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Champion Sprinter Amazombie Euthanized at Old Friends

Eclipse Award-winner and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Amazombie (Northern Afleet) was euthanized on Monday, Sept. 18, at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, due to a fractured ankle. The 16-year old gelding had lived at the retirement facility since 2014 thanks to his owners, trainer Bill Spawr and Thomas Sanford.

“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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Belmont S. Winner Sarava Dies At Old Friends

2002 GI Belmont S. winner Sarava (Wild Again) has died at Old Friends. According to the preliminary report from Dr. Colton Thacker at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, he was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture at the age of 24.

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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Oklahoma Champion Welder to Old Friends

Oklahoma-bred millionaire and three-time Oklahoma Horse of the Year Welder (The Visualizer), Remington Park's all-time wins leader with 16, arrived at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, on Monday. The 10-year-old gelding was retired in 2021 and was moved to Old Friends after his owners, Re-Max Farms in Claremore, OK, ceased operations.

Racing for seven seasons, Welder won 27 of 44 career starts, which includes 15 Listed stakes victories, for total earnings of $1,263,359. The gray sprinter, who will be inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park on Sept. 23, joins the 265 horses currently cared for by Old Friends.

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MGSW Fearless Arrives At Old Friends

MGSW Fearless (Ghostzapper) was welcomed to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky on Wednesday, Aug. 2, the organization said in a release early Friday.

The 7-year-old bay gelding, who was last seen running fifth June 10 at Belmont Park in the GII True North S., was retired to the farm by his owner, Mike Repole, a longtime supporter of Old Friends. According to Equibase he amassed eight wins over 19 starts and over $1.2-million in career earnings.

“Fearless was a gutsy and determined racehorse with the perfect name,” said Repole. “The stable really thought Old Friends would be a great place for him to spend the rest of his career with other great horses. I'm thrilled people will be able to visit him at Old Friends.”

Bred by the Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust and foaled in Kentucky on Mar. 17, 2006, Fearless was initially owned by China Horse Club International and WinStar Farm, and trained his entire career by Todd Pletcher.

“No one has been better to Old Friends and his horses than Mike Repole,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “We are grateful to him for several retirees, especially Fearless who won a Saratoga stakes race named for another Old Friends resident, Birdstone. And he's gorgeous. Fearless, that is!”

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