Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., will hold a commemorative service Memorial Day, May 31, for eight retirees that passed away in the last year. Those honored will be Narrow Escape, the first Old Friends’ retiree, plus Calder Hall of Famer Flying Pigeon, multiple grade I winners Proper Reality and Ruhlmann, Argentine-bred Gold Spring, graded stakes winner Stage Colony, Beulah Park runner AppyGoLucky, and Invigorate, who was owned at one time by Old Friends founder and president, Michael Blowen.
“It's an honor to pay tribute to these great athletes," Blowen said. "Old Friends is an assisted living facility, and we specialize in elder care. The only down side of the job is when they die. But we try to treat them with the dignity they deserve both in life and in death."
The service will begin at 2 p.m. at Old Friends' Dream Chase Farm at 1841 Paynes Depot Road near Georgetown. Keeneland bugler Bucky Sallee will perform the final "Call to Post." Videos of career highlights will be shown and food and refreshments will be served.