around like man’s best friend.
Blowen told us stories of how the more than
30-year-old mini-horse walked by his side down
the street and went into the local bar with him.
Blowen and I share a love of 1997 Kentucky
Derby and Preakness winner, Silver Charm.
Blowen loves him so much that he did everything
he could to bring him home to Old Friends Farm
from Japan. And when Silver Charm’s breeding
days in Japan came to an end, Blowen, along
with a lot of help, did exactly that. Silver Charm
will spend the rest of his retirement in his Old
KY home at Old Friends Farm.
Silver Charm is still a ham in front of the camera
and he will gently eat a carrot or peppermint out
of your hand. My 5-year-old fed him carrots as I
told him stories of Charm’s racing days. Blowen
will walk up to the fence and yell: “Who is the
greatest horse of all time?!?” and Charm will
come galloping toward Blowen.
Ironically, in the paddock next to Silver Charm
is the horse that defeated him in the 1997 Belmont
Stakes keeping him from becoming a Triple
Crown winner. Yes, Touch Gold and Charm are
side by side, and Blowen said he would love to
hear the nightly conversations of the two great
champions.
Also at Old Friends is the 2002 KY Derby and
Preakness winner War Emblem. Grazing in the
field next to him was the Sarava, who won the
2002 Belmont Stakes costing War Emblem the
Triple Crown.
A nearly forgotten horse retired at Old Friends
is Tinners Way, who was the final foal of the
great Secretariat.
champions, 10 Breeders’ Cup winners, two Hall
of Fame inductees, one Dubai World Cup winner,
and two Horses of the Year. They have more stakes
winners than any farm in the Bluegrass. They
have also repatriated eight horses from Japan
and one horse from Italy. It is also known as a
“living-history museum of horse racing.”
At Old Friends, there are famous horses and
horses most of us have never heard of. Despite
their popularity or lifetime earnings, they are all
cared for in the same way - with tender loving
care. That’s exactly how retired horses should
be treated.
To learn, more go to www.oldfriendsequine.org.
Old Friends Farm has 11 Eclipse-Award
NEW ALBANY, INDIANA
Family focused.
Community focused.
Partnership focused.
110 W Main, 2nd Floor | Louisville KY, 40202
(502) 379-6130 | www.neaceventures.com
Paving | Seal Coating | Striping | Site Work
Concrete | Water Piping | Sanitary/Storm
www.apc-construct.com
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