Diversify Joins Old Friends

Ralph and Lauren Evans's 'TDN Rising Star' Diversify will take up residence at Old Friends Equine, the renowned Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Trained throughout his career by the late Rick Violette, Jr., New York-bred Diversify won the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2018 GI Whitney S. in his trademark front-running fashion. Turned over to Jonathan Thomas following Violette's passing last October, Diversify was training towards a 6-year-old campaign and was nearing a return to action when he suffered a suspensory injury and was retired.

“Michael Blowen and Mr. Evans got together and the decision was made for him to go to Old Friends and live out his life in the spotlight,” said Thomas. “It's a tremendous facility and Mr. Blowen has done incredible things with allowing fans to have access to these star horses. I think it's also really good for the horses. Diversify is a horse that loves attention and being acknowledged. This is the beginning of a new story for him.”

Old Friends already has a presence in New York and Blowen said he is looking at opening a second facility in the state.

“If we can get the money together, I would like to name the location after Rick Violette the way we named the farm in Greenfield Center at Cabin Creek after Bobby Frankel,” said Blowen. “Rick and I used to talk about aftercare all the time and he was an avid supporter of looking after horses when they were done racing. It would be an honor to name the new place after him. We already have King Kreesa, Lubash and Kharafa and, of course, Commentator. We have all these great New York-breds and it will be so great to show them off.”