Guests at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., now have a chance to sleep near horses that nearly slept the big sleep. The facility for retired Thoroughbreds — some of whom were at risk of being sent to a slaughterhouse — is located at Dream Chase Farm, which recently opened two rooms as bed-and-breakfast accommodations. Lodgers pay $150 and $175 per night for a stay that includes a tour where visitors can choose how involved they’d like to be — feeding and grooming if they want or simply kicking back to watch more than two dozen elegant equines.
Michael Blowen and wife Diane White launched Old Friends in 2003, following the much-publicized slaughter in Japan of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand. The first two horses that were acquired — Creator, a European champ, and Sunshine Forever, the 1988 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding turf horse — were brought from Asia in 2004 with the help of donations. “It’s amazing how it always works out,” Blowen says. “We never thought we’d have enough money to bring the horses home, but we were able to raise it because people really did, and do, believe in the whole idea of our program.” The operation houses stallions, a rarity in rescue farms because they require their own paddocks, and opens its doors to non-racing retirees such as celebrity Popcorn Deelites, who portrayed Seabiscuit in the namesake movie. The Blowens have yet to lodge a Derby winner, but do take care of Bonnie’s Poker, dam to 1997 Derby and Preakness champion Silver Charm.
As Blowen says, “What’s greater than looking out at old champions in the bluegrass? It’s like a basketball fan having Michael Jordan and Larry Bird in the backyard.”
For more information, call (502) 863-1775 or visit www.oldfriendsequine.org.
