Pointing, our guide said, “That one earned 1.1 million dollars, that one 1.2 million.” Yes, some of these were top thoroughbreds in their heyday. Now, they don’t work so much any more. But they were happy to see us approaching.Did you ever wonder what happens to thoroughbred race horses when they no longer run? This is not something we ever thought about. And probably never would have had we not stopped in Franklin KY. As usual we were looking at what the area offered and found “Old Friends”, a retirement farm for race horses. What a treat to visit and very educational.
The Franklin farm is one of three locations of Old Friends and is the first to be located at a racing facility. Because of this and regulations, the retirement area is closed when the race track is operational. Otherwise tours are available and the retired horses seem to enjoy visitors. Feeding the horses is allowed and encouraged since the guide supplies the treats. And the horses know what is about to be offered and they jockey for position and even nudge each other for a better position. Must be a throw back to their racing days.
Michael Blowen founded Old Friends in 2003 in Georgetown, KY. It was a leased paddock and one horse. Today it is a 136 acre farm with a herd of over 175 rescued and retired horses. He has two satellite facilities in Greenfield Center NY and Franklin KY.
The facilities are classified as a “living-history museum of horse racing” and offer visitors a up close and personal view of famous thoroughbreds and rescue horses.
The star of the facility, in our opinion, is Fonzi, the 19 year old retired miniature horse. He has obviously been a hit and eaten too many treats; when we visited he had a muzzle on and was not allowed treats. Still he would come over to the fence and try his best to manage a treat or two, to no avail.
The other retirees were allowed treats and savored every morsel. They were all race horses generally over 10 years old with one being 21. They enjoyed the attention and appreciated head scratches but liked the treats best.
Some of the winners retired at the farm are Balance of Power, Thornfield, Tour of the Cat, Ball Four, Sgt. Bert, Dueling Alex, Rumor Has It and Good Lord. Balance of Power had the fewest starts with 16 while Good Lord had 84 starts.
Once retired, the starts or the winnings do not matter; what matters is they are pampered and protected for their remaining years.
It was an honor and an education for us to visit Old Friends and learn how they respect and cherish older thoroughbreds and rescue horses in need. Thank you for a service well done with love and caring — Old Friends.
