Old Friends Satellite Location Opens

I can think of no more fitting tribute to a great animal lover--horses and dogs in particular--than the naming of the recently opened Old Friends satellite facility near Saratoga Springs for deceased Hall of Fame trainer, Bobby Frankel. Regardless of how you felt about Frankel--and there were few who were neutral--everyone knew that he loved his horses and his dogs.

The new Old Friends facility is owned by Joann and Mark Pepper and leased by Michael Blowen, president of Old Friends. The farm, known as Old Friends at Cabin Creek: the Bobby Frankel Division, began receiving hoses on November 18th and its first resident was scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter.

The facility features twelve stalls, two round pens, five finished paddocks and extra acreage ripe for development."When we built the farm, my goal was to do thoroughbred retirement," Joann Pepper told Bloodhorse. "Initially we did boarding and foaling as a way to establish ourselves but I always came back to the idea of retirement. I had read about Old Friends and this summer an article in the Saratogian prompted me to call Michael. I explained that my farm was empty, and I wanted to emulate what he was doing. It just clicked that we would do it together."

Cabin Creek plans a formal opening this summer, July 22 to be exact, which will feature a memorial to Frankel, who was a long time supporter of Old Friends. The Peppers promise that any horse trained by Frankel will be given priority at Cabin Creek.

While her farm may have been empty this summer, I have a feeling that she is going to have twelve new residents very, very soon. Hats off to these wonderful people for providing a haven for retired thoroughbreds. Frankel would be very pleased to know that there are others who share his deep love for the breed.