Bonapaw, a millionaire and grade I winner, has arrived at Old Friends near Georgetown, Ky. His owner, James Richard Jr. of Louisiana, donated the 13-year-old gelding to the Thoroughbred retirement facility last month.
Bonapaw scored his three biggest wins for Richard’s father, James Richard, and the latter’s twin brother, Dennis. Bonapaw won the Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) and the Count Fleet Sprint (gr. III) and Hanshin Cup (gr. III) Handicaps in the first part of the decade.
Retired in 2005, Bonapaw won 18 of 49 races and earned $1,158,752. A dozen of his wins came in stakes.
Bonapaw had been at a farm in Folsom, La., but “we didn’t have enough time to give him the proper care, and so I talked to some people at the track and found out about Old Friends and thought it was worth a phone call,” James Richard Jr. said.
Richard spoke with Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “He was very informative,” Richard said. “He knew our horse, he saw him race, and even knew some of the horses he raced against.”
“I know his fans will be as thrilled as I am to see him in person,” Blowen said. “The Richards are also sending along his collection of trophies and many photographs, which I’m sure will be the centerpiece of the proposed museum we hope to have up within the next 18 months at Old Friends.”
Bonapaw (Sabona—Pawlova, by Nijinsky II) was bred in Kentucky by Dr. William O. Reed.