2004 Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Birdstone recently retired from his stud duties at Gainesway Farm in August to live the simple life at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Ky. After 15 years at stud, the son of Grindstone had some trouble getting adjusted to his new life of leisure.
Old Friends founder Michael Blowen told America's Best Racing that all Birdstone needed was the comfort of a familiar face.
“Birdstone was really nervous; he was anxious and sweaty. He calmed down a little, but not a lot, in the first week. Then, I noticed that he wouldn't take his eyes off Sun King,” Blowen said. “It was like me and my own shadow, almost like a stalker. When he went to get hay, Birdstone would go get hay; when Sun King would get a drink of water, Birdstone got water.”
A quick phone call to Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito revealed that Birdstone and Sun King had been stalled right across from each other for a time while training with Zito. Although the two, as intact stallions, can't be turned out in the same paddock, they are within sight of each other whenever Sun King isn't in his run-in shed. Birdstone has since relaxed as long as he has eyes on his buddy.
It's not the first friendship Blowen has seen between notable horses. Stormy Liberal and Patch bonded immediately and Game On Dude and Little Mike hate to be separated even for overnights in the barn.
Read more at americasbestracing.net.
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