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Old Friends Pensioner Slim Shadey Euthanized With Leg Fracture Following Colic Surgery

Two-time graded-stakes winner Slim Shadey has died. The 13-year-old gelding had been a pensioner at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm based in Georgetown, Ky., since 2019.

Old Friends attending veterinary, Dr. Bryan Waldridge, released this statement: “Slim Shadey showed signs of colic and was referred for further diagnostics and treatment. Exploratory surgery revealed a twisted large intestine that was corrected. Unfortunately, he fractured a hind leg recovering from anesthesia. Bone fractures during recovery from anesthesia are uncommon, but an inherent risk of equine anesthesia.”

Slim Shadey was bred in Great Britain by Phil Cunningham and spent two seasons racing throughout England and Ireland. He made his U.S. debut for Cunningham and trainer Simon Callaghan in 2012 at Santa Anita, kicking off what was to become his banner season.

In February of 2012 Slim Shadey captured his first graded-stakes, the Grade 2 San Marcos at Santa Anita (a race he would capture again in 2013). Then, in September of that year, Slim Shadey took the top spot in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship, which served as a stepping stone to a run in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf, where he finished eighth.

By 2014 Slim began a series of claims to trainers David Jacobson and John Servis (for owner Michael Dubb), before ending with owner Michael Hui and trainer Mike Maker in June of 2018 at Belmont Park.

Retired in 2019, Slim Shadey ended his career with 83 starts, 14 wins, and earnings of $1,278,855.

“Slim Shadey was on Old Friends' radar for nearly two years,” said Old Friends President Michael Blowen. “Between Michael Dubb and Michael Hui, I knew he was in great hands. When Hui called to say he was ready I was overjoyed. Today I was equally devastated,” Blowen continued. “You try to do what's best and, even then, it doesn't always work out.”

The post Old Friends Pensioner Slim Shadey Euthanized With Leg Fracture Following Colic Surgery appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Bellamy Road to Old Friends

Bellamy Road (Concerto–Hurry Home Hillary, by Deputed Testamony), a daylight winner of the 2005 GI Wood Memorial S. and favorite in that year’s GI Kentucky Derby, has been pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Kentucky.

Owned by the late George Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable and trained by Nick Zito, the Florida-bred posted four wins from seven starts and earnings of $811,400.

Bellamy Road stood at Dutchess Views Farm in New York since 2016. The 19-year-old previously stood at Kentucky’s WinStar Farm and Hurricane Hall. His nine graded stakes winners include Grade I winners Constellation, Diversify and Toby’s Corner.

“Bellamy Road has always had a special place in my heart,” said Kinsman President Jessica Steinbrenner, daughter of George. “His Wood Memorial is the most exciting race that I have ever been to. I remember going back to the hotel afterward and being escorted through the kitchen because of all the people gathered outside. To this day, I still watch his Wood Memorial on YouTube, and to hear the announcer say ‘a dazzling performance by a dazzling 3-year-old’ brings me to tears every time.

“Bellamy is a rock star,” Steinbrenner continued. “He deserves a retirement where his fans can visit and reminisce. It’s exciting to think he will be amongst the other great retired racehorses residing at Old Friends.”

“Jessica is following in her father’s footsteps,” Zito said. “George would have done the same thing. They’re very special people.”

Old Friends’s Michael Blowen concluded, “We want to thank Jessica Steinbrenner for trusting us to care for her great horse. I know she went out of her way to make sure he’d get to us. Thanks also to Elliott Walden at WinStar who expedited everything, and to everyone at Dutchess Views for taking such great care of him.”

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GR1 Winner Bellamy Road Pensioned To Old Friends

Grade 1 winner and Grade 1 sire Bellamy Road has been pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown, KY. Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, made the announcement this morning.

A Florida-bred son of Concerto out of Hurry Home Hillary, Bellamy Road, now 19, retired from racing in 2007 following an illustrious career.

Owned by the late George Steinbrenner's Kinsman Stable and trained by Nick Zito, Bellamy Road broke his maiden in his first start at Delaware Park in 2004. He earned his first stakes next time out, capturing the GR3 Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes at River Downs.

In 2005, he roared back as a 3-year-old setting a stakes record in the GR1 Wood Memorial, a race he won by a record 17 ½ lengths. The victory made him the odds-on favorite for that year's Kentucky Derby, where he finished 7th behind winner Giacomo.

His last start was the 2005 Travers at Saratoga, where he finished second to Flower Alley. Plagued by injuries, Bellamy Road retired that year with four wins from seven starts and earnings of $811,400.

Since 2016 Bellamy Road has stood at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, N.Y., He had previously stood at Kentucky's WinStar Farm and Hurricane Hall.

At stud Bellamy Road sired numerous stakes winners, including 2011 Wood Memorial winner Toby's Corner and the GR1 winning filly, Constellation.

His son, Diversify, GR1 Whitney Handicap winner and 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year, also currently resides at Old Friends.

“Bellamy Road has always had a special place in my heart,” said Kinsman President Jessica Steinbrenner, daughter of George. “His Wood Memorial is the most exciting race that I have ever been to. I remember going back to the hotel afterward and being escorted through the kitchen because of all the people gathered outside. To this day, I still watch his Wood Memorial on YouTube, and to hear the announcer say 'a dazzling performance by a dazzling 3-year-old' brings me to tears every time.

“Bellamy is a rock star,” Steinbrenner continued. “He deserves a retirement where his fans can visit and reminisce. It's exciting to think he will be amongst the other great retired racehorses residing at Old Friends.”

“Jessica is following in her father's footsteps,” added trainer Nick Zito. “George would have done the same thing. They're very special people.”

“We were privileged that Kinsman, WinStar, and the other syndicate members sent Bellamy to us, and have allowed us to stand him in New York for so long,” said Dutchess Views Farm's Michael Lischin, on behalf of the Syndicate Manager, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC. “He is sound and could continue as a stallion but the consensus was that, at his age, it would be in his best interest to retire him to a magnificent facility like Old Friends while he is still healthy and happy. We thank the Syndicate and Old Friends for doing what was right for Bellamy Road.”

“We want to thank Jessica Steinbrenner for trusting us to care for her great horse,” said Old Friends's Blowen. “I know she went out of her way to make sure he'd get to us. Thanks also to Elliot Walden at WinStar who expedited everything, and to everyone at Dutchess Views for taking such great care of him.”

‘It Was Like Me And My Own Shadow’: Birdstone Finds Comfort In Former Stablemate Sun King

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.