Georgia Horse Racing Coalition partners with Old Friends

The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, a group of leading business and civic

leaders who are dedicated to bringing first-class horse racing to Georgia,

announced Monday a partnership with Old Friends, one of the nation's leading

Thoroughbred rescue and aftercare organizations.

Old Friends, the non-profit Thoroughbred Retirement Center near Georgetown,

Kentucky, cares for more than 125 horses representing some of the finest

bloodlines in American racing, including Bluesthestandard, a multiple Grade 2

winner and 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up who was bred in Georgia.

"The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition supports efforts to help find all

racehorses -- once their racing careers are over -- a new home and a new job,"

said Dean Reeves, Coalition president and owner of 2013 Breeder's Cup Classic

winner, Mucho Macho Man, whose bankroll stands at more than $5.6 million.

"Financial support of these retired athletes will be an integral part of our

legislative efforts to bring racing to Georgia. Partnering with Old Friends is

an important first step in our commitment to this standard of care for horses

after they leave the track."

"Our partnership with the Georgia Horse Race Coalition will help us in our

mission to spread the word about the necessity for dignified retirement and

second careers for these great horses," Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said.

"By promoting these celebrated horses at Old Friends through a campaign of

education and tourism, we draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all

equines in need, and we appreciate the support of GHRC."

Old Friends is considered a "living history museum of horse racing,"

attracting nearly 20,000 tourists annually to see such stars as 1988 Breeders'

Cup Sprint champion Gulch; Grade 1 heroes Rail Trip and Commentator; and the

losing-est horse in the history of racing, Zippy Chippy. Learn more about Old

Friends at

www.oldfriendsequine.org.