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History of Old Friends: A Home for Retired Thoroughbreds
Like many before him in the Bluegrass State, Michael Blowen, a former "Boston Globe" entertainment writer, fell in love with horses, specifically Thoroughbreds. The reality beyond the racetracks, he knew, was that each day a Thoroughbred was in the spotlight, for some of these distinguished athletes, their days were numbered. For that reason, he dreamed of finding a way to give them a dignified retirement after they completed their rigorous racing careers. When he opened the Thoroughbred retirement farm Old Friends in Kentucky in 2003, he never dreamed his idea would grow so big, so fast. Today, Old Friends is home to more than 130 horses, many of them stallions, as well as geldings, mares and one loveable miniature horse named Little Silver Charm. Join journalist and horse lover Rick Capone for the story of Old Friends and the horses that call the farm home.
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
178 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 18, 2024
An absolutely delightful read, it's the true story of the start of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm near Lexington, Kentucky and its satellite farm near Saratoga, NY. Having visited Old Friends for the first time the day after the 2024 Kentucky Derby to see Silver Charm (who won the Derby on my wedding day back in '97), I absolutely fell in love with the farm and the dignity with which the horses are treated so I bought the book to learn more about this extraordinary place and Michael Blown, who is an amazing man.
Just this past week, Old Friends announced the acquisition of yet another farm near their Kentucky location, so they've been incredibly successful since this book was published nearly a decade ago.
Just this past week, Old Friends announced the acquisition of yet another farm near their Kentucky location, so they've been incredibly successful since this book was published nearly a decade ago.
October 23, 2016
I really wanted to adore this book. I really did. I'm being generous here giving it an extra star than it really deserves just because it is taking care of many thoroughbreds I have admired from afar and worried about, including Genuine Reward, a horse not mentioned in the book but a truly special fella nevertheless as he is the first of only two foals of Kentucky Derby winning filly Genuine Risk. Here he is:
This is getting three stars for the cause it promotes, the generous amount of photographs and the very good first few chapters. Unfortunately, the book then nose-dives into way too brief sketches of the horses, volunteers and problems of the charity Old Friends. But the most aggravating problems were the typos -- not only spelling and punctuation errors, but errors in dates and continuity. For example, the text states that Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown in 1997.
Really? He won it 1977. There have only been 12 Triple Crown winners, so checking out the facts is pretty freaking-just-click-on-Wikipedia easy. Also, one mare (Bonnie's Parker) is claimed to be the dam (mother) of the afore-mentioned Seattle Slew. She wasn't. She was the dam of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm.
And another stallion was described as starting his stud career in 2007 in Kentucky. In the very next sentence, the same stallion "was later shipped to Japan in 2005 for stud."
Holy Bull! These horses aren't just racing champions -- they CAN TRAVEL IN TIME. No wonder they need a special retirement home.
So you can't exactly trust the few facts given here. It looks as if this book was hastily put together by one really harassed writer in 2014. His publishing house apparently gave the writer no help at all -- like checking for time-travelling horses, for one thing.
What really happens to the majority of thoroughbred race horses (suffering and a sticky end) is only briefly mentioned. It does not point fingers to the racing industry responsible for the suffering and waste of these beautiful animals. There is also no mention of what will happen to Old Friends should Michael Blowen, the founder, die. The book gives the impression that Mike here is the sole driving force.
This book strives to make you feel good for the future of at least some old thoroughbreds but it also disturbingly ignores some major factors contributing to the need for a racehorse retirement home in the first place.
This is getting three stars for the cause it promotes, the generous amount of photographs and the very good first few chapters. Unfortunately, the book then nose-dives into way too brief sketches of the horses, volunteers and problems of the charity Old Friends. But the most aggravating problems were the typos -- not only spelling and punctuation errors, but errors in dates and continuity. For example, the text states that Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown in 1997.
Really? He won it 1977. There have only been 12 Triple Crown winners, so checking out the facts is pretty freaking-just-click-on-Wikipedia easy. Also, one mare (Bonnie's Parker) is claimed to be the dam (mother) of the afore-mentioned Seattle Slew. She wasn't. She was the dam of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm.
And another stallion was described as starting his stud career in 2007 in Kentucky. In the very next sentence, the same stallion "was later shipped to Japan in 2005 for stud."
Holy Bull! These horses aren't just racing champions -- they CAN TRAVEL IN TIME. No wonder they need a special retirement home.
So you can't exactly trust the few facts given here. It looks as if this book was hastily put together by one really harassed writer in 2014. His publishing house apparently gave the writer no help at all -- like checking for time-travelling horses, for one thing.
What really happens to the majority of thoroughbred race horses (suffering and a sticky end) is only briefly mentioned. It does not point fingers to the racing industry responsible for the suffering and waste of these beautiful animals. There is also no mention of what will happen to Old Friends should Michael Blowen, the founder, die. The book gives the impression that Mike here is the sole driving force.
This book strives to make you feel good for the future of at least some old thoroughbreds but it also disturbingly ignores some major factors contributing to the need for a racehorse retirement home in the first place.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews