As an animal lover, I was thrilled when my wife told me we were going to visit retired racehorses. With the cold and snow rolling in, I was worried the tour might be canceled--but thankfully, it was still on. We gathered with the other guests, warming up in the office before heading out. For us humans, the weather was a bit much, but the horses absolutely loved it. One thing that really impressed me was how interactive the experience was. We weren't limited to standing behind a fence--we were able to feed the horses carrots and admire them up close. It made the visit feel personal and unforgettable. About halfway through, we stopped in the barn to watch a short film about the farm's history and mission--an informative (and very welcome!) break from the snow. Afterward, we ventured back out to meet the remaining horses. Despite the chilly weather, we had a wonderful time. If you love animals or just want a unique, heartfelt experience, this tour is absolutely worth it. read more

What an amazing place!! The founder fulfilled his dream of offering a retirement space for retired thoroughbreds. You are able to visit these fantastic athletes up close on the tour and feed them carrots. Gorgeous landscape of rolling hills on the farm. Easy to walk. Jill, our tour leader, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the horses. If you love horses, you'll fall in love with this place. If you aren't a horse lover, you will likely become one by the time you leave! read more

See all

When in the Lexington area be sure to make the short drive to Old Friends What stood out about Old Friends is how well cared the horses are. It is clear that they are fully Committed to giving former race horses their best retirement and care. The grounds are beautiful, staff is amazing and it is great knowing you are supporting horses by your visit. 100% recommend and will return again when in the area. read more

See all

If you're a horse racing fan and/or horse lover, Old Friends is a must! My husband and I planned on visiting a horse farm in Kentucky, and Old Friends caught our attention because of the farm's mission and horses that are retired there. We opted for a guided tour. We thought we would get a history lesson on the horses, feed a few, and pet some. We ended up getting more than we expected. On our way there, we got stuck in traffic. We called Old Friends to let them know because our tour was about to start. Dora not only was attentive to our issue, but also provided alternative solutions. We were a few minutes late and Dora was there to meet and greet us, and let us know what to expect on the tour. Lloyd, our guide, started the tour with an introduction and the do's and don'ts. He also provided a bag of carrots for us to feed the thoroughbreds. For the ones that couldn't eat the carrot slices, Lloyd had shredded carrots readily available for us to feed them. Lloyd was knowledgeable and provided each thoroughbred's history and fun facts. Most importantly, he let us know about each champion's personality and quirks. We also had the honor of meeting Michael. He came over to our group to welcome us and stayed to chat about the farm and the champions that reside there. A few of the champions we met were Silver Charm, Lava Man, Milwaukee Brew, I'll Have Another, and Big Brown. It was such an honor to meet them. What a treat! This was truly one of the greatest experiences of our lives. We will definitely continue to visit Old Friends when we are in Kentucky. Until next time. read more

The entire reason we came to Kentucky was to visit Old Friends! Here are race horses living the good life in retirement and being great ambassadors. The regularly scheduled tours were booked but you can call and get a private tour - we were with our guide Wendy for 2 hours. We took a golf cart and met all the famous racers as well as many other sweet horses! We had a huge bucket of carrots we were able to feed them and get to know them. It was so awesome. Loved every minute! It is rain or shine - it did rain some in the beginning but then became a nice day! read more

See all

Old Friends' mission is one I can get behind-they take in OTTB after their years of racing and breeding are over. They have close to 200 horses on their beautiful grounds and the horses free range in the pasture: the perfect way to retire. They are run mostly by volunteers and our husband wife duo, joyce and Ken, were so sweet. We learned a lot, had soooo many carrots and treats to feed the horses and enjoyed our private golf cart tour. read more

Old Friends - Visiting one of the many superstars - Horse Racing Near Me - Georgetown, Kentucky

A great place to get up close, and in some cases feed, some retired race horses you may have seen run. read more

Old Friends - Getting up close to old friends. - Horse Racing Near Me - Georgetown, Kentucky

Today is Silver Charm's 28th birthday. In 1997 Charm won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but lost the Belmont and his bid for the Triple Crown. He was sold to Japanese interests where he stood at stud until he was pensioned in 2014. He was returned to the United States and is living out his days at Old Friends. 14 read more

Old Friends - Horse Racing Near Me - Georgetown, Kentucky

See all

What an amazing experience! On the walking tour, we got to individually meet about 15 of these great horses and feed them carrots. We learned each of their stories and racing successes. Also saw a video of their great finishes to actually see them in their prime. I'm not a fan of visiting retirement homes, but this place should not be missed. The love for these great horses is readily apparent. Great place for them to live out their last years in safety, freedom, and care. read more

One of my favorite places, had my wedding there. The owners love and care for the horses with such devotion. Silver Charm is the star but all the horses are great. read more

See all

We had a blast at Old Friends. We went on a tour and saw several Kentucky Derby winners. The tour guide was fantastic and answered our questions with enthusiasm. The grounds are beautiful. Feeding the horses and hearing their stories was so fun. The tour is a good deal of walking but most of it is paved or gravel. The tour guide used a golf cart and allowed people to ride if they wished to. It was east to find with plenty of parking. Highly recommend this activity! read more

Rehab & retirement of racehorses. All proceeds of merchandise & tours go to theese horses & rescuing more. An absolute dream for me seeing this. Game on Dude, Savarva, Silver Charm & many horses that never even made it to major stakes races. The gift shop has a lot of cute items for kids, men & women. In no time at all, I spent over $115. All so worth it since it goes to these majestic animals. They even have a few rescued cats & one that's as big as a miniature pig lol. S long as they are cared for & happy all is good. A few things could be improved for hot days such as the tour going a bit faster lol but our guide was thorough & I have no complaint. Also we left after seeing Silver Charm & the memorial site. Still do it even on a hot day just bring some water & a hat. It begins w/ a video that was very touching to me to know other people care so much. You get overall knowledge if you've never been around horses, personality types of each horse & you get to feed them carrots. It's so worth it. If it's hard for you to walk they have a golf cart to escort you along the tour. read more

See all

Old Friends is a must-visit destination for native Kentuckians and visitors alike. I had been wanting to visit the farm for months, and finally made the trek with several friends this past weekend. Tours run daily throughout the year and cost $10/person for anyone over the age of 12 (free for those 12 and under). There are several tours daily in warmer months, and one daily at 11 AM in cooler months. We arrived around 10:40 and were immediately greeted by Buddy, the fluffy white and caramel colored cat who welcomes all visitors. There are several other cats around the gift shop, all of whom are very comfortable with humans. Our tour guide was friendly, energetic, and knowledgeable about horses, the thoroughbred industry, and the champions who live at the farm. We walked from one enclosure to the next and got to feed carrots to most of the horses as well as pat some of them. I was amazed at how each horse's individual personality was evident as we interacted with them, with some being more energetic, some obviously wanting one last carrot before we moved on, and others happy to trot up to say just a brief hello to us. The experience is more than worth the $10 entry fee, and it's a different and relaxing way to spend a weekend day. I'll be planning a return visit soon and hope that a trip out there is on your agenda as well! read more

Old Friends - Our tour guide with Alphabet Soup - Horse Racing Near Me - Georgetown, Kentucky

See all

Great tour. So many beautiful horses to feed carrots too. Some to pet on noses. Amazing grounds and people.

It was a wonderful day on the farm for hubby and I. We are not familiar with the horses' names or their racing pasts. What we do know is that they are now finally living the life of a happy horse. With no expectations, no racing, no worries, these horses are living out their elder years here on the farm. They receive visits from race fans and animal lovers alike. The guides know all of their stories and are never tired of telling the stories. If you want to, you can give the horses carrot slices. The guides will point out the not so friendly horses to you. After living a life of the race horse and then that of a breeding stallion, it is inevitable that many of these horses are not adoptable as they have bad temper and some will bite. But there are others that will come up, tilt their heads and start begging for carrots. I find them irresistible and adorable. Although I am quite conflicted on the subject of horse racing, I still felt the need to visit the horses at Old Friends. Although I realize this farm only holds a very small portion of retired race horses, but for the sake of the horses I still feel that farms like this is needed and we do need to visit them, support them and spread the news about them. Donations are accepted but not required for the tour. read more

See all

Great Experience! A wonderful home for 'retired' horses. All the staff was friendly & informative. We walked between the fields and met several of the over 100 horses residing here. Visitors are encouraged to feed the horses (with carrots that are provided), pet those who enjoy a good petting, and to learn about each horse and their story. Loved this! Highly recommend for anyone in the area. Call ahead for space availability on the tours. *note - we had an elderly woman, 90, who walked with difficulty and the guide happily drove her with us in a golf cart, otherwise plan on a small amount of walking. read more

See all

The staff was friendly! A laid back and knowledgeable volunteer assisted us in our tour of the horse rescue. It was fun learning about their careers and feeding them carrots. A sanctuary for the retired four legged friend. read more

Wonderful tour- the owner and staff really put their hearts into caring for each retired racer and rescue. Our guide was warm and knowledgeable and you get a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these beauty's. If you're in the area, Old Friends will be a highlight of your trip. read more

See all

A truly wonderful place to visit. Dedicated to the love of horses. Retired race horses in their retirement home. Our whole group was thrilled to be there. The gentleman that founded this stopped by. We are all so grateful for Michael Blowen. From his vision to the implementation of that vision just beautiful and heartwarming. We also very much appreciate all who work there, so many volunteers! read more

We had a great experience here. Our guide was a wonderful older lady who really loved her job and the horses. We were with a small group and my younger daughter was treated especially nice. She was able to feed every horse carrots multiple times. These animals are obviously well loved and cared for. This is an amazing place with horses who have won the Kentucky Derby. It's nice to see they can live out the remainder of their lives in peace. I would highly recommend this place. read more

See all

I never would have done this on my own. I never would have found out about it or sought it out on my own. The group tour I was part of came here. I am glad it did. It is good to be forced to try things from time to time. It was quite a long ride from Louisville, but good once we were there. The staff is quite knowledgable and friendly. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. We walked around the large farm meeting the retired star horses. They have several big time winners including a few Derby winners. You are able feed and pet several of the horses. Some are not fond of it though and the guide let us know which to be careful of. As we met each horse the guide gave us their history. This is a large farm and this organization has a few more. The retired champions allow them to make money to take care of all of the horses. Each horse has a huge area to roam in so the upkeep must be staggering. This was a cool experience and well worth the time even if you are not a racing fan. read more

The tour was great, the person who gave it knew all about the horses. It was exciting to see Silver Charm and War Emblem. Little Silver Charm was just too cute. Their cats were special, and I won't ruin the surprise. It was awesome to be able to feed all of these huge horses. I learned a lot, and really want to come back later. Sadly I'm only traveling through Kentucky and may not be back for a while. Well, even though I may not return, you should come! read more

See all

Absolutely loved this place! It's a nonprofit that essentially ensures a comfortable, end-of-life experience for thoroughbreds, many of which achieved a great deal of racing success. The highlight of my visit was spending time with Silver Charm, the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness champ. We took the 1&1/2 hour walking tour in which you can learn about the farm, meet the horses, and feed them carrots if you would like. Note: if it's hot, wear some sunscreen. You are in direct sunlight for much of the tour. I also wore an old pair of shoes, which was a good idea given that you are walking on dirt at many points. At the end of the tour is a great gift shop where I bought a beautiful picture of Silver Charm by Eclipse-winning photog Barbara Livingston. I hope to bring friends and family here in the future. read more

Old Friends - Horse Racing Near Me - Georgetown, Kentucky

This was soooo much fun! We learned a lot about each horses winnings and heritage. We got to pet a few and feed others. You almost feel like you're in the presence of horse royalty here. Even the cats are friendly. Please visit if you're anywhere close. read more

Old Friends is a treasure. Come see these hero's of horse racing. Great tour, Derby winners and horses with great personalities. Well designed tour. Great story of how this place came to be. The great tour guides have a wealth of info on each horse. Tour each horse and get its story. They even have the Horse Popcorn Delights. This horse was the horse actor in the movie Seabiscut. Put this on your bucket list. read more

See all

Tour was good, for the volunteer center and gift shop... I am all for wearing masks, but they heavily enforce wearing masks but employees themselves don't wear them, even inside buildings. read more

If you're staying in the Lexington area and looking for something equine to do, take time for this one stop. Situated on a beautiful property, this farm houses and cares for some of the best of the retired racing thoroughbreds in the country. Take a tour and visit with these beautiful horses! Hint; the private tour is absolutely worth the time and cost! Staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Bring your camera! read more

Old Friends - Horse Racing Near Me - Georgetown, Kentucky

See all

While we were in Kentucky, we wanted to see horses up close and personal. Since my mother and I already know a lot about horses and some of the famous horses in history, we weren't totally thrilled by the idea of spending a whole day walking through the museums at the Horse Park. That's why I was so happy to have found Old Friends. We loved the story of why Michael started the farm (so that horses could live out their lives happily after racing/breeding/being forgotten) and absolutely loved being able to meet the horses. We went on a day that was a little grey and rainy in the beginning, so there were only 5 of us on the tour. Our tour guide was very sweet, knowledgable, and you could tell how much he loved these horses. On the tour we were able to meet or at least see most of the horses (since we had a small group that wouldn't scare the more timid ones). We were able to hear the horses' stories, feed them carrots, and even pet some of them. Overall, this was an amazing experience in the horse capital, and we were happy to pay to help support the farm's mission. We would highly recommend this tour for equine lovers! read more

See all

The tour was very much more enlightening for me than I'd expected. Mainly due to Lisa, the tour guide. Her passion for her job is evident and very welcomed. She handles the people and questions with professionalism and I highly recommend this to any horse lover/fan. It's not everyday that a person can feed carrots to KY Derby, Preakness, and Belmont winners. Alphabet Soup, Silver Charm, and War Emblem were highlights. read more

If you are going to be in the area, don't hesitate to make your reservations ahead of time because tours definitely sell out. This nonprofit organization is in a bucolic location, and the retired horses appear to be living their best lives. I thoroughly enjoyed "meeting" the horses and learning their backgrounds. Best of all was getting to feed them carrots, which the tour guide provides. Enjoy this beautiful walk around the grounds and the opportunity to get up close and personal with some former champions. Highly recommended. read more

Such a fun tour and a wonderful organization! We learned so much from our guide, Lisa. It was very obvious how much the horses are loved. We so enjoyed learning about each horse's personality and history. What a wonderful tour! read more

This is my "go to" tour anytime I have friends or family in town. I love Old Friends Farm. I've lived in the area for a little over a year and have been to the farm five times and I get excited every time I go. The tour guides are knowledgable and the horses are so cute. They let you feed the horses and pet them. It's fascinating to know the horses you're seeing and touching made thousands of dollars from racing at notable venues like Churchill Downs. I also love that the farm is trying to honor and respect the horses that gave so much to the racing industry. I would recommend anyone who comes to Kentucky to visit this place. It's one of a kind! read more

What a great place to visit. We''ve missed out on the last 6 years, of not going. If you have visitors in town or just looking for something to do go to Old Friends. The staff is knowledgeable about all the horses and their past history. They have a golf cart to help disabled persons get around easier. The tours are walking a d look long but they stop multiple times and the hills are not very sterp. The ticket price is affordable, lots of gifts in the shop that are priced accordingly. The best part of the tour is the horses and you have got to see each ones personality, oh yah you can feed them carrots. read more

We really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you for a wonderful tour, excellent guide, and knowledge sharing of these wonderful horses.

Great attraction! See some of the greatest stars of horse racing as they relax in their retirement homes! Great facility, great staff and the beauty of the majestic thoroughbred champions! Come say hi to Silver Charm and his friends! read more

My husband and I visited today and had an amazing time! Our tour guide was Jane and she was so entertaining and knowledgeable about the horses. Her love of horses radiated and I could tell how truly passionate she is about her job. The farm was absolutely gorgeous and so well taken care of. We enjoyed learning about each horse and having the opportunity to feed the horses. I would highly recommend a visit to Old Friends Farm and I can't wait to return! A special thanks to Old Friends for providing a wonderful and pampered retirement for these beautiful creatures. read more

See all

This was definitely a great place to stop and see so many beautiful horses that have been put into retirement. It's a great place for families to come visit as well as couples and if you know nothing about horses like we did we learned a lot on the tour. Lisa was great and her love for horses showed throughout the whole tour. Very friendly bunch of people. They have the retired horse that was in the movie Seabiscuit. read more

This place is fantastic. The guide was educational, funny, and knew everything about the horses. The guided tour showed more than 10-12 horses, and you could feed most carrots that were provided. I took my 5 year old. It was hot, and she had some difficulty walking the acreage, but she loved seeing the horses. It was a great experience and a fantastic facility. We will definitely return! read more

Horse tour was nice. Fun to see them and hear their history. The staff was a bit rude. Our toddler got sick just as the tour started. We cleaned it up very quickly and apologized for the disruption. Staff showed no compassion clear contempt. One lady turned their back on my wife when she apologized again. Hope they never have a kid get sick in public and then treated like we were. read more

I had and amazing day at this farm, all the horses are gorgeous and very friendly, the stuff is there to explain everything, everything was perfect read more