Old Friends Virtual Tour - Popcorn Deelites and Special Ring (and Friends)
6.1 هزار بار بازدید -
4 سال پیش
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♫ You're my best friend..
♫ You're my best friend.. ♪
Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farms with best friends Popcorn Deelites and Special Ring (and some neighbors). Filmed by Mary Greene. Please consider making a donation to Old Friends at www.oldfriendsequine.org to support our over 200 thoroughbred retirees.
Popcorn Deelites:
“I'm not one of the greatest racehorses of all time, but I played one in the movies.” This might be the motto for Old Friends retiree Popcorn Deelites, a low-level claimer whose career took a turn when he was cast as one of the eight horses to play the great Seabiscuit in the Oscar-nominated film starring Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges.
A blood-bay with dark points, just like the Depression-era hero himself, Popcorn did accumulate 11 wins in his six-year career and earned nearly $60,000. He was acquired by Old Friends with help from his owner David Hoffmans of Henderson, NV, and his Phoenix-based trainer Priscilla Leon.
In the film, you'll see Popcorn breaking from the gate, as that turned out to be his on-screen specialty. His moment of greatest fame came in the scene where, as Seabiscuit, he wins the match race against War Admiral.
Special Ring:
While it is the mission of Old Friends to find racehorses in need, the truth is, sometimes ex-champs just find us. For instance, Special Ring. In the summer of 2005, Ring’s owner Jack Preston - who campaigned two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Da Hoss in the 1990's - decided to wrap up his 8-year-old gelding’s first-rate career, and donate the multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning son of Nureyev to Old Friends. Ever since, Special Ring has been our very special guest.
Like several of the Old Friends retirees, Ring began his career racing in France, where he won the Prix Saint Patrick and the Prix Altipan. But it was in the U.S that he made his mark, capturing 10 of 29 grass starts and earning over $900,000 for Prestonwood Farms. In 2002, he dusted the competition and took the Wickerr Handicap in record time. In ’03 and ’04, he had impressive back-to-back victories in the G1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar (chalking up another course mark in ‘03 for 9 furlongs), and placed a game second in both the American Handicap and the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile at Hollywood Park. The handsome bay finished out the 2003 season facing the top grass horses in the world in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, but finished 8th.
In 2004, Special Ring attempted a very special win for his owner when he vied again in the Breeder’s Cup Mile, this time at Lone Star Park. “It means a lot being a Texan now to win one of these races,” said long-time Houston resident Preston. “It would be a great thrill.” Unfortunately, the horse stumbled badly at the start and placed 13th.
Ring arrived at Old Friends in August of 2005 from his California home base.
Old Friends is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that provides a dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we hope to raise awareness of all equines in need. Please consider making a donation to support our horses. www.oldfriendsequine.org Subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with new videos!
Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farms with best friends Popcorn Deelites and Special Ring (and some neighbors). Filmed by Mary Greene. Please consider making a donation to Old Friends at www.oldfriendsequine.org to support our over 200 thoroughbred retirees.
Popcorn Deelites:
“I'm not one of the greatest racehorses of all time, but I played one in the movies.” This might be the motto for Old Friends retiree Popcorn Deelites, a low-level claimer whose career took a turn when he was cast as one of the eight horses to play the great Seabiscuit in the Oscar-nominated film starring Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges.
A blood-bay with dark points, just like the Depression-era hero himself, Popcorn did accumulate 11 wins in his six-year career and earned nearly $60,000. He was acquired by Old Friends with help from his owner David Hoffmans of Henderson, NV, and his Phoenix-based trainer Priscilla Leon.
In the film, you'll see Popcorn breaking from the gate, as that turned out to be his on-screen specialty. His moment of greatest fame came in the scene where, as Seabiscuit, he wins the match race against War Admiral.
Special Ring:
While it is the mission of Old Friends to find racehorses in need, the truth is, sometimes ex-champs just find us. For instance, Special Ring. In the summer of 2005, Ring’s owner Jack Preston - who campaigned two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Da Hoss in the 1990's - decided to wrap up his 8-year-old gelding’s first-rate career, and donate the multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning son of Nureyev to Old Friends. Ever since, Special Ring has been our very special guest.
Like several of the Old Friends retirees, Ring began his career racing in France, where he won the Prix Saint Patrick and the Prix Altipan. But it was in the U.S that he made his mark, capturing 10 of 29 grass starts and earning over $900,000 for Prestonwood Farms. In 2002, he dusted the competition and took the Wickerr Handicap in record time. In ’03 and ’04, he had impressive back-to-back victories in the G1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar (chalking up another course mark in ‘03 for 9 furlongs), and placed a game second in both the American Handicap and the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile at Hollywood Park. The handsome bay finished out the 2003 season facing the top grass horses in the world in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, but finished 8th.
In 2004, Special Ring attempted a very special win for his owner when he vied again in the Breeder’s Cup Mile, this time at Lone Star Park. “It means a lot being a Texan now to win one of these races,” said long-time Houston resident Preston. “It would be a great thrill.” Unfortunately, the horse stumbled badly at the start and placed 13th.
Ring arrived at Old Friends in August of 2005 from his California home base.
Old Friends is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that provides a dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we hope to raise awareness of all equines in need. Please consider making a donation to support our horses. www.oldfriendsequine.org Subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with new videos!
4 سال پیش
در تاریخ 1399/03/12 منتشر شده
است.
6,131
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