old gelding had lived at the retirement facility since 2014 thanks to his owners, trainer Bill Spawr and Thomas Sanford. "Amazombie was a lot of fun," Spawr said. "He was so much fun, you just can't imagine. And, you know, he died doing what he loved to do--run! You guys [at Old Friends] did a great job. We appreciated that."...

2002 GI Belmont S. winner Sarava (Wild Again) has died at Old Friends. According to the preliminary report from Dr. Colton Thacker at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, he was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture at the age of 24. The dark bay was the first Classic winner to be retired to the farm Sept. 29, 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain. He upset the field of the 2002 GI Belmont S. at odds of 70-1, defeating Medaglia...

Oklahoma-bred millionaire and three-time Oklahoma Horse of the Year Welder (The Visualizer), Remington Park's all-time wins leader with 16, arrived at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, on Monday. The 10-year-old gelding was retired in 2021 and was moved to Old Friends after his owners, Re-Max Farms in Claremore, OK, ceased operations. Racing for seven seasons, Welder won 27 of 44 career starts, which includes 15 Listed stakes victories, for total earnings of $1,263,359. The gray sprinter, who will be inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington...

MGSW Fearless (Ghostzapper) was welcomed to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky on Wednesday, Aug. 2, the organization said in a release early Friday. The 7-year-old bay gelding, who was last seen running fifth June 10 at Belmont Park in the GII True North S., was retired to the farm by his owner, Mike Repole, a longtime supporter of Old Friends. According to Equibase he amassed eight wins over 19 starts and over $1.2-million in career earnings. "Fearless was a gutsy and determined racehorse with the perfect...

Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, will host a retirement celebration for Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado on Saturday, July 15, they announced Monday. The veteran reinsman was the regular pilot for two Old Friends residents--GI Belmont S. winners Sarava (Wild Again) and Birdstone (Grindstone)--as well as 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (Dynaformer) and 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Runhappy (Super Saver). "It's an honor to be present at Old Friends," Prado said. "They really take care of the horses after their careers, giving them the best life possible every...

Fan favorite Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), a 13-time winner of over $1.8 million in a career that spanned nine seasons at the racetrack, has been retired and will take up residence at Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, according to a series of tweets from Allison Caldwell, the wife of trainer Danny Caldwell. Rated R Superstar began his career in the barn of Ken McPeek and was third to Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) in the 2015 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity before finishing unplaced behind Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the...

Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, welcomed V. E. Day this week, the retirement farm said in a release Friday. The 2014 GI Travers S. hero, V. E. Day (English Channel--California Sunset, by Deputy Minister) came to Old Friends following the death of his owner-breeder Magalen O. Bryant in 2021. Bryant's representative, Johnathan Miller, and her daughter, K. C. Graham, visited Old Friends earlier this year when it was decided that the stallion would retire from stud duty. "V. E. Day was a courageous Travers winner and we inquired about his...

MGSW Jonesboro (Sefapiano), a 21-year-old stallion, was found deceased in his paddock during morning rounds on Thursday, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky said in a release. Bred by Jayeff "B" Stables and foaled in Kentucky on Mar. 15, 2002, the chestnut stallion was purchased at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling sale by Michael Langford for $27,000 and he was trained by Randy Morse. Among his many accomplishments, Jonesboro won the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn and as a 7-year-old, declared victory in both the GII Prairie Meadows...

Old Friends hosts its Annual Tribute to recently deceased horses at its Georgetown, Kentucky facility May 29 at 1 p.m. The event is open and free to the public. Horses to be honored are Afternoon Deelites, Albertus Maximus, Devilocity Lass, Disturbingthepeace, Dumaani, Eye of the Tiger, Favorite, Holy Estrapade, Hussonfirst, Inaspecial Way, Kudos, Miss Saigon, Mustanfar, Mystery Trip, Star Plus, Swain, Thornfield, Victor Cooley, You and I, in addition to JR Guy, Horse Care Staff, Ellen Zehnder, Tour Guide, Buddy, Chief Greeter Cat. The event will be held at Old...

Old Friends will host its 18th Annual Homecoming Event Sunday, May 7th, beginning at 12 noon. The event features a live and silent auction of artwork, prints, and racing memorabilia, including several premiere collectible stallion halters. Absentee bidding for halters, which are all accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, is currently open. On the block are halters worn by the following horses: Afleet Alex, Charismatic, Constitution, Da Hoss, Essential Quality, Feathered, Lava Man, Nashville, Pioneerof The Nile, Silver Charm and Tapit. The deadline to receive bids is Saturday, May 6,...

MGSW Disturbingthepeace (Bold Badgett) passed away at the age of 25 due to complications from colic Old Friends announced Friday. An earner of more than $666,000 in his 24-race career, the gelding did his best racing at Del Mar, winning back-to-back renewals of the GII Pat O'Brian S. along with the GII Triple Bend Breeders' Cup Invitational H. and the GII Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup H. He retired to Old Friends at the end of the 2012 racing season. "Disturbingthepeace had a nice race career," said Old Friends Founder and...

Old Friends, Thoroughbred Retirement Farm will dedicate three new street signs during its 18th Annual Homecoming event, Sunday, May 7 from noon to 4 p.m. (EST), the organization said in a release on Wednesday. The new signs will honor: Dave Litfin, "Litfin Lane," author and writer for the Daily Racing Form; Bob Neumeier, "Neumeier Street," NBC broadcaster; and Jay Privman, "Privman Pass," recently retired turf writer from the Daily Racing Form. "This trio of remarkable chroniclers of Thoroughbred racing will have paths named after them at Old Friends to remind...