Proceeds to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement
GEORGETOWN, KY – JANUARY 31, 2012 – The 3rd Annual “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” an online auction of exclusive handcrafted Kentucky Derby Hats, continues February 1st with a hat inspired by the great sire Fortunate Prospect.
This is the fourth hat in a series of six magnificent chapeaus to be auctioned by Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY. Each hat has been custom crafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of Maggie Mae Designs and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Old Friends, the 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to the dignified retirement of former racehorses.
GEORGETOWN, KY — JANUARY 3, 2012 — Diamond Stripes, the 9-year-old son of Notebook, has been retired to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY,
Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, made the announcement today.
Bred in Florida by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rogers Jr, for their Four Roses Thoroughbreds, Diamond Stripes won six of his 16 starts, including three black-type victories. His earnings total $1,479,014.
Diamond Stripes broke his maiden in the 2006 Pegasus Stakes (GR3) and the following year he captured the Meadowlands Cup (GR2). The win earned him entry into that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he finished 8th on an off track.
His greatest victory, however, came in 2008 in Dubai where he triumphed in the $1-million Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) under jockey Edgar Prado.
Recently a billboard was put up in Palm Beach County regarding the issue of horse slaughter and specifically against horse slaughter. Pure Thoughts Inc. Horse Rescue stands against horse slaughter and always will; it is a horrific end for a horse’s life; our goal and mission has always been and always will be the welfare of the horses.
Pure Thoughts did not have any prior notice of this billboard (we found out through the newspaper), nor did we contribute financially. Every penny we raise goes directly to the care of the horses at the rescue and we struggle daily to keep the rescue operating. Although a billboard for the rescue could help raise funds, increase adoptions and encourage volunteers, it is just not a luxury we can afford.
As a result of this billboard being put up in Palm Beach County there have been derogative and disparaging remarks posted on various pages in the Facebook community regarding the Wellington Equestrian Community, the Equestrian Show Community and even the Polo Community, as well as the Palm Beach community, stating everything from ignorance of horse slaughter to ambivalence of horse welfare. Pure Thoughts does not appreciate, condone or stand by any of these comments made. They are clearly from people who do not know this community and its dedication to the horses and their welfare. Although we have done our best to retort to all comments made we do not have the time to go in search of every uneducated post so we want to make it clear that not only do we stand by our community and all it entails during show season and all year long, we are PROUD to be a part of it.
GEORGETOWN, KY – DECEMBER 19, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, has joined with Lexington’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center and CANTER Michigan to permanently retire two Thoroughbreds, Ferdinand’s Star and Mikethespike.
Michael Blowen, Old Friends founder and president, made the announcement today.
Ferdinand’s Star, a son of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand out of the Dare to Command mare Rose and Betty, comes to Old Friends from The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center, an equine adoption and rehabilitation facility located at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The 16-year-old gelding is a testament to the versatility of the Thoroughbred as he has run the gamut of careers since making his first start on the racetrack in 1998.
UHC’s Operation Gelding Continues with More Clinics
The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s [UHC] Operation Gelding program has aided in gelding 276 stallions to date. The program, which was first launched in late August 2010, is able to continue aiding in the castration of stallions thanks to the support and seed money provided by the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation [AAEP]. Operation Gelding is designed to offer funding assistance to organizations, associations, and events that wish to conduct a public gelding clinic under the name and guidelines of Operation Gelding. An organization that has completed an Operation Gelding clinic will receive funding of $50 per horse, $1,000 maximum, to aid in the costs associated with the clinic. Read More…
Free Listings for Equine Care Facilities and Rescues on the Nation’s Largest Transactional Horse Website
The Unwanted Horse Coalition is joining forces with the Equine Network, the nation’s leading publisher of equine-related content, to help connect people looking for horses to rescue horses in need of homes through the new A Home for Every Horse Program. Rescue organizations can list their horses for free on Equine.com, the horse, trailer and horse property sale site that receives 2,865,600 unique annual visitors. Click here to find out how: Read More…
GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 23, 2011 – Fabulous Strike, winner of the 2007 Vosburgh Stakes, has been permanently pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY.
The 8-year-old Pennsylvania bred was retired from racing in September and was donated to Old Friends by his owner and breeder, Walter Downey and his Tea Party Stable.
Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike – Fabulous Find by Lost Code) is a five-time graded stakes winner and was one of the nation’s top sprinters between 2007 and 2009. In addition to the Vosburgh, his victories include the GR1 Aristides Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2007 and the GR2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. in 2009. In all, the gelding captured 15 of his 28 starts and had total career earnings of $1, 448, 399.
GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 21, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility and 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, has received a second $50,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The announcement was made today by Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen.
In 2009 Old Friends was one of five organizations chosen to participate in the ASPCA’s “Rescuing Racers Initiative,” a $1 million granting opportunity made possible by a generous donor designed to support horses impacted by the racing industry. Old Friends also received a $50,000 grant in 2010.
The majority of the funds will be used to construct four new paddocks on Old Friends’s Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, KY, allowing the organization to provide safe retirement for even more Thoroughbreds.
GEORGETOWN, KY — OCTOBER 28, 2011 — On Wednesday October 27 Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, happily welcomed GR1-winner and top sire You and I. The stallion arrived from Washington state and will now be permanently pensioned at the farm.
Woodstead Farm in Chehalis, WA, where he most recently stood stud, donated the 20-year-old son of Kris S to Old Friends.
Campaigned by prominent owner Edmund A. Gann and legendary trainer Bobby Frankel, You and I (Kris S – La Chaposa, by Ups) won 6 of 16 starts including the GR2 Cowdin stakes as a 2-year-old. The following year he set a track record in the GR3 Riva Ridge Stakes, running the 7 furlongs in 1:20.33. At 4 You and I finally earned his GR 1 capturing the 1995 Metropolitan Handicap and later that year the GR 2 Brooklyn H. His career earnings totaled $701, 235.
During his stallion career You and I sired 15 stakes winners, most notably the five-time GR1-winning filly You.
“State of the Art” Mobile unit at the Kentucky Horse Park Starting October 31st
Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill
Lexington, KY – October 26, 2011 – The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, already recognized as one of the nation’s most advanced conditioning and rehab centers for horses, announced that their new mobile unit will be on the grounds for this year’s Alltech National Horse Show, beginning on Monday, October 31, 2011.
The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, will be held from November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful, new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center is located near Ocala, Florida, on nearly 30 acres adjacent to Highway 27 in northwest Marion County. After two years of extensive planning, the multi-million dollar facility at the Sanctuary has quickly been recognized by horsemen and women from all disciplines as the finest, most comprehensive facility of its kind in the world. “We now have stall capacity for 42 horses. We have two 20 stall barns and the therapy building has two 12 x 24 air-conditioned & heated stalls,” related general manager, Brenda McDuffee.
GEORGETOWN, KY — OCTOBER 20, 2011 — Personalized, one of only four foals produced by Hall of Fame champion Precisionist, has died.
The 21-year-old mare was humanely euthanized at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, where she had been pensioned since 2008. The mare was discovered in her paddock having suffered a fractured hip.
“We welcomed Personalized to Old Friends because of our great love for her sire but it wasn’t long before her kind eyes and gentle disposition made her special regardless of her lineage,” said Old Friends president and founder, Michael Blowen.
Owned and bred by Florida-based Fred Hooper, who also bred her sire, Personalized (Precisionist – Ski Title, by Baldski) only had eight starts in her career and no wins, earning only $1,050. She was discovered in a feedlot Yakima, WA in 2008 by the Columbia Basin Equine Rescue and then found a permanent home at Old Friends.
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GEORGETOWN, KY — JANUARY 3, 2012 — Diamond Stripes, the 9-year-old son of Notebook, has been retired to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY,
Recently a billboard was put up in Palm Beach County regarding the issue of horse slaughter and specifically against horse slaughter. Pure Thoughts Inc. Horse Rescue stands against horse slaughter and always will; it is a horrific end for a horse’s life; our goal and mission has always been and always will be the welfare of the horses.
GEORGETOWN, KY – DECEMBER 19, 2011 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, has joined with Lexington’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center and CANTER Michigan to permanently retire two Thoroughbreds, Ferdinand’s Star and Mikethespike.
GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 23, 2011 – Fabulous Strike, winner of the 2007 Vosburgh Stakes, has been permanently pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY.
Funds to Provide New Paddocks for More Retirees
GEORGETOWN, KY — OCTOBER 28, 2011 — On Wednesday October 27 Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, happily welcomed GR1-winner and top sire You and I. The stallion arrived from Washington state and will now be permanently pensioned at the farm.
