Only 10 lucky people will have the chance to add a Hemerocallis ‘Old Friends’ daylily their garden. In this fundraiser for Old Friends, the thoroughbred retirement farm, you have the chance to purchase one of 10 beautiful 6.5” tetraploid daylilies hybridized by John and Annette Rice of Paris, KY. It was specially chosen by Old Friends President Michael Blowen and his wife Diane White to represent the non-profit Thoroughbred Retirement Farm and it is registered with the American Hemerocallis Society.  The polychrome flowers are proudly displayed on 40” scapes with four branches and 27 buds. It blooms midseason-late and reblooms. $100 each (includes shipping and handling). To see if there are any still available, call (502) 863-1775.

But even if you don’t get the chance to grab one of these beautiful flowers, consider supporting Old Friends. It’s not a typical rescue; instead, Old Friends serves as a living history museum of horse racing by offering racing fans the opportunity to see some of racing’s great, including Grade 1 winners such as Breeders’ Cup Champions Amazombie, Little Mike and Alphabet Soup, Belmont Stakes winners Sarava and Touch Gold,  and three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude. The farm is also home to Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Silver Charm who retired there from stud duties. Old Friends also takes in the “unknown” war horses, like Mikethespike who raced for 10 years and made 125 starts. The mission is to provide a dignified and safe retirement, an ideal that should be supported by all fans of racing.

Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, the organization has grown from a leased paddock and one horse to a 236-acre farm, a herd of over 200 rescued and retired horses, and a satellite facility; Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, NY.