OLD FRIENDS FARM: A RETIREMENT VILLAGE FOR RACEHORSES

OLD FRIENDS the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, has put a new face on the concept of equine aftercare. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, the thoroughbred retirement home has grown from a leased paddock to a 236-acre farm home to a herd of over 200 rescued and retired ex-racehorses.

Old Friends is home to champions such as Amazombie, Little Mike, Alphabet Soup, Sarava, Touch Gold, Game On Dude, Silver Charm, Afternoon Deelites, Fabulous Strike, Special Ring and the late War Emblem.
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Silver Charm was trained by Bob Baffert, amassing 12 wins from 24 career starts, retiring with purse earnings of over $6.9M USD. The gorgeous grey son of Silver Buck holds a special place in the hearts of horse racing fans around the world.

Winner of the 1997 Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs) and the Preakness Stakes (Pimlico Race Course) under champion jockey Gary Stevens, Silver Charm was on course to claim America's Triple Crown. He was denied in the dying strides of the 1997 Belmont Stakes by Touch Gold.

Retiring to stud in 2000 at Three Chimneys Farm, Silver Charm was relocated to Japan in 2005 standing at JBBA’s Stallion Station until 2014, later being repatriated to Old Friends Farm in December of that year where he thrills visitors to this day.

Big race wins:
1996 Del Mar Futurity (Gr. 2)
1997 San Vicente Stakes (Gr. 3)
1997 Kentucky Derby (Gr. 1)
1997 Preakness Stakes (Gr. 1)
1998 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (Gr. 2)
1998 Strub Stakes (Gr. 2)1998 Dubai World Cup (Gr. 1)
1998 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Gr. 3)
1998 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (Gr. 2)
1998 Clark Handicap (Gr. 2)
1999 San Pasqual Handicap (Gr. 2)
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2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem was bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols. The handsome, nearly black colt was purchased for $20,000 USD and won his first start at Arlington Park ridden by Alfredo Juarez, Jr. for then-trainer Frank Springer.

He entered the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Illinois Derby with jockey Larry Sterling, Jr. in the irons. Purchased by The Thoroughbred Corporation, War Emblem was thereafter trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza.

On Kentucky Derby day 2002, War Emblem outran the speed and put away the challengers. He scored a repeat performance in the 2002 Preakness Stakes, but a Triple Crown was not to be. War Emblem was denied the Belmont Stakes by fellow future Old Friends retiree Sarava.

His final win in the prestigious Haskell Stakes resulted in purse earnings of $3,491,000 USD.

War Emblem’s entire stud career was spent at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan. He proved a shy breeder with only 118 foals in a dozen years at stud; nevertheless, his progeny includes Japan’s 2012 champion juvenile filly Robe Tissage and Shuka Sho winner Black Emblem.

War Emblem was retired from stud in 2015 and donated by the Yoshida family to Old Friends. He passed away aged 21 in March 2020.

Big race wins:
2002 Kentucky Derby (G1)
2002 Preakness Stakes (G1)
2002 Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1)

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