Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby, Old Friends Equine, Thoroughbred Retirement Facility, online Derby hat auction, online charity hat auction, Derby fundraiser for Old Friends Equine, ladies' one of a kind Kentucky Derby hats, couture Derby hats, couture millinery, custom hats, Black Tie Affair, Commentator, Little Silver Charm, Bull In the Heather, Will's Way, hats for Kentucky Derby, after care of Thoroughbred racehorses
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Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby A Unique Online Charity Hat Auction Benefiting Old Friends sponsored
by Academy Award
GEORGETOWN, KY–JANUARY 29, 2010–Academy Award, one of the only surviving sons of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, has arrived at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY. Michael Blowen, Old Friends founder and president, made the announcement earlier today. Golden Globe-winning actress Angie Dickinson, a long-time supporter of Old Friends, is sponsoring the retirement of the 24-year-old stallion, along with Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery and Boston-based TV producer Barbara Bowen. “Michael and I have been friends for a long time and I adore the horses,” said Dickinson, the star of TV’s Police Woman and such films as Point Blank, Rio Bravo, and Dressed to Kill. “Now, I finally have an Academy Award, and I can't wait to see him.” Dickinson made the contribution through a charitable trust she established with her ex-husband, composer Burt Bacharach. Chenery, whose relationship with the spectacular Secretariat is the basis of an upcoming Disney film starring Diane Lane, donated funds to support Academy Award through the Secretariat Foundation. Bowen, a TV producer from Boston and a longtime fan, donated her time and money to assure that Academy Award would have a dignified retirement. Academy Award (Secretariat–Mine Only, by Mr. Prospector) didn’t begin his racing career until age four. In his two seasons on the track the diminutive chestnut had 19 starts and five wins, including a stakes victory on the turf in the Early Times Manhattan Handicap (GR II), in which he defeated Stage Colony, an Old Friends retiree who passed away in 2009. Academy Awards career earnings totaled $226,943. Once owed by Peter E. Blum, Academy Award has been standing at Win Row Farm in Lebanon, OH since 1991. “We’re overjoyed to have Academy Award in a paddock next to Commentator and Gulch,” said Blowen. “Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston has even agreed to draw him for us,” he added, noting that Ms. Huston's whimsical rendering of Old Friends retiree Bull inthe Heather was used on a commemorative wine bottle to raise money to support the farm’s ever-growing list of retirees. “I also want to thank Chris Rosell of Win Row Farm for agreeing to retire this grand old man,” Blowen continued. “We are now responsible for nearly 90 Thoroughbreds that won more than $60 million on the track.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIDDING WILL BEGIN SOON! - Our sixth Derby hat auction continues April 1st, 2010, through the 11th. A very special Derby hat design has been created to celebrate Sunshine Forever for the April auction, so please visit us again soon to place a bid! To place a bid or to learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, please visit the Old Friends website to access the eBay link or call them at 502-863-1775. To view the couture Derby hats that we have had up for bid in former rounds of this exclusive Derby hat auction, please click on the following - Old Friends Hat Auction Portfolio Home l Contact l About the Auction l Current Auction Hat l Old Friends
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