Old Friends

With much love and appreciation to Michael and Diane Blowen, I dedicate this page to Old Friends, the premier Kentucky Facility for Retired Thoroughbreds.

Old Friends Old Friends Blog

Meet Little Silver Charm, a star in his own right! Follow his quest to win the heart of Zenyatta on his facebook page.

©Silver Charm by Zee - used by permission from Old Friends

Silver Charm’s bio from Old Friend’s website. “I am a miniature horse, the smallest stallion at Old Friends, but I like to think that I am the smartest and the most handsome. Michael’s trainer, Lorita Lindemann, found me, on a big, smelly truck that pulled up one day at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire. I was on a one-way trip to a very bad place. Lorita paid $40 for me. She called me Brownie, put me in a stall and cleaned me up because I was a mess. It was fun at the track. People fed me lots of treats. I made friends, horses and humans, and goats, too. But after a while the people who ran the track said they didn’t want me around. Michael was moving to Kentucky and he said he’d bring me along. He re-named me Silver Charm, after my idol, the great Thoroughbred who used to stand at Three Chimneys and who now stands in Japan. Sometimes people see the sign on my paddock and say, “You’re not the real Silver Charm.” Well, I am just as real as he is, only smaller. And my mane is silver and I am charming. So my name is appropriate. I like living at Old Friends, surrounded by famous Thoroughbreds. They all take orders from me. I am the center of attention, not only because I’m adorable, if I do say so myself, but because I have appointed myself Old Friends’ official spokeshorse for equine rescue. You can help me help other horses by donating $25 for a share in me. Take my word for it, it’s an unbelievable bargain.”

Michael and Silver Charm playing soccer ©vicki tobin

Enjoy a trip through photos, articles and videos to the little piece of heaven that is home to retired athletes.

Old Friends Office ©vicki tobin

Old Friends ©vicki tobin

Michael & Diane Blowen ©vicki tobin

Kentucky sanctuary saves retired thoroughbreds from slaughterhouse - The Boston Globe

Read About Old Friends in People Magazine

The Magnificent Retirees of Old Friends

Why Creator is more wonderful than Michael....

This is my boy, Creator. I've been sponsoring him for years - can't get enough ginger snaps and carrots!

Creator ©vicki tobin

Creator ©vicki tobin

Michael and Creator deep in conversation ©vicki tobin

Creator - the smile before the nip! ©vicki tobin

The Bribe from a Blacksmith school ©vicki tobin

Old Friends 'In Depth' with Eric Donovan

This is Popcorn Deelites [Pops], one of the horses that played Seabiscuit in the Movie.

Pops ©vicki tobin

Pops ©vicki tobin

Pops ©vicki tobin

This is Swans Way [Swannie], a favorite of mine.

Swannie ©vicki tobin

This is Black Tie Affair who we lost on July 2, 2010 to cancer. You can read about Black Tie HERE.

1986 - 2010

Black Tie Affair ©vicki tobin

Black Tie Affair ©vicki tobin



                                                                                             A Haven For Retired Champions

                                                     American Profile: Rescuing Champion Racehorses