2023 ELIGIBILITY REQUEST FORM

All races are limited to 14 starters which have complied with and satisfied the eligibility conditions, and which have been selected in accordance with those conditions.

1. Eligibility Request Forms are subject to the approval of Claiming Crown Limited (CCL). The propriety of the amount of the enclosed administration fee will be determined by CCL, and if any such administration fee is determined to be other than that which is required to be paid in full in a timely manner, the referenced horse(s) may be prohibited from entering and/or starting in a Claiming Crown race in the sole discretion of CCL. The guaranteed purse for Claiming Crown races will be stated prior to the time administration fees are due. Purses will be distributed in accordance with the distribution schedule set forth in the 2023 Claiming Crown Summary of Conditions, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

2. Payment of horse Administration fees make a horse eligible for only the current running of Claiming Crown, and does not satisfy any future eligibility requirements. Purses shall be distributed by Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots (“FGRC” or the “Host Track”) after certification that the purse is distributable in accord with applicable statutes or regulations.

3. Eligibility and Entry to or in Claiming Crown races is valid only upon the acceptance of and compliance with the rules and regulations governing Thoroughbred horse races adopted by the State where the races are conducted, the rules and regulations of the Host Track, the rules and regulations of CCL, and/or compliance with any decision of the state racing officials, and/or officers of the Host Track, and/or CCL regarding the interpretation and application of their respective rules and regulations. At the discretion of the Stewards, the Host Track, or CCL, and without notice, the entry of any horse may be refused. CCL shall have no liability for the actions of any officials or employees of the Host Track or for any matter under the control of such track, its officials or employees. Purses shall be payable to the rightful parties recognized as such by state racing officials.

ADMINISTRATION FEES:

Trainer:

1. *Administration Fee: $200 due by November 18, 2023 for each horse race considered for eligibility.

2. *Supplemental Administration Fee: $1000.00 may be made at time of entry.

4. A horse entered in a Claiming Crown race may be scratched by authorized racing officials for any reason including but not limited to if (i) such horse's equipment malfunctions, is damaged or lost and cannot be remedied within sufficient time, in the judgment of authorized racing officials, to allow the race in which such horse is entered to start at post time for such race, (ii) the horse does not appear “sound” for racing purposes, or (iii) if any other unavoidable event occurs with respect to a horse entered in a Claiming Crown race, or to its jockey, which cannot be remedied within sufficient time, in the judgment of authorized racing officials, to allow the race in which such horse or jockey is scheduled to participate to start at post time for such race. In the event of a scratch under such circumstances, the administration fee may, at the discretion of CCL, be refunded.

OWNER INFORMATION

Payment Method

5. CCL reserves the right to limit the number of entries in any of the Claiming Crown races. In the event CCL determines it must limit entries they will be selected in accordance with the Claiming Crown conditions regarding field selection or by such other method as CCL may determine in its sole discretion. The Claiming Crown field selection process is set forth in the 2022 Claiming Crown Summary of Conditions and is incorporated herein by reference. CCL reserves the right to modify the distance of any race to accommodate track and/or race safety. CCL reserves the right to transfer any turf race to the main track, or to cancel any, or all, Claiming Crown races without notice prior to the actual running thereof, without any liability.

(One ownership entity per eligibility form)

Name: _________________________________________________

Farm/Company: _________________________________________

THROUGH YOUR HORSEMEN’S ACCOUNT AT Fair Grounds Race Course OR MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Fair Grounds Horsemen’s Bookkeeper

6. In making any application for participation in Thoroughbred racing, it is understood that an investigation may be made by the appropriate authority as to the owner(s) character, reputation, mode of living and financial standing, which investigation may involve interviews with family, personal or business acquaintances.

Address: _______________________________________________

City: __________________________________________________

State/Prov: ________________ Zip: _________________________

Tel: _______________Email: ____________

“I submit this eligibility request for the above-listed horse(s) in order to make each eligible for participation in the 2023 Claiming Crown, and do so with the understanding that I will be bound by the terms and conditions established by Claiming Crown Ltd. I understand that said conditions are available to me online at www.claimingcrown.com and/or are printed on the backside of this document and are all incorporated herein by reference. Payment is enclosed.”

Signature: _______________________ ______________________

Date: __________________________________________________ [ ] Owner or [ ] Authorized Agent

MAIL TO: Scott Jones, Racing Secretary Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots 1751 Gentilly Blvd New Orleans LA 70119 (504) 944-5515

FOR MORE INFO: Scott Jones Scott.Jones@fgno.com

7. Owner hereby expressly and irrevocably grants CCL the exclusive right to use, in connection with the promotion of the Claiming Crown, the name and likeness of the Owner, of any horse eligible and entered, and of any co-owners, jockeys, trainers, grooms, assistant trainers, colors, logos, silks, and any other associated or identifying characteristics, as well as any other matter relating to the participation of the horse in the Claiming Crown. Promotion by CCL may include, without limitation, televising, broadcasting (including but not limited to on-line and web broadcasting in any form, fashion or manner) and/or recording in any manner the races which are a part of the Claiming Crown and the activities incident to them, and broadcasting, exhibiting and/or exploiting the same by any means now or hereafter known, including, without limitation, licensing such rights to others for uses approved by CCL. Owner hereby expressly, irrevocably and perpetually WAIVES on his behalf and on behalf of his agents and employees (including trainers, grooms, exercise riders, assistant trainers and jockeys) any and all rights he or they may have in connection with any matter referred to in this paragraph, including without limitation, any claim to invasion of the right of privacy, right of publicity or to misappropriation, for infringement of trademark, or other intellectual property rights or for any remuneration therefor. Upon demand, Owner shall cause any of the aforementioned persons to deliver releases to CCL permitting it to use and exhibit such material. Owner understands and agrees that CCL reserves the right to use names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, symbols, logos, slogans, results, still and motion pictures, videos and audio reports, trailers, promos and other identifying characteristics relating to CCL and the Claiming Crown, and that any such use by Owner of any of them is prohibited without the express written consent of CCL (which may be denied for any reason). CCL reserves all rights to advertise the Claiming Crown in any manner deemed appropriate by CCL in its sole discretion. Owners, trainers, assistant trainers, grooms, jockeys and horses shall not display commercial advertising or promotional material of any kind, including but not limited to, product names, logos and/or slogans on clothing or equipment, including but not limited to the jockey’s attire, before, during, or after the Claiming Crown race in which the horse is entered without prior written approval of CCL which may be denied for any reason.

Emailed nominations must be submitted with a valid credit card number, by the cardholder, and are deemed valid only after the transaction has been processed by the authorized financial institution.

8. All claims, controversies and/or objections arising out of or related to the application or interpretation of any rules or conditions of CCL shall be decided solely by the CCL Appeals Board. Information regarding the Appeals Procedure for CCL shall be furnished to any person submitting a written request for such information to Claiming Crown Limited, P.O. Box 910668, Lexington, Kentucky 40591-0668, Attn: Appeals Board. Any person wishing to object to any action or decision by CCL in the application of its rules or conditions must, within thirty (30) days of being advised of such action or decision, submit to the Appeals Board a written Notice of Appeal in compliance with the Appeals Procedure and shall be entitled to an oral hearing upon making a written demand as set forth in the Appeals Procedure. The Appeals Procedure shall not be applicable to matters arising under condition 5 hereinabove from which there shall be no appeal. The appeal process noted herein is the sole appeal venue and process and Owner WAVES THE RIGHT, IF ANY, to file a lawsuit to contest CCL’s decision or any appeal therefrom. Any appeal not postmarked or received within thirty (30) days of being advised of the action or decision of CCL shall be DEEMED WAIVED AND FOREVER BARRED

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Claiming Crown Ltd. reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to: (1) postpone, discontinue, amend, or change the conditions for all or part of the Claiming Crown program; and, (2) to reject the eligibility and/or entry of any horse deemed ineligible or otherwise prohibited from competing in the program. Please return this original with your payment; make copy of both sides for your files.

See second page for important information regarding Claiming Crown rules and regulations which are considered part of this eligibility request form.

9. Owner agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CCL and its officers, directors, employees and volunteers (or if for any reason indemnification is not available, to contribute to CCL's losses and the losses of its officers, directors, employees and volunteers), to the fullest extent permitted under the law, from and against any and all claims, damages, judgments, liabilities, losses, costs or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (should CCL select its own counsel which it may do at its sole and exclusive discretion), to which CCL and/or its officers, directors, employees and volunteers may become subject or liable as a result of or arising out of directly or indirectly: (i) any action or conduct of any horses owned by or under the control or direction of Owner while on the race track premises, and (ii) any acts, or failure to act by Owner, any Co-owners, or any of their agents, employees or invitees while on the race track premises.

3380 Paris Pike, Lexington, Kentucky 40511, (859) 259-0451

10. Owner hereby RELEASES, WAIVES AGAINST AND DISCHARGES CCL and its officers, directors, employees and volunteers, to the fullest extent permitted under the law, from any claims, losses, obligations, costs and expenses arising from or due to personal injuries or property damages of any kind or description to the person, property or horses owned or controlled by Owner occurring on track premises. Owner agrees that all risk of loss, injury, damage or destruction to persons or property, including but not limited to, the horses brought onto track premises by or at the direction of Owner, his agents or employees, arising from, due to, caused by, resulting from or in any way, directly or indirectly, related to any cause, including but not limited to accident, theft, fire or otherwise, whether or not caused by or contributed to or by or related to any fault or negligence of CCL and/or its officers, directors, employees and volunteers or the condition of the track premises, are assumed in full by Owner, except as to acts or conditions caused by the intentional, or willful conduct of CCL. Owner agrees that the release and waiver and discharge provisions hereof are intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the law. Owner further agrees that the foregoing provisions hereof regarding such release and waiver and discharge shall not be deemed waived or affected in any way by the fact that CCL does or does not, may or may not, in the future carry insurance coverage against claims where loss is caused by or resulting from damage or injury to property, persons and/or horses while competing on the race track, using the training tracks, stables, roads or any other facilities over the race track premises or in transit thereon.

11. Whenever the term "Owner" is used herein, it shall include the owner whose name appears on the reverse side of this form, all owners, co-owners (or lessees) of horses controlled by or in partnership with the Owner, jockeys, grooms, exercise riders, assistant trainers, servants, employees and invitees of the Owner, and their heirs, representatives, successors and assigns. Owner agrees to provide a copy of this Eligibility Request Form to all co-owners of the horses listed.

12. In consideration of CCL's agreement to pay the purses described hereinabove, Owner hereby consents to allow CCL and/or the Host Track to contract with any domestic or foreign licensed wagering entity for the purpose of accepting wagers on Claiming Crown races pursuant to the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. sections 3001, et seq. and warrants that no third party or organization has or will be given the right or authority to assert any claim, demand, or cause of action inconsistent with such consent.

13. By signing this form on page 1 of this form, I hereby certify that I have read, understand and agree to the terms and conditions of this Eligibility Request Form including all release and waiver provisions.

OLD FRIENDS THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FARM

Celebrate S 20thanniversary

OLD FRIENDS, WHICH HAS EXPANDED TO 236 ACRES OVER ITS 20-YEAR HISTORY, DOUBLES AS A RELAXING RETIREMENT HOME FOR EX-RACEHORSES AND A TOURIST DESTINATION FOR RACING FANS.

By Rick Capone

It seems like just yesterday that Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, opened the gates to visitors for the first time. While the original plan was to retire stallions, the first official retiree was a sweet mare named Narrow Escape, who happily grazed in a leased paddock at Afton Farm in Georgetown.

After a short stay at Hurstland Farm in Midway, Kentucky, Old Friends moved into its own home named Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown in 2006. Now, more than 160 horses enjoy a peaceful, dignified retirement there.

Old Friends has more than 260 horses on its roster when you also count the horses at Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division in upstate New York and the Ashton Grove retirement facility, the newest annex just a few miles from the main farm in Kentucky.

For Blowen, a former Boston Globe movie columnist, getting the farm started took hard work, dedication and the belief that his idea—retiring Thoroughbreds that people would come to see—would be successful. However, while the gates of Old Friends officially opened in 2003, a number of things happened before the farm could become more than just an idea in Blowen’s mind.

Origin Of Old Friends

On a recent cool spring day, Blowen sat in the farm’s gazebo at the top of the hill next to the paddock of Little Silver Charm, the farm’s lovable miniature horse. Dressed in jeans and his trademark green Old Friends jacket and hat, Blowen explained the origins of Old Friends.

The story began on a beautiful sunny August morning in Saratoga Springs, New York, not far from Saratoga Race Course, with Blowen and his good friend Joe Bokan sitting on the front porch of the Washington Inn. At the time, Bokan ran the inn; he now owns it and calls it Anne’s Washington Inn after his mother.

“We’re sitting on that beautiful wide porch and looking out,” Blowen said, “and I’m thinking, ‘Boy, oh boy, I’m going to have my coffee and then go up to the track, and I’m going to watch the workouts.’ And I started thinking about how beautiful the horses are. How exciting it is. And, except for the Kentucky Horse Park, there was no place where you could really go and see the horses.”

Blowen thought back to his days covering movies and movie stars. He was always amazed how people were starstruck when they met their favorite movie star. So, he thought to himself, would the same thing happen if people met their favorite racehorses?

“You know, I’d like to open up a place where people could visit retired racehorses,” Blowen told Bokan. “I’d like to call it ‘Old Friends,’ after the book of beautiful photos and stories about horses by [racing photographer] Barbara Livingston.”

Bokan agreed. “I think that is a great idea,” he said. “You should do it.”

And with that, opening Old Friends became Blowen’s goal. But there would be much to do to go from just an idea to reality.

When Blowen returned home to Kentucky, he began to formulate a plan to create Old Friends. To start, he needed to get permission from Livingston and Eclipse Press, which published the book, to use the name Old Friends. Both agreed.

With the name in hand, he began the process of creating Old Friends. However, while he truly believed in his idea to give Thoroughbreds a peaceful retirement and have people come see them, many people did not.

Still, Blowen persisted.

Birth Of Old Friends

One day he found himself sitting on a bench in Midway, where he and his wife, Diane, lived. He was dejected because he couldn’t get people to believe in the idea of Old Friends.

Betty Sue Walters, who owned an antique shop in town and Afton Farm in Georgetown, saw him sitting there and asked him what was wrong.

“This place is driving me nuts,” Blowen told Walters. “I’m trying to help these horses, and everybody is making it difficult. There’s just nobody that thinks my idea of Old Friends is a good idea. Nobody will rent me a little property. Nobody is interested. Nobody.”

After hearing his dilemma, Walters offered Blowen an opportunity to come visit her farm. He agreed, and when they arrived, she showed him four paddocks he could lease to get things started.

Walters’ offer was the chance Blowen had been looking for, and he readily accepted. Soon, the mare Narrow Escape, who had failed to get a bid at the Fasig-Tipton February mixed sale, became the first official Old Friends resident. She was then joined by one of Blowen’s horses from his racing days, Invigorate. And with that, Old Friends opened its gates.

Afton was a good start, but by 2004, Blowen knew he had to grow the size of his operation, and once again he found himself sitting in Midway, this time on a barstool, thinking hard about what to do next. And, once again, fate stepped in. This time it was Alfred Nuckols, owner of nearby Hurstland Farm.

As had happened with Walters, Blowen explained his situation, and Nuckols invited Blowen to come look at his farm. Nuckols showed Blowen where a few paddocks could be set up for Old Friends. Blowen loved what he saw and accepted the offer. Old Friends now had its second home.

Around that time, the horse racing world was still reeling from the news of the death by slaughter in Japan of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand. An article in Sports Illustrated about the incident contained a list of other American horses in Japan that might face the same fate.

When Blowen read the list, one name in particular jumped out at him: Sunshine Forever. He’d seen Sunshine Forever race and really liked him, and he didn’t want to see that horse suffer Ferdinand’s end. So, he worked with bloodstock agent Emmanuel de Seroux, others who had contacts in Japan and the Japanese Racing Association to try and bring the horse home to the U.S.

A deal was struck, and Sunshine Forever, along with the English-bred Creator, arrived at Old Friends in November 2004 and became the first two horses repatriated to the U.S. from Japan. In 2005, two other horses—Ogygian and Fraise—followed.

Jerry and Ann Moss became early supporters of Old Friends, and they pensioned their stakes-winning stallion Ruhlmann to the farm. Blowen believes the donation of that big-name horse, along with the support of the Mosses, who were well respected in the horse racing community, helped others believe Old Friends was a good place to send their horses.

As more horses came to the farm, once again, Blowen realized he was going to need more space. Old Friends needed a farm of its own.

The Dream Is Realized

Blowen found a 52-acre farm on Paynes Depot Road outside of Georgetown that was perfect for expansion. In 2006, after securing a loan, Blowen moved the horses to the new property, and Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm opened.

As more horses were retired to the farm and more visitors came to see the horses, people in the horse racing industry began to believe in Old Friends and what Blowen was doing.

In June 2008, Old Friends saw its first major expansion when Blowen purchased the “back 40” acres behind the farm, opening up even more space to retire horses.

The farm also began hosting special events to raise funds, such as Homecoming, which started at Hurstland and is held annually the day after the Kentucky Derby; a Memorial Day celebration to honor horses that died over the past year; and a Breeders’ Cup event when the World Championship races are held in Kentucky.

One thing Blowen always emphasizes is that creating and growing Old Friends couldn’t have been done by himself. It has been a team effort of supporters, volunteers and many others who have helped make the farm a success, and he always gives them credit for their work.

“This whole place is built on the shoulders of everybody who ever worked here,” he said. “And we now have a great team that does all the hard stuff while I get to enjoy the horses every day.”

People in the equine community also began to help early on.

The late Dr. Doug Byars provided veterinary care—now done by Dr. Bryan Waldridge—and local equine hospitals Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and Park Equine Hospital have offered their medical services. Students from the Kentucky Horseshoeing School in Richmond come out to trim the horses’ hooves and keep the animals’ feet healthy. In exchange, the supervised students get hands-on experience caring for horses while learning their craft.

Tourists and racing fans began visiting the farm in increasing numbers to see such champions as Precisionist, Gulch and Black Tie Affair as well as 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava, the first classic winner to be retired to the farm.

In 2009, Blowen teamed with JoAnn Pepper and her husband, Mark, to open a New York division at their farm—Old Friends at Cabin Creek. Moonshadow Gold was the first retiree at Cabin Creek, located not far from Saratoga Race Course, and next to arrive was Thunder Rumble, who won Saratoga’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes in 1992, becoming the first New York-bred in 125 years to do so. Other horses soon followed. Two others—Commentator, twotime winner of the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap in 2005 and 2008, and Will’s Way, winner of the 1996 Travers and 1997 Whitney—were relocated from Kentucky to Cabin Creek to be closer to their fanbase.

However, there was one horse whose arrival would truly put Old Friends on the map.

The Biggest Star Arrives

Fast-forward to December 1, 2014. On that cold winter day, more than 100 people watched a horse van drive up the hill to the small barn. It stopped, dropped its ramp and out stepped 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner and champion Silver Charm. The onlookers were in awe of the gray stallion. Blowen also looked on with respect as his all-time favorite had arrived home from Japan and would now live in his backyard.

Blowen admits he knew Silver Charm would be a draw, but he never expected the large numbers of people who came to see the horse.

“Silver Charm put us on the map,” Blowen said. “Thanks goes to Robert and Beverly Lewis, who owned Silver Charm and put away enough money to bring him home when he was done in Japan. They also included a $10,000 annual endowment for him.

“Silver Charm was, and is, a superstar,” Blowen added. “People literally come from all over the world to see him, and when we got him, all of a sudden, the number of visitors exploded. He’s been everything to us, and he knows it. He’s a fabulous friend, and I’m honored to see him every day.”

Soon after Silver Charm arrived, two more Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners followed from Japan—War Emblem and Charismatic. Living just down the path from War Emblem was Sarava, the horse that beat him in the Belmont Stakes to deny him the Triple Crown, while next to Silver Charm’s paddock was Touch Gold, who beat him in the Belmont Stakes to deny him the Triple Crown. Blowen calls those four horses the farm’s version of “Old Friends Triple Crowns.”

Old Friends’ growth has continued since Silver Charm’s arrival, both in terms of visitors and area. In 2013 and 2014, Blowen acquired a large tract of land next to the main farm, and the following year he acquired even more land from an adjoining farm, which grew the farm to 236 acres in total. Meanwhile, more and more people come to see the horses. It’s estimated that close to 300,000 people have visited the farm since it opened.

Recognition also has come for Blowen and Old Friends. In 2010, he was awarded the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. In 2014, Old Friends received a Special Eclipse Award for its accomplishments, and in 2018, Blowen was awarded the Galbreath Award by the University of Louisville.

The Future Of Old Friends

Today, Old Friends is recognized as one of the premier Thoroughbred retirement facilities in the U.S.

Thanks to a donation by Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Foundation Inc., the farm’s old tobacco barn is being entirely refurbished. Ultimately, it will be named the Ms. Josephine Abercrombie Center at Old Friends and will include large monitors so visitors can watch races of the farm’s retirees, a feature Blowen has always wanted to have at Old Friends. There also will be displays of Blowen’s collection of racing memorabilia, and the facility will be used to host events such as racing seminars and special presentations by racing personalities.

Two new graded stakes winners also recently arrived at the farm—Lava Man, aka “Coach,” trainer Doug O’Neill’s popular pony horse, and Any Given Saturday, the first horse to be repatriated to the U.S. from South Korea. Both are popular additions to the farm’s roster.

There is talk about possible new Old Friends divisions opening in California and Florida. And, while not affiliated with Blowen’s Old Friends, there is now an Old Friends Japan in Maniwa, Okayama.

There’s no question about the success Old Friends has achieved thanks to Blowen and not just in terms of being a must-see tourist stop for racing fans. Thanks to him and his determination to provide a soft landing spot for racehorses, Thoroughbred aftercare has come to the forefront of the racing industry’s consciousness.

Of course, Blowen is not alone in this endeavor, as other organizations such as Our Mims Retirement Haven, CANTER USA, ReRun and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, to name a few, have achieved success in helping retired Thoroughbreds. Also, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance was created to serve as the accrediting body for aftercare organizations that retrain, retire and rehome Thoroughbreds.

Despite all the success and growth, Blowen never expected that his idea for Old Friends—to provide a peaceful, dignified retirement for Thoroughbreds who gave their all on the track to entertain fans and then have people come see those horses—would grow to the extent it has.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “If I had known in advance that it would end up like this, I wouldn’t have had the gumption to try it. It’s overwhelming. My dreams aren’t this big, that’s for sure.” HJ