Nothing like old friends
Get up-close and personal with retired champions at Old Friend Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, near Georgetown, Kentucky. On this 136-acre retirement farm, you can visit with million-dollar athletes like Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm and War Emblem or Breeders Cup Champions Alphabet Soup and Amazombie among the herd of 175 rescued and retired horses.
This unique attraction was founded by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen in 2003 with a leased paddock and one horse. Now a “living-history museum of horse racing,” the farm attracts nearly 20,000 visitors annually.
After touring Old Friends, make plans to visit the nearby Kentucky Horse Park, the only park of its kind in the world. It is a working horse farm, educational theme park and world-class equine competition facility. Dozens of different breeds of horse are showcased at work and play in daily equine presentation, horse-drawn tours and museums dedicated to the history of the horse. Also in the area are dozens of horse farms and historic Keeneland Race Track, which will host the Breeder’s Cup in 2022.
Experience views of the bluegrass from horse-back. The world seems to slow as you hear the sounds of nature and the soft gait of your steed.
– Michael Blowen, Old Friends, www.kentuckytourism.com/get-inspired-ky/kentucky-storytellers
HELPING AFTER THE STORM
If you are interested in helping those in Kentucky and other states recover from the deadly tornadoes in December 2021, here are links to various resources.
wfpl.org/heres-how-you-can-help-tornado-victims
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-to-help-tornado-victims-in-kentucky-and-beyond