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Upcoming Events:
Secretariat Festival
Sept. 29th
Paris, Ky. Old Friends retiree Rapid Redux, who was honored with the 2011 Secretariat Vox Populi Award, will make a special appearance at the annual festival to meet-and-greet with Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery. "Penny has been great to us," Blowen said. The event features a number of activities, including autograph signing with Chenery and jockey Ron Turcotte. Visit
www.secretariat.com
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Old Friends Celebrates the Thoroughbred Times Party
October 7th Noon to 4PM
$25 per person / $15 for members or shareholders.
Lunch, Silent Auction,
Book Signings
Old Friends will host a party to fete the staff of the recently-shuttered racing publication Thoroughbred Times. The day will feature book signings by three authors - James Nicholson will sign copies of his The Kentucky Derby; Susan Nusser will sign copies of Kentucky Derby Dreams: The Making of Thoroughbred Champions; and Milt Toby will sign his Noor: A Champion Thoroughbred's Unlikely Journey. Toby is a former winner of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by Thoroughbred Times and Castleton Lyons. Noor is interred at Old Friends. Also on October 7, RFD-TV will visit Old Friends to shoot footage for an episode of its new series, "Small Town Big Deal."
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Save the dates in 2013:
Old Friends Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® February 23rd, 2013
Historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, KY
AND
Old Friends Annual Homecoming
May 5th, 2013
at Old Friends Kentucky
AND
Old Friends Belmont Ball
June 5th, 2013
Oheka Castle
Huntington NY
more details to come... email
sylvia@oldfriendsequine.org
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Donate To Help! |
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New Book Offer!
Randy Spicer is kindly donating some of the proceeds of his book sales to Old Friends. Click here to learn more about Randy and his books: One For the Roses and Irish Blood Horse |
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From Michael...
The response to the Daily Racing Form/Old Friends magazine has been overwhelming. We're very grateful to everyone at DRF but especially, Marketing Director Mandy Minger, photographer Barbara D. Livingston, columnist Jay Hovdey, writer Glenye Cain Oxford and CEO John Hartig. It's an amazing tribute to these spectacular athletes and their human servants. You can order them through Old Friends for $15, and that includes shipping.
We're getting ready for winter. We had our first frost last night and the horses loved it. We're trying to stockpile hay for the cold weather and, since our generous visitors taper off as the temperature drops, any donations would be very much appreciated. If you are considering making a donation before year's end, sooner would be better. If you haven't visited recently, stop by. |
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New York champion Dancin' Renee arrives
Dancin' Renee, the New York-bred Horse of the Year in 1997, arrived at Old Friends on September 14.
The 20-year-old Distinctive Pro mare made her way to the Kentucky retirement facility after owner-breeder Sanford Bacon connected with Old Friends founder Michael Blowen at a fundraiser in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
"You could tell he was in love with this horse," Blowen said. "He adored her, and he wanted her to go to a place where people would adore her as much as he did."
Unraced as a two-year-old, Dancin' Renee - who was trained throughout her career by Robert Triola - won her career debut in January 1995, then took the New York Stallion Park Avenue Stakes that season. However, despite her early success, she would only get better with age.
After losing three of her first four starts to begin her five-year-old campaign in 1997, Dancin' Renee ended the season on a seven-race win streak, including victories in the Broadway Handicap, Endine Stakes, Straight Deal Breeders' Cup Handicap, Honorable Miss Stakes (G3), and Regret Stakes. In her career-defining Honorable Miss victory against open company, Dancin' Renee, with Richie Migliore aboard, was sent off as the favorite and gamely defeated Ashboro by a half length.
Dancin' Renee concluded her racing career with a record of 21-14-0-5, including 10 stakes wins or placings, and earnings of $490,258. For her 1997 season, the mare garnered awards as New York's champion sprinter and champion older female, to go along with her Horse of the Year title.
"I was in love with Dancin' Renee when she was running in New York," Blowen said. "[Her final race] I just thought, 'man, she's unbelievable.' She broke her knee and still won the race."
Although best known for her exploits in New York, the mare also won races in four other states, competing at Monmouth Park, Laurel Park, Delaware Park, and Gulfstream Park.
Before being pensioned to Old Friends, Dancin' Renee spent her broodmare career at Mill Creek Farm in New York, where she produced several winners, most notably the multiple stakes winner Risky Rachel.
Out of the Sweet Candy mare Lolli Lucka Lolli, Dancin Renee is a half sister to another well-known New York-bred, Say Florida Sandy. One of the top moneywinners among statebreds, Say Florida Sandy was New York's 2001 Horse of the Year, in addition to garnering awards as champion two-year-old, champion older horse twice, and champion sprinter three times.
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New friends at Old Friends
It didn't take long for Dancin' Renee to settle in at Old Friends, as she quickly bonded with another resident, the pensioned mare Klassy Briefcase. Klassy needed a new friend because her best pal, Buzzovertomyhouse passed away a few weeks earlier due to gastrointestinal and other complications Blowen explained that Buzzovertomyhouse - a 25-year-old daughter of Drone who was winless in two career starts - shared a paddock with the record-setting turf sprinter Klassy Briefcase. "Buzzy was not one of those big celebrity horses where people call up and say, 'Do you have Buzzovertomyhouse?'" Blowen said. "but if you asked Klassy Briefcase about her, she would have said, 'This is my Oaks winner, my Black-Eyed Susan winner, this is the greatest horse who ever lived." "We brought Dancin' Renee to Merefield, and literally within 15 minutes, they were best friends," Blowen said. "You don't want to anthropomorphize too much, but I think Klassy was very grateful." |
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Racketeer finds a home at Old Friends
After being rescued from slaughter earlier this year, the multiple graded stakes placed campaigner Racketeer arrived at Old Friends this month to enjoy retirement.
The gritty campaigner launched his career in September 2005, and raced for all or part of seven seasons, compiling a career record of 52-6-9-11 with earnings of $412,190.
Racketeer was bred by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs, and began his career racing in Stronach's colors for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. The gelding, a son of Stronach's champion Awesome Again, finished third in the 2007 Tokyo City Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita Park, and second in the 2007 Native Diver Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park, beaten less than two lengths by multiple Grade 1 winner Heatseeker in the latter.
Sold to trainer Barry Abrams, he continued to enjoy success on the California circuit for the next several seasons while continuing to face tough competition. He finished second in the 2008 Hollywood Turf Express Handicap (G3), beaten just a neck by eventual Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag; and later was second in the 2009 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar. He ran third to Z Humor in the 2009 Ralph M. Hinds Invitational Handicap at Fairplex Park; the runner-up, Acclamation, went on to be an Eclipse Award champion in 2011.
During his stakes career, Racketeer faced off with fellow Old Friends retiree Arson Squad multiple times - in fact, defeating that rival in his maiden win. Racketeer eventually slipped into the claiming ranks, changing hands several times. He won his final start for La Canada Stables LLc and trainer Jack Carava on September 25, 2011, taking a claiming race at Fairplex Park.
Following that win, Racketeer - who is out of the Skip Trial mare Noble Robyn - slipped off the radar until April 2012. He was discovered in a California feedlot by Jenny Earhart. California horse rescue Neigh Savers and breeder Adena Springs and Madeline Auerbach stepped in to rescue him. Blowen said that Adena Springs representative Eric Hamelbeck contacted him regarding Racketeer's retirement, and he jumped at the chance to retire another horse of Frankel's. "Bobby was so good to us, and we're trying to do what he would want us to do, which is take care of his horses," Blowen said of the late trainer. "And the people at Adena Springs have been great to us." |
Trainer visits his Old Friends
Hall of Fame trainer LeRoy Jolley paid Old Friends a visit on September 21 to visit with champion Gulch, who he trained for the early part of his career.
"He could not believe how good he looked," Blowen said.
Under Jolley's care, Gulch won seven graded stakes races over his first two seasons of racing, including the 1987 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) against older horses, the 1987 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (G1), the 1986 Hopeful Stakes (G1), and the 1986 Futurity Stakes (G1). The son of Mr. Prospector placed in six other graded stakes events for Jolley, including a third in the 1987 Belmont Stakes (G1) and a second in the Whitney Handicap (G1).
Later transferred to trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Gulch went on to win the 1988 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), securing an Eclipse Award. Jolley told Blowen that Gulch's versatility and incredible record were largely due to his intelligence. "Gulch is so smart he could do anything," Blowen said. "LeRoy said, if you wanted to push him and prep him and have him sprint, he'd do that. If you wanted him to relax and lay back a little bit, he'd do that. He finished third in the Belmont and won the Breeders' Cup Sprint, what more could you ask for a horse?"
Jolley also trained the late Old Friends resident Fortunate Prospect, and during his visit Friday, he checked in with Grade 1 winner Kiri's Clown, a son of his 1975 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Foolish Pleasure.
"I think LeRoy was really pleased with this place," Blowen said.
Rick Capone photo
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Old Friends connections in graded stakes races last weekend
Handsome Mike (Scat Daddy x Classic Strike, by Smart Strike): Won Pennsylvania Derby (G2) Saturday at Parx Racing Handsome Mike is from the first crop of Scat Daddy, a son of European and U.S. champion Johannesburg. That stallion's dam is Myth, a daughter of Old Friends retiree Ogygian.
C C's Pal (Alex's Pal x Roca, by Noactor): Seventh in Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) Saturday at Belmont Park Sire Alex's Pal is out of Successful Dancer, a daughter of the late Old Friends retiree Fortunate Prospect. Risky Rachel, a daughter of new Old Friends retiree Dancin' Renee, was entered in the Gallant Bloom, but was scratched. |
November 3 is Old Friends Day at Beulah Park
Honoring Appygolucky's legacy. Come out to Beulah for Breeders Cup Saturday, November 3 from 12-5 and enjoy great racing while supporting Old Friends. Visit our booth and bid on silent auction items! Tshirts and caps and other items will be available for a donation. Old Friends - Appygolucky race to be featured on the local race card. Old Friends is proud to be the permanent retirement home of former Beulah Park campaigners Mikethespike, I'm Charismatic and the late Appygolucky, affectionately known as the King of the Claimers, Appy still holds the BEU trace record at a mile. Old Friends Days at Beulah Park and River Downs are now held in his honor to raise funds to help other hard working horses as tribute to this local champion. |
The always amazing Fred Stone....
Order Fred Stone's new release of Zenyatta and her foal directly from Old Friends! Fred is very kindly donating proceeds for each print we sell. $60.00 plus shipping. Call us at 502-863-1775 to order yours! Please click this link to see this print in a giclee and other items Fred is helping us out with. Thank you Fred Stone! (and Zenyatta and baby!) |
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Old Friends Scene Collectible Magazine
An amazing tribute to our retirees! Featuring Barbara D. Livingston's evocative photographs, supplemented by works by Matt Wooley and Rick Capone. 80 color pages, lifetime pps, Jay Hovdey's column, and the dedication of the entire Daily Racing Form staff make this magazine very, very special. Thanks DRF and special thanks to Barbara Livingston, Mandy Minger, Barbara Fossum and all the wonderful people who made this happen.
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