Old Friends
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Book an Old Friends tour at www.oldfriendsequine.org. Call 502-863-1775 for information. NO walk-ins. The discovery gave even more impetus to our organization.
Old Friends began as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. Then news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002. "We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds," noted Founder Michael Blowen. We knew such a death must 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 open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need. We are the only thoroughbred rescue / retirement facility that accepts stallions, & so we take exceptional pride in our pensioned champions, among them Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Hall of Famer, Silver Charm, Belmont winners Touch Gold, Birdstone and Ruler on Ice, Hall of Fame favorite, Lava Man, three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude, Breeders’ Cup Champions Stormy Liberal and Eldaafer and Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip. In addition to our pensioned stallions, Old Friends is home to some very deserving retired mares & geldings. Old Friends hosts tours daily by reservation only, and while our guests come to visit to a few ex-racehorses, they leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero.
09/09/2026
With just a few weeks left until the Keeneland Fall Meet begins it's the perfect time to bid on this poster signed by numerous jockeys who have ridden at Keeneland over the years!
Find all of this week's eBay auction items at https://www.ebay.com/str/oldfriendsfarmgiftshop
Are you wondering what life as a bale of hay looks like? We have just the one-minute video for you going all the way from the growing stage to feed time.
Don’t forget to donate to this year’s HayRaiser! You can donate at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/oldfriends?code=Donate%20Now%20NFG
09/08/2026
We’ve left Summer behind, but before we waved good-bye, we welcomed visitors from 25 states and Canada in August!
If you’d like to visit us for a tour, you can find our schedule and book at https://oldfriendsequine.org/visit/
09/07/2026
𝑨 𝑳𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒑
I don't really understand holidays. I just know that every morning someone shows up with breakfast. Someone checks to make sure I'm feeling good. Someone scratches my neck, throws me some hay, gives me a carrot, and makes sure I have everything I need. I may not understand Labor Day, but I do understand kindness. On behalf of all of us equines at Old Friends to our amazing caregivers, thank you for taking such good care of us. Happy Labor Day!
09/07/2026
This week, Old Friends Chairman Bob Fulmer is matching all HayRaiser donations dollar-for-dollar up to $2,500 in honor of all of Old Friends’ horses!
Even an $8 donation can buy one bale of hay to help our horses live their best lives this winter.
You can donate an amount for him to match here 👉https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/oldfriends?code=Donate%20Now%20NFG
09/06/2026
Over the past several weeks, we've explored the many experiences that make Georgetown/Scott County Tourism one of Kentucky's most welcoming destinations.
From the retired racing champions of Old Friends to the grandeur of Ward Hall, from the innovation of Toyota Kentucky to the family traditions of Evans Orchard, each stop tells part of Georgetown's story. We've enjoyed locally crafted brews at Country Boy Brewing, explored the charm of Historic Downtown Georgetown, and shared memorable meals at some of the community's favorite restaurants.
Together, these destinations showcase a place where history, hospitality, innovation, agriculture, and Thoroughbred heritage all come together.
A special thank you to Georgetown/Scott County Tourism and the many local businesses, attractions, and community partners who work every day to create unforgettable experiences for visitors and residents alike. Their passion, dedication, and love for this community help make Georgetown a place worth exploring—and worth returning to.
We hope to see you soon in Georgetown, Kentucky.
It was an exciting race to the wire in the G3 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs Racing in 2020 when Imprimis proved best in a mass charge and to the wire and secured a Breeders’ Sprint berth. Among those in the field was also fellow Old Friends resident Stubbins.
09/06/2026
We’ve reached the final day of Centennial Farms’ match week and Rocketry wants to personally thank everyone who has donated to help buy hay for all his friends this week. He’s been bragging to all the paddocks around him about this week’s Leadership Match donations!
If you haven’t donated yet, don’t worry - there’s still time (and more Match weeks to come). You can donate 👉 here https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/oldfriends?code=Donate%20Now%20NFG
Did you know Old Friends is the home of THREE Kentucky Turf Cup winners? Rumor Has It won the race in 2008 and Zulu Alpha won it in 2019 before Red Knight stressed out his fans with a big stretch run to win by only a nose in 2022!
09/04/2026
Did you know that Old Friends’ locations are home to more than horses? It’s National Wildlife Day so today we’re saluting the many wild animals who call Old Friends home! Just a few of those residents you may see while visiting include geese, heron, foxes, squirrels, turtles, muskrats, and raccoons.
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Telephone
Website
Address
1841 Paynes Depot Road
Georgetown, KY
40324
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 4pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 4pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 4pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 4pm |
| Friday | 10am - 4pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 4pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 4pm |