Joann Pepper

Valiant Crusader (Crusader Sword) passed away at Old Friends at Cabin Creek on Jan. 17, according to farm release on Sunday.  The 25-year-old stallion was humanely euthanized after sustaining injuries in a paddock accident. "Cru meant so much to us," said JoAnn Pepper, owner and manager of Old Friends at Cabin Creek. "He could brighten the day just by standing there. He was fun and happy. He loved every meal, just like his father did. He leaves us sad, but blessed to have known and loved him." Valiant Crusader retired...

Grade I-winning New York-bred Diversify (Bellamy Road) has relocated to Old Friends at Cabin Creek after initially retiring to Old Friends' Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky following his retirement from racing in 2019. "We are thrilled to welcome Diversify back home to New York," said JoAnn Pepper, manager of Old Friends at Cabin Creek. "We are looking forward to him settling in and greeting visitors." Trained by the late Rick Violette, Jr. and owned by Lauren and Ralph Evans, Diversify won the 2017 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and...

Commentator (Distorted Humor--Outsource, by Storm Bird), a two-time winner of the GI Whitney Handicap for owner Tracy Farmer and trainer Nick Zito, was euthanized on Friday, June 27, at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in New York due to long-term complications from Potomac horse fever. He was 24 years old. Bred in New York by Michael Martinez, the chestnut was a $45,000 Keeneland November weanling and was purchased by Farmer for $135,000 out of the 2002 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Sale. After besting his fellow Empire-breds by over 27 combined lengths in...

Edited Press Release Zippy Chippy, horse racing's most loveable loser, has died. A retiree at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, NY., a satellite of Kentucky's Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement, the son of Compliance was 31. Campaigned by owner-trainer Felix Montserrate--who acquired the horse in 1995 by trading a Ford Truck--Zippy is known more for losing races than winning them. In 100 starts, he never crossed the finish line first. But he earned fame in other ways--for being cantankerous and for putting on carnival exhibitions where he once...

Will's Way (Easy Goer--Willamae, by Tentam), whose racing career was highlighted by a hard-fought victory in the 1996 GI Travers S., passed away Dec. 24 at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, NY. He was just over a week shy of celebrating his 28th birthday. Campaigned by Rudlein Stable and trained by H. James Bond, Will's Way didn't begin his career until early in his sophomore season, but was a neck second to GI Preakness S. hero Louis Quatorze (Sovereign Dancer) in the GII Jim Dandy S. at...