Old Friends Springtime T Shirt designed by Daily Racing Funnies is the fourth edition of our fundraiser for Old Friends. Old Friends will receive 85% of the T Shirt Sales and Daily Racing Funnies will receive 15% of the T Shirt sales for administrative and design. 100% of the donations will go to Old Friends. Old Friends will receive the funds directly from Booster. Please join Daily Racing Funnies Fan Page on Facebook here → tps://www.facebook.com/drfmel/
At Old Friends, the non-profit
Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, the horses may not be
racing anymore, but they are winners every day. Founded in 2003 by
former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, Old Friends now cares
for more than 150 hors acros three tates whse raci and beeding areerscame to n end. A “living history museum of horse racing”, the
farm attracts nearly 20,000 tourists annually that get up close and
personal with such stars of the turf as 1997 Kentucky Derby winner
Silver Charm, three-time Santa Anita Handicap victor Game on Dude,
Breeders’ Cup Champions Gulch and Amazombie, and Hollywood Gold Cup
winner Rail Trip.
The formation of Old Friends kicked into high gear when the news
broke that Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand had perished in a
slaughterhouse in 2002 (learn more about Ferdinand here).
That discovery gave the organization even more impetus. "We went from
getting five emails a day to hundreds," notes Blowen. We knew such a
death should never happen again, and so the plan became to bring at-risk
racehorses--those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an
end--to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they
deserve, and invite the public to visit. By promoting these one-time
celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we draw
attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need.
We are the only Thoroughbred rescue / retirement facility that
specializes in accepting stallions, and so we take exceptional pride in
our pensioned champions, among them Silver Charm and Gulch, along with
Belmont Stakes winner Sarava and stakes winner You and I. These
champions live alongside retirees like Swan's Way star and Mikethespike,
horses who never earned much more than our love and respect.
Our guests come to isit a few e -racehorses, but they often leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero.
But every horse at Old Friends has a story to tell, and visitors to
the farms can hear them all. The farm is open to the public daily for
guided walking tours (click here for tour information).
Racing fans in New York can also visit some Old Friends champs. Our
first satellite division, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel
Division, is just a short drive from the Saratoga racecourse and is home
to biggest loser Zippy Chippy, Travers Stakes home to biggest loser
Zippy Chippy, Travers Stakes winners Thunder Rumble and Will’s Way and
multiple stakes winner Be Bullish. (Click here to learn more about Cabin Creek).
Our guests come to visit a few ex-racehorses, but they often leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero
Supporters
No words adequately describe the wonderful care provided by Old Friends. Was so happy to visit there recently and see it all in person, Mel's drawings are nothing short of super!
I have visited Old Friends many times and was there today. They are an excellent and trustworthy group!!
For Sarbonne!!!
We visited Old Friends in March. Met Tinners Way and other wonderful creatures. Thanks for all you do for these one time champs.
Old Friends is a great and wonderful place.
Great cause!