old friends | Horse Racing Free Tips

Commemorative Bottle to Honor Bassett

Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark have announced the 2020 limited edition Maker’s Mark bottle from the Charity for Champions program which will honor former Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup president James E. ‘Ted’ Bassett. The Charity for Champions program began in 2015, with the goal of helping to raise money for Thoroughbred industry charities.

Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, has been named as one of the official charity beneficiaries. Old Friends is home to former Breeders’ Cup champions Alphabet Soup, Eldaafer, Little Mike and Amazombie. Old Friends cares for over 200 retired Thoroughbreds in six locations.

“Old Friends is honored to team up with the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America to pay tribute to Ted Bassett,” said Old Friends President and founder Michael Blowen. “Mr. Bassett, who has visited Old Friends on numerous occasions, is an enthusiastic supporter. His ambassadorship on behalf of these great Thoroughbreds is unparalleled and we are overjoyed that Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark are saluting him with this magnificent bottle.”

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GISW Dinard Euthanized at Old Friends

Grade I winner Dinard (Strawberry Road {Aus}–Daring Bidder, by Bold Bidder) was euthanized at Old friends due to the infirmities of old age. The 32-year-old had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2010.

Bred and campaigned by Allen E. Paulson and trained by Richard Lundy, Dinard captured the 1991 GI Santa Anita Derby and GII San Rafael S. He retired in 1992 with eight starts, four wins and earnings of $590,250.

After retirement, Paulson sent the gelded Dinard to the Kentucky Horse Park with hopes he could be retrained for a second career, but foot and leg injuries prevented it. While at the park he was cared for by Georgetown local Beverly Sharp. Sharp fell in love with Dinard and Paulson gifted him to her on Mother’s Day. He remained with Sharp until 2010.

“Dinard was a great racehorse, a great companion, and a great elder statesman,” said Blowen. “We were proud to have him these 10 years. His kind spirit will be missed by all.”

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Old Friends: ‘Elder Statesman,’ Grade 1 Winner Dinard Dies At 32

Multiple graded stakes winner Dinard has died. The son of Strawberry Road (AUS) was euthanized Thursday at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, due to the infirmities of old age. He was 32.

Dinard had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2010. Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement of his passing this morning.

Bred and campaigned by Allen E. Paulson and trained by Richard Lundy, Dinard (Strawberry Road (AUS) – Daring Bidder, Bold Bidder) was among the top three year olds in 1991.

He broke his maiden as a 2-year-old in his inaugural start at his home track of Santa Anita. Not three months later he earned his first graded stakes in the San Rafael (GR2) and soon after the Santa Anita Derby (GR1), which made him the favorite for the 1991 Kentucky Derby. But an injured foreleg took him out for the competition.

Other victories include the Los Feliz Stakes, and place finishes in the Grade 1 Strub Stakes and San Vicente Breeders' Cup Stakes. He finished out of the money only once in his career.

Dinard retired in 1992 with 8 starts, 4 wins and earnings of $590,250.

“He was my best friend for so many years,” said Sharp. “I want everyone to know how much I loved him.”

“Dinard was a great racehorse, a great companion, and a great elder statesman,” said Blowen. “We were proud to have him these 10 years. His kind spirit will be missed by all.”

The post Old Friends: ‘Elder Statesman,’ Grade 1 Winner Dinard Dies At 32 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Two Inseparable Racehorses To Retire To Old Friends, Avoid Heartbreak

When Carl “Bunny” Meister Jr. and wife Linda sold their 133-acre Tarad Hill Farm in West Chester, PA, they were lucky enough to remain on the property as the new owners planned on building a home. However, two of the horses the Meister's had pensioned on the farm were unable to remain on the property: Bo's a Ten and Magic Weisner.

During her racing career, Bo's a Ten raced 43 times and won about $40,000. After retiring from racing, the mare had three foals for Marie Morrisson and was then sold to Theresa Groff. The mare was a cable jumper, but Groff decided she was more interested in riding outside of the arena; Groff moved the mare to Tarad Hill Farm to allow for more trail riding time.

Magic Weisner had a much more illustrious career, most notably finishing second to War Emblem in the 2002 Preakness Stakes and winning the Maryland Juvenile Championship in 2001. He then finished three-quarters of a length behind War Emblem in the Preakness and ran second to him again in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. The gelding was trained by Nancy Alberts.

Plans to run Magic Weisner in the Pennsylvania Derby were derailed when he was diagnosed with West Nile Virus and retired to Tarad Hill Farm. Bo's a Ten, owned by Theresa Groff, joined the gelding five years ago, much to Magic Weisner's delight. The two horses became inseparable—so much so that Groff purchased a second horse to ride so Bo's a Ten didn't have to leave Magic Weisner behind while out on the trails.

When Tarad Hill went up for sale, Meister asked if he could have Bo's a Ten to ensure Magic Weisner's heart didn't break if they became separated. After a few phone calls to Michael Blowen, the fate of the two was sealed: both would ship to Georgetown, KY, in the summer of 2020 and live out their lives at Old Friends Farm.