Hoofbeats With Heart

Being put out to pasture is a positive thing in Georgetown, Kentucky, where retired racehorses live happily ever after. Take a look at these still-proud stallions for free.

Seabiscuit is alive, well, and living on a very special horse farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. One of the eight horses used in the popular movie, the 8-year-old bay (real name: Popcorn Deelites) is one of the younger members of Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, a Thoroughbred retirement facility. And, like the racing stars they all once were, they have distinct personalities all their own.

The Roar of the Crowd

"Creator!" Michael Blowen yells out the horse's name on a raw winter day in the Bluegrass. Responding with a snort, a proud chestnut stallion gallops across the pasture, his breath warming the chilly air, and stops in front of Michael and a bucket of carrots. "People love to see these great athletes in person," says Michael. To that end, his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Old Friends, provides a haven for these beautiful four-footed sprinters.

In this pastoral paradise, 21 Thoroughbreds have hit the trifecta. They once ran and won races to the roar of cheers and applause, had their necks draped in floral tributes, and had their pictures flashed across the world. Today they are grumpy-but still proud-old men, and Michael loves them all. Luckily, he also loves to share them with visitors.

He calls them by name, introducing them to the folks who come by each day. "Swan's Way over there raced for nine years and earned only $65,000 total," says Michael. He reaches out to another horse. "This is Sunshine Forever-we rescued him from a farm in Japan. Doesn't he have a wonderful John Barrymore profile?"

The horses obviously still love the attention they get from Michael and others. "They eat two quarts of oats twice a day," says Michael. The name of the first horse that came to Old Friends was Narrow Escape, which is fitting. That horse's father was lost to a slaughterhouse in Sweden. These animals have no such fate in store.

Stay Awhile

Michael; his wife, Diane; and their cadre of horses, cats, and volunteers love company. As a result, they've just opened a bed-and-breakfast on their 52-acre property. Two rooms (aptly named Creator and Sunshine Forever) feature great views of the farm, which is only 15 minutes outside Lexington.

"We also offer horse 'adoptions,' "says Michael. "For $ 100, you can buy a share of one of our horses. You'll get a certificate and a color photo, and you can visit the horse whenever you like."

Creator, temporarily satisfied with carrots and adoring attention, rears up and takes a run around the pasture. "These are great athletes," repeats Michael. "It's like having Larry Byrd and Michael Jordan in your yard."

Watching the horses trot along the fence, Michael and his guests take in the ageless grace and beauty of the animals and still see winners, every one.

-WANDA MCKINNEY

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2007
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