Old Friends farm hosts 'Welcome Day' for Patch, Stormy Liberal

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility based in Georgetown, Ky., will host a "Welcome Day" for new retirees Stormy Liberal and Patch on Monday, April 6, from 12-2:30 p.m. ET.

The meet-and-greet will be held at Old Friends main farm, located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road. Light refreshments will be served.

Admission to the event is $15 per adult. Kids 4-12 are $10, and kids under 4 are free. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made only by calling the farm at (502) 863-1775.

For visitors interested in taking a full farm tour prior to attending the event, Old Friends will offer a special double ticket of $25 ($15 for kids 4-12). Please note the farm will have only one full, guided, 90-minute tour at 10 a.m.on April 6.

"Welcome Day" will introduce fans to Eclipse Award winner Stormy Liberal and the former Kentucky Derby contender Patch. Both horses arrived at Old Friends earlier this month. 

A son of Stormy Atlantic out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar, Stormy Liberal was taken from the claiming ranks in 2016 for $40,000 and went on to capture multiple stakes for his new connections, including back-to-back scores in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2017 and 2018.

After four consecutive victories in 2018, Stormy Liberal earned the championship for Champion Turf Male. With the win, he became the first sprinter to earn an Eclipse in the male turf horse division. 

The son of Union Rags out of the A. P. Indy mare Windyindy, Patch was retired following his three-season racing career during which he earned over $500,000. 

A 30-1 longshot in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, Patch became the season's feel-good story after word spread that he had lost his left eye as a 2-year-old but overcame that to qualify for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Patch finished 14th in that race behind winner Always Dreaming and went on to earn a Grade 1 placing in the Belmont Stakes.