Old Friends Welcome Day Set For Patch, Stormy Liberal
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Patch at Churchill Downs
Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility based in Georgetown, Ky., will host a special "Welcome Day" for new retirees Stormy Liberal and Patch April 6 from noon to 2:30 p.m. ET. Both horses arrived at Old Friends earlier this month.
Grass sprinter Stormy Liberal was claimed in 2016 for $40,000 by trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch. He went on to capture multiple stakes for his new connections, including back-to-back scores in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) in 2017 and 2018. He earned the 2018 Eclipse Award for champion turf male, becoming the first sprinter to earn an Eclipse in the male turf horse division.
Current owner David Bernsen invested in Stormy Liberal in 2017, and in 2019 bought out Rockingham Ranch's interest. This past December, Bernsen retired the now 8-year-old gelding from racing, which Miller also supported in a statement last year.
One-eyed Patch was a 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) competitor, who finished 14th in that race before later placing third in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). The Todd Pletcher trainee was donated to the non-profit organization by owner Calumet Farm following his three-year racing career. He lost his left eye as a 2-year-old because of an ulcer.
The meet-and-greet with the two horses will be held at Old Friends' main farm, located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road in Georgetown. Admission is $15 per adult, kids 4-12 are $10, and kids under four are free. Light refreshments will be served.