Daytripping: Trot Down to Central Kentucky

By Mary Casey-Sturk

Make New Friends at Old Friends

Where can you find horse racing’s “living history museum”? Who has created a home for numerous retired racehorses from Kentucky, the United States, and beyond? Where do fans of racing and lovers of horses gather to share a unique equine experience? A 90-minute drive from Indian Hill will give you all these answers, and more, with a trip to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm.

Old Friends is a retirement facility for Thoroughbred horses in Georgetown, Kentucky. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, it has become a haven for retired racehorses to enjoy the rest of their lives on the 200+ acre Dream Chase Farm. Beyond the farm, which is growing, Old Friends has partnered with a local retirement facility (for humans) who now allow Old Friends to use their land for paddocks. Other Old Friends facilities have been added in Saratoga, New York, and Japan. 

Blowen and his team in Kentucky have provided homes for over 250 rescued and retired horses. Old Friends has grown from a modest leased paddock space to an impressive farm that welcomes nearly 15,000 annual visitors. Among the horses to live out their golden years here have been Breeder’s Cup Champions Alphabet Soup and Amazombie, Belmont Stakes winners Touch Gold and Sarava, and the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm, who was repatriated from overseas stud duties. Silver Charm would have won the 1997 Belmont Stakes, but his now-neighbor, Touch Gold, won instead. 

Old Friends is fueled by volunteers who, along with the staff, are dedicated to caring for these horses. They are accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and you quickly realize that this team knows their stuff. Funding comes from donors, visitors and horse owners who have turned over permanent ownership to Old Friends.

Your Visit

Nestled in the Bluegrass region, a tour guide will lead you around rolling paddocks lined with miles of weathered wooden fencing dotted with name plaques of the horses you will meet. Look closer and you’ll notice horses’ names on their bridles also. You will learn their stories and embrace the opportunity to come close to these beautiful animals, most of whom have mastered the art of begging for carrots. Sometimes though, you will be the one hoping the horse comes to you. Touch Gold continues to perform to impress, nowadays, it’s his performance en route to carrot time. As he stands aloof in the field, he’ll give the group a casual glance over his shoulder and just when you think he’s not coming, you are graced with his presence!  The guides (volunteers) are excellent and will provide you with the horses’ backgrounds, personality traits, how they came to be there, and why they share (or in some cases, don’t share) a paddock. The farm also has a donkey, Little Silver Charm (a miniature horse and the mascot for Georgetown, Kentucky), farm cats, and waterfowl. 

Before you start your tour, you’ll get an introduction to the farm, what to expect (tip: wear comfortable shoes), watch a short video about the origins of the farm and be given a bag of carrots. The tour (General Tour) lasts around 90 minutes, and the visitors are captivated. You’ll walk on a gentle road around the farm and meet anywhere from 10-15 horses. Along the way, you’ll also see two cemeteries for horses, barns, and learn all about how it all comes together to give these horses the retirement they deserve. Old Friends also offers other tour options and you must have a reservation. Visit www.oldfriendsequine.org for more information. There is ample parking and a gift shop with a restroom and a golf cart available for guests on each tour, space is limited.

The mission of this nonprofit is to keep Thoroughbreds safe and loved during their golden years. The farm refers to itself as the “living history museum” of horse racing. Visitors get an up close and personal opportunity to meet some horse racing superstars, as well as some who never made it inside a winner’s circle.

Every horse here has a story, and some will be sure to tug at your heartstrings. You may have arrived as a stranger, but after meeting these horses, you’ll feel like old friends.

Georgetown 

There is so much to explore in Georgetown. Historic downtown Georgetown offers numerous boutiques, galleries, cafes, and the Georgetown and Scott County Museum (located in an impressive former post office building) home to an array of local artifacts. Around town, you’ll find many houses on historic registers in Federal, Plantation, Romanesque, Greek-revival styles, and historical sites including Ward Hall. 

Yuko-en on the Elkhorn is the official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden and is located just outside of downtown and south of Georgetown is the Kentucky Horse Park. Equus Run Vineyards is nearby in Midway (about 10 minutes from Old Friends) and offers tastings, concerts and more in a beautiful setting. Georgetown College (founded in 1788) has a lovely campus with three art galleries and was founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, who was the founder of Georgetown (as well as the college) and is credited as the first distiller to age bourbon in new charred oak barrels. He pulled water directly from the Royal Spring and that’s where you can find a sign designating this achievement (The Birthplace of Bourbon) at Royal Spring Park.

For more information about Georgetown, visit www.georgetownky.com

Kentucky Horse Park: Celebrating Kentucky’s Horse Heritage

Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park was opened in 1978 and over 500,000 make the trek here annually to visit all manner of horses, explore the grounds and museums. 

The history of this park dates to 1777 when Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, granted 9,000 acres of land in the Kentucky Territory to his brother-in-law, William Christian, as a reward for his service in the French and Indian War.   Several owners later, the park was sold to the State of Kentucky in 1972.  Lovely remnants of past owners remain including the Big Barn, which was constructed in 1897. With fifty-two stalls, it now houses Draft Horses. Elsewhere on the property is a house built in 1866 (now offices) and a still-in-use training track also from 1897.

Today’s visitors will spy foals frolicking in the fields as the mist rises in the morning, and seasoned residents will strut their stuff and mug for the cameras.

Dotting the grounds are statues and memorials-including the impressive statue of Man-O-War, opportunities to visit numerous horses in the barns, explore the Hall of Champions, the International Museum of the Horse, American Saddlebred Museum, the Wheeler Museum, and the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Gallery.  The Parade of Breeds is a longtime guest favorite and among the horses you will typically see are Arabians, Mustangs, and Lipizzan, all of which have been donated or loaned to the park. In addition to featuring a large variety of breeds, the park also houses retired racehorses. 

This equine theme park, the only one dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse, has something for everyone including trolley tours, a kids’ barn, special events, exhibits, restaurants, films and more.

Walking around the park makes you keenly aware you are someplace special, not just a home for horses, but a home to celebrate them.

www.kentuckyhorsepark.com

Many in Indian Hill love horses, with farms and equine trails dotting the rolling hills. If you count yourself a horse lover, these destinations might be for you.

Check in advance for seasonal operating hours.

Pictured: Old Friends Founder, Michael Blowen (provided Kentucky Tourism), Inside a Barn at Old Friends (provided Kentucky Tourism), Retired Thoroughbred Silver Charm getting a snack (photo by Mary Casey-Sturk), Historic Downtown Georgetown (photo by Mary Casey-Sturk) and Retired Race Horses at Old Friends (photo by Mary Casey-Sturk).