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Old Friends: ‘Farm Favorite’ Einstein Euthanized Due To Cancer Complications

Five-time Grade 1 winner Einstein has died.

The 18-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck had been pensioned at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, since 2019. He was euthanized this morning at Park Equine Hospital due to complications of cancer.

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement this morning.

Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein (Spend a Buck–Gay Charm, by Ghadeer) captured the 2009 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and four Grade 1 stakes on turf, including back-to-back triumphs in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Other wins included the 2008 Clark Handicap (G2), also at Churchill, and the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2T) at Fair Grounds. Einstein was among the first to have victories on all three track surfaces: dirt, turf, and synthetic.

In all Einstein made 27 starts, winning 11 races. He won or placed in 13 stakes, all of which were graded, and his career earnings totaled $2,703,324.

Einstein retired from racing in 2010 to stand at The Stronach Group's Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. He later stood at Adena Springs North in Ontario, Canada, and at Magali Farms near Santa Ynez, Calif.

His top runners include G3 winner Rankhasprivileges and multiple-stakes-placed E Equalsmcsquared. In 2019 Einstein was retired by Adena Springs to the non-profit organization.

“When we first retired Einstein, he was diagnosed with a tumor,” noted Old Friends's Blowen. “Dr. Rhodes Bell of Park Equine performed a delicate operation and removed the tumor. The procedure allowed Einstein to enjoy more than a year of happy life with Old Friends before the fast-growing tumors re-occurred over the weekend.

“Einstein was as classy and smart as he was handsome,” Blowen added. “He was a farm favorite, and he was especially fond of John Bradley. I wished we could have taken care of him for another decade.”

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Old Friends Announces Partnership With Senior Living Center Combining Horse And Human Retirees

Old Friends, the non-profit Thoroughbred retirement facility based in Georgetown, Ky., has entered into a unique relationship with the newly opened Ashton Grove Senior Living Community, also in Georgetown, to combine horse retirement with exemplary senior living.

On Friday, Oct. 2, Old Friends hosted a grand opening of this new location, which is just a few miles from its main farm in Georgetown.

Based on approximately 40 acres once owned and operated by Hill 'N' Dale Farms, the Ashton Grove location features eight fenced paddocks, a 12-stall barn, with run-in sheds currently under construction. Old Friends has initially placed seven equine retirees on the property with plans to increase the herd over time.

While we are still under pandemic protocols, eventually Ashton Grove will eventually be open to small numbers of visitors throughout the year by appointment only.

For the opening, five horses were moved from the main farm on Sept. 28 and two new retirees were added on Sept. 30.

The horses currently at Ashton Grove include:

Daytona, 16. Bred in Ireland, Daytona is a multiple graded stakes winner and Breeders' Cup contender. Victories include the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park in 2008.

Porfido,18, a multiple graded stakes place Chilean bred who raced to age 12.

Ireland's Eye, 9, by Cowtown Cat, was bred in Florida and passed through the claiming ranks during his 17 starts.

Secret Getaway, 15, is a multiple graded stakes placed son of 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away. Secret came to Old Friends via former leading jockey and aftercare advocate Rosie Napravnik.

Massone, 14, is a multiple graded stakes placed son of Menifee.

Magic Weisner, 21. Bred, owned, and trained by the late Nancy Alberts, graded stakes winner Magic Weisner won the 2002 Ohio Derby and ran second to War Emblem in the both the 2002 Preakness Stakes and 2002 Haskell Invitational.

Bo's a Ten, 21, a claiming ranks warrior and daughter of stakes-winner Patton, who was himself an Old Friends retiree until his death in 2014.

“This is a dream come true,” said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “Retired horses. Retired people. A match made in heaven.”

Ashton Grove executive director Davonna Saeir echoed his sentiments.

“Ashton Grove is excited and honored to have Old Friends horses in our backyard,” Saeir said. “I am so happy that our beautiful property will provide a sanctuary for these majestic creatures, and I know their presence will give our residents great joy. Having these retired thoroughbreds at Ashton Grove is a win-win, and we are grateful for our partnership with Old Friends.”

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Old Friends Joins Forces with Senior Living Community

Old Friends, the non-profit organization that cares for over 200 retired racehorses near Georgetown, Ky., has formed a unique arrangement with Georgetown’s new Ashton Grove Senior Living Community, which is located a few miles from the Old Friends property. Equine retirees from Old Friends will live at Ashton Grove, which is positioned on approximately 40 acres of former Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm land. Ashton Grove has eight fenced paddocks, a 12-stall barn, and run-in sheds under construction. Old Friends hosted a grand opening of the new location Friday.

“This is a dream come true,” said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “Retired horses. Retired people. A match made in heaven.”

The new partnership will combine Thoroughbred retirement with a senior retirement community. Old Friends has already moved seven horses to the new location, with more to follow in time. Eventually, when pandemic protocols ease, Ashton Grove will be open to a small number of visitors by appointment only.

The Old Friends residents currently at Ashton Grove are MGISW Daytona (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), GI Preakness S. runner-up and GSW Magic Weisner (Ameri Valay), Chilean champion and MGSP-US Porfido (Chi) (Mash One {Chi}), MSW and MGSP Secret Getaway (Skip Away), and GISP Massone (Menifee), as well as hard-knocking winners Ireland’s Eye (Cowtown Cat) and Bo’s a Ten (Patton).

“Ashton Grove is excited and honored to have Old Friends horses in our backyard,” said the senior living community’s executive director, Davonna Saeir. “I am so happy that our beautiful property will provide a sanctuary for these majestic creatures, and I know their presence will give our residents great joy. Having these retired thoroughbreds at Ashton Grove is a win-win, and we are grateful for our partnership with Old Friends.”

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Old Friends Celebrates Stakes Named For Catlaunch, ‘The Pride Of Ohio Racing’

On Sept. 24, Thistledown will host the sixth running of the $75,000 Catlaunch Stakes, a 1-1/16-mile race on the dirt for Thoroughbreds 3-years-old and up for accredited Ohio foals. The contest is scheduled as the seventh race on the card with a 3:50 post time.

Without question, Catlaunch was a fan favorite at Ohio racetracks when he competed, and, as stated on the Old Friends website, he was “the pride of Ohio racing.”

In his career Catlaunch ran in 108 races, with 106 of them at three main Ohio racetracks: Beulah, Thistledown, and River Downs (now Belterra Park). In those 106 races in Ohio, he won 40 times, finished second 22 times, third 15 times, and earned $1,122,309. In addition, he was also a versatile horse, as he won at distances from six furlongs to 1-1/4 miles.

In his 11-year racing career, Catlaunch earned numerous season-ending Ohio Awards. He was a three-time Ohio Horse of the Year (2008, 2010, and 2011), five-time Ohio Champion Handicap Champion (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011), four-time Ohio Accredited Male Champion (2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011), and Champion Sprinter (2011).

Catlaunch was retired after his final race on Sept. 8. 2013, and arrived at Old Friends in January of 2014. He enjoyed more than four years of retirement at Old Friends before he was euthanized on May 4, 2018 due to chronic neurologic disease.

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