“Welcoming I'll Have Another is an auspicious and historic moment for Old Friends,” said John Nicholson, president and CEO of Old Friends. “We are deeply grateful to Paul Reddam and Doug O'Neill for choosing Old Friends to care for this great champion and to celebrate his magnificent legacy with thousands of our annual visitors. Being able to welcome our fourth Kentucky Derby winner to retire at Old Friends is further tribute to the vision and values of our founder and my friend, Michael Blowen.”

Reddam added, “It is fantastic that he will have a permanent home at Old Friends where everyone can visit him. There was a lot of concern when he went to Japan for stud duty and that is permanently put to rest with his return to Kentucky.”

I'll Have Another is the fourth GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner to be retired to the farm. The other three are Silver Charm, War Emblem, and Charismatic.

“I'll Have Another is an amazing horse–very blue collar, workmanlike,” O'Neill said. “He was so naturally competitive. He meant and still means so much to us around the barn. He took us on the ride of a lifetime winning the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. We're so grateful for his brilliance and being able to work alongside him during his amazing career.”

Upon his retirement, I'll Have Another was sold for $10 million to the Hokkaido-based Big Red Farm in Japan and began his stud career there in 2013. He remained there through 2018, then returned to the United States and stood at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif. from 2019 to 2020, before moving to Reddam's Ocean Breeze Ranch in Bonsall, Calif. from 2021 to 2024.

He was pensioned in 2024.

“We are so grateful to Mr. Reddam and to Doug for trusting us to give their Derby and Preakness winner a safe, healthy, and fun retirement,” said Michael Blowen, founder and past president of Old Friends. “We're planning to put I'll Have Another in the paddock adjacent to Lava Man's. How cool is that?”

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“Old Friends is blessed with, not only legendary horses, but with legendary people within our family,” said John Nicholson, president and CEO of Old Friends. “Our founder Michael Blowen, and longtime Three Chimneys' stallion manager Sandy Hatfield are just such legends. I can't wait for their tour, which is a rare opportunity to have these legends take you on a special journey with many of the equine heroes at Old Friends.

“Old Friends is proud to be a part of Thoroughbred racing and these Legend Tours are just the latest way we celebrate the great horses and people in the sport we love,” continued Nicholson. “We look forward to introducing new and different ways, like these Legend Tours, of sharing the story and heritage of horse racing with, not only our sport's old friends, but sharing it with new friends as well.”

Blowen, who founded Old Friends in 2003, and recently stepped down as president of the farm, will tell visitors the stories of some of his favorite Thoroughbred retirees on the farm.

Hatfield, who has spent most of her life working with stallions, in particular, Kentucky Derby winner and Old Friends retiree, Silver Charm, will share her stories of some of her famous old friends.

To reserve a spot on the tour, call the Old Friends office at (502) 863-1775.

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“CZ Rocket has captured the affections of countless race fans throughout his many years on the track,” said Nicholson. “After such a successful career, this special gelding has earned the right to enjoy being pampered and celebrated here at Old Friends. We are grateful to his connections for seeking such a well-deserved happy retirement for him.”

“”We are very grateful to Peter Miller and Tom Kagele for donating C Z Rocket to Old Friends,” added Blowen.

C Z Rocket last raced at Oaklawn Park Feb. 19, finishing sixth against a starter allowance field.

“Tom [Kagele] and I talked to each other after the race and we both agreed,” Miller told the Paulick Report after the race. “We said, 'It's time, he's done enough. He's sound, healthy, and happy. Let's not push the envelope.'”

The gelding retired with a record of 46-13-9-7 and earnings of over $2.1m.

“CZ was a special horse that took us to two great finishes in the Breeders' Cup and became one of the best claims of all times,” continued Miller, who also donated Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) to Old Friends in 2019. “He was a pleasure to be around and train. We chose Old Friends for his retirement because of the care and love these horses receive and the chance for the public to visit and enjoy this magnificent animal as much as we did.”

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“I started looking a couple of years ago for someone to take over as president,” said Blowen. “The most important thing I was looking for was someone that really, really, put the horses first. It's not like they'd just be saying it, but that they really have to think about the horses first.

“Then maybe about six months ago,” Blowen continued, “I ran into John and we started talking, and I said to him, 'You know, I'm really looking for somebody to take over Old Friends because I've really taken it as far as I can take it. It started out with [wife] Diane [White] and I and a golf cart and feeding the horses; a little mom-and-pop operation on the corner. And, today it's like a multi-million dollar corporation, and it needs somebody that can handle that kind of operation. It needs a really good CEO that has managed a much bigger facility than we have, and the only way that we can improve is to get more space for more horses, which means more money, more donations, and an executive CEO that knows how to handle big business.”

In accepting the position, Nicholson said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity of joining the Old Friends family to continue and enhance Michael Blowen's vision and values. Old Friends has been at the vanguard of the Thoroughbred Aftercare movement and I feel privileged to be a part of such an important cause.

“I have always had a deeply felt respect and appreciation for Michael's vision and tenacity,” Nicholson continued. “What he has accomplished is beyond remarkable. I have treasured our friendship over the years, especially having had a great collaborative relationship between Old Friends and the Kentucky Horse Park. He and I have always shared a spirit that the horse has given far more to us than we could ever give in return. Old Friends is making an important and vital contribution, not only to the racing industry, but most importantly to the lives of the horses who have given so much to us. I have been fortunate in my career to be a part of some meaningful endeavors, but Old Friends offers all of us who love the horse a unique opportunity to serve the animal who has served us so well.”

Since its beginnings in 2003 at Afton Farm in Georgetown, Old Friends has moved twice and has has grown to over 240 acres with close to 300 horses.

In addition to the main farm in Georgetown, Old Friends has two satellite farms, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which opened in 2009 in Greenfield Center, New York; and Old Friends at Ashton Grove, a senior retirement community in Georgetown, Ky., a place that gives seniors a chance to interact with horses. There are also a few small annex farms near the main farm.

Blowen will remain a presence at the farm, greeting visitors and giving tours.

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Campaigned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito, Sun King won the GII Pennsylvania Derby, GIII Tampa Bay Derby and GIII Leonard Richards S. in 2005 and added the GII Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. in 2006.

He hit the board in eight Grade I events, including third-place finishes in the 2004 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Champagne S. and runner-up efforts in the 2005 GI Haskell S., 2006 GI Whitney S. and GI Metropolitan H., as well as the 2007 GI Woodward S.

On the board in 18 of 28 starts, Sun King won six races and earned $2,240,008.

Sun King began his stud career at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky in 2008, and moved to Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana in 2013. He was pensioned in 2016 due to declining fertility and, in 2017, Farmer donated Sun King to Old Friends. He arrived at the farm on Feb. 25, 2017.

“Sun King was one of our best retirees,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “A great son of Charismatic, he attracted many fans, including Nick and Kim Zito who came by often to see him. All of our retirees are missed when they die, but no one will be missed more than the King.”

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The $145,000 Saratoga Select Yearling amassed a career line of 21-5-4-3, $1,036,357 over three seasons and captured the 2016 GII Woody Stephens S. and GIII Ack Ack S., and the 2017 GIII Bold Ruler S. He also placed in six other graded stakes in the care of trainer Dallas Stewart.

“Tom's Ready helped Old Friends a lot,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “He was donated by Gayle Benson of GMB Racing, sending a message that a first rate breeding and racing operation trusted us to provide superior retirement and health care for their horse.”

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“When owner David Bernsen retired Stormy to us, I was thrilled,” said Michael Blowen, president of Old Friends. “The two-time Breeders' Cup winner arrived with a fan following and his owner's love. And earned the respect of everyone at Old Friends who adore him and his best friend, Patch.”

Stormy Liberal (2012 bay gelding, Stormy Atlantic–Vassar, by Royal Academy)

Lifetime record: Ch. turf male, MGISW-U.S., MG1SP-UAE, 37-12-10-4, $2,212,580

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Dapple Bloodstock & Gryphon Investments LLC (KY); O-Rockingham Ranch (2017)/Rockingham Ranch & David A. Bernsen LLC (2018); T-Peter Miller; J-Joel Rosario (2017)/Drayden Van Dyke (2018).

Current location: Old Friends, Georgetown, Ky.

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Nearly two decades ago, when I first started Old Friends, I made an appointment to see him at Airdrie Stud, a farm as modest and forthright as he was. “Let me get this straight,” he said. “You're going to get these horses, including stallions from Japan, and you're not going to race them or breed them or sell them. What exactly are you going to do with them?”

“I'm going to put them in my yard and hope people come to visit.”

He tried his hardest to disguise his incredulity, reached into the lap drawer of his antique desk, pulled out a scraggly checkbook, and wrote a check to Old Friends for $5,000.

“Good luck,” he said, as he shook one hand, and handed me the check with the other. That, to paraphrase my favorite movie, “Casablanca,” was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Without him, Old Friends might have never existed. And it wasn't just the money. That was the least of it.

Over the years, we retired several Airdrie stallions, including You and I, Patton, and Afternoon Deelites. And, he made several trips to the farm to check on how things were going. Years later, his filly, Lovely Maria was running in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. I ran into him a few days before the race and he told me that if she won the race, he'd write Old Friends a check for $25,000. She did. And he did. And it wasn't because of me, it was for the horses and horse racing.

I have two wonderful, hand-written notes – one from our late veterinarian, Doug Byars, and one from Brereton C. Jones. If we ever have a fire, I'm going to grab those notes first and come back for the rest of the stuff.

It's very unlikely that anyone like Governor Jones will ever come around again. I'm just grateful he was here once, and I was fortunate enough to stumble across his path.

Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends

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“Amazombie was a lot of fun,” Spawr said. “He was so much fun, you just can't imagine. And, you know, he died doing what he loved to do–run! You guys [at Old Friends] did a great job. We appreciated that.”

Racing over four seasons, Amazombie amassed a career line of 29-12-5-6, $1,920,378. In addition to annexing the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, the California-bred bay won the 2011 G1 Ancient Title S., 2012 GI Bing Crosby S. and the GII Potrero Grande S. twice. He also and won or placed in eight other stakes and was honored as champion sprinter in 2011.

“Amazombie died doing what he did best–running like the wind,” Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends said. “I like all of our retirees, I love just a handful, and we lost one of those when Amazombie outran his limitations, and I'm certain that I'm not the only one who is heartbroken.”

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The dark bay was the first Classic winner to be retired to the farm Sept. 29, 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain.

He upset the field of the 2002 GI Belmont S. at odds of 70-1, defeating Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire}) and Triple Crown contender War Emblem (Our Emblem).

Sarava concluded his racing career with a record of 17-3-3-0 and $773,832 in earnings and began his stud career in 2005 at Florida's division of Cloverleaf Farms before moving to the Kentucky division in 2007. In 2008, he returned to Florida to Bridlewood Farm where he remained for the rest of his stud career.

Pensioned in 2012, the then 13-year old stallion was donated to Old Friends and arrived at the farm Sept. 29, 2012.

“It's a sad day for our family and friends,” said owner Gary Drake when he heard the news. “We've all been Sarava fans since we met him in 2001. When you get into horse racing, you hope to have the opportunity to be involved with a horse like this. I mean it's cliche, but people say it all the time, they (the horses) take you places you would never go otherwise, and certainly Sarava did that for us.”

“Sarava attracted so many fans to Old Friends,” added Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “Most recently, a horse player said he bought a condo in Ft. Myers with his winnings from that race. But, to us, he was a lot more than the longest shot in the history of the Belmont Stakes who defeated fellow Old Friends retiree, War Emblem. He was proud, independent and, in his way, very lovable. And you can't buy that… even at $142.50. We thank owner Gary Drake and friend Tom Bozarth for allowing us to care for Sarava for more than a decade.”

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