Old Friends Honored With Special Eclipse Award

Old Friends, founded by Michael Blowen in 2003, will receive a Special Eclipse Award at the 44th annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida Jan. 17 announced the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Friday. The nonprofit Thoroughbred retirement center based in Georgetown, Kentucky currently cares for 166 rescued and retired horses with an emphasis on pensioned stallions. 

“This is just unbelievable,” said Blowen. “We started with one horse just over 10 years ago and now we have 166 retirees. We have several Eclipse Award winners already at the farm; I can’t wait to show them mine.” 

Old Friends originated after Blowen heard that 1986 GI Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand met his end in a Japanese slaughterhouse in 2002. The goal of Old Friends is to raise awareness for racehorse retirement and improve racing’s image by giving the public access to some of its biggest stars and providing a comfortable home for some of the less accomplished residents. Old Friends hosts daily tours and attracts up to 1,000 visitors a week during peak times of the year. 

Added Blowen, “It allows us to take other horses that really didn’t do as much, but deserve retirement just as well. I want people to come away with really good feelings about the sport of horseracing because I adore it and we’ve made some inroads in that direction.” 

Old Friends recently gained 1997 dual-Classic winner Silver Charm back from a stud career in Japan as well as MGISW Game On Dude. These two head a strong American Grade I-winning contingent including Amazombie, Afternoon Deelites, Commentator, Gulch and Sarava among others. Rapid Redux, winner of 19-straight races also resides at the Kentucky facility. 

Currently operated by five full-time employees, four part-time employees and 24 volunteers, Old Friends expanded to New York with the opening of Old Friends at Cabin Creek, the Bobby Frankel Division in late 2009. 

“Our industry has made significant progress in allowing former racehorses to live out dignified retirements thanks to Old Friends and likeminded organizations,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “We are grateful to Michael and his dedicated team of staff and volunteers for the positive impact they’ve had on our sport’s commitment to aftercare and on the lives of hundreds of Thoroughbreds.” 

This is only the 24th time since the Special Award was inaugurated in 1971 that the award was bestowed and only the third time an aftercare-related organization will receive it after Monique Koehler, founder of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) were previous recipients. 

For more information about Old Friends, go to OldFriendsEquine.org. For a complete list of past Eclipse Award winners, click www.ntra.com/en/eclipse-awards/history.