SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. — Michael Blowen enjoys watching horses race, but he has also devoted much of his life to giving these fast animals care and attention once their time entering the starting gate is over.
He is now joining these horses in retirement.
After a 20-year run, Blowen is coming down the final stretch, stepping down as CEO of Old Friends Farm.
He has spent this time racing and working with world-class athletes, some of whom have won millions in earnings.
“If you’d bet on it, you’d make a lot of money, 'cause I’m like zero for 6,000 with these horses,” said Blowen, who moved to Scott County from Boston.
The passionate horse-racing fan, however, saw better odds when he took a gamble in 2003 to give retired racehorses a home.
As a former film critic and college instructor, Blowen was used to hanging out with movie stars. But to him, the real stars have always been racehorses.
“I was [really] excited about these celebrities ... I knew I couldn’t be the only nut," he said. "I knew there had to be other people who had this great affection for these horses and the love for what they’ve done for us.”
Blowen and his wife moved to central Kentucky in 2001. Soon after, he started treating former horse racing A-listers to a life of luxury.
One horse quickly turned into hundreds. Now, the concept has expanded to Japan and New York.
“We make sure they get fed really well, they get all their supplements,” Blowen said.
“We treat every horse here, no matter how old they are ... how talented they are, like they are getting ready for the Kentucky Derby.”
Since starting, Blowen has managed operations on the now 240-acre farm. At 77, he's taking a step back from management so he can spend more quality time with his pals such as classic Belmont Stakes champion Touch Gold.
“Why would I go on vacation? I’ve got Silver Charm in my backyard," he said. "Where am I going to go that’s going to be better than that?
"There’s just no place. Look around; this is like living in a national park. Where are you going to go that’s better than right here?”
Blowen traded his life hanging out with the likes of Jack Nicholson to give these majestic animals a quality retirement. The former Boston Globe film critic said if his life was a movie, he would have torn the plot to pieces.
“I would have panned it because it’s too syrupy, too much ‘Hallmark Hall of Fame’-kind of stuff ... it doesn’t make any sense, and it seems like it would never happen,” Blowen said with a smile.
John Nicholson, former executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, will take over as Old Friends Farm CEO and president beginning Feb. 1.