Old Friends Virtual Tour - Touch Gold

Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farms, with Touch Gold from film footage from 2017. Many thanks to Equisport Photos for the video. Please consider making a donation to Old Friends at www.oldfriendsequine.org
1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold was one of the best of an exceptional crop of contenders. The bay son of Deputy Minister won the Lexington Stakes (G2) at Keeneland with Gary Stevens up, but trainer David Hofmans and owners Frank Stronach and Stonerside Stable decided not to run the late May colt in the Derby. He acquitted himself well in the Preakness. With Chris McCarron riding he beat all but the Derby winner, Silver Charm, and Derby second and third place finishers Captain Bodgit and Free House. Touch Gold turned the tables when he denied Silver Charm the Triple Crown in a Belmont Stakes duel to the wire that racing fans will long remember. Touch Gold retained top form through the summer with his win in the Haskell (G1) over Anet, Free House and Tale of the Cat, with Chris McCarron again in the irons. Strong fields indeed! At four years old Touch Gold ran second to Arch in Keeneland’s Fayette Stakes (G3). He retired from racing with $1,679,907 and 6 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third in 15 starts. At stud at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm, Touch Gold sired 74 stakes performers including Stephen Foster winner and fellow Old Friends resident Seek Gold. Old Friends thanks Mr. Stronach for enabling Touch Gold’s retirement to our main farm and for his generous support.
Old Friends thanks Equisport Photos in making this video.
About Old Friends: Old Friends is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that provides a dignified retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we hope to raise awareness of all equines in need.

[@mariabykofsky4502]

Awe, he is so beautiful, may he have many more years of good life...❤❤

[@elenacaddell3639]

They are All Handsome and Beautiful 😍🥰

[@Vprb68618]

He is beautiful 🥰🥰🥰

[@rfgiowa]

Beautiful horse! I won some big dollars 💵 with him on the Belmont. 😀

[@carrieashley6465]

I hope that California chrome can come back to usa and live his retirement there with you all it fiting place for great horse be like sliver charm

[@christinematton4125]

Let's just hope Chrome makes it home to the states period !!

[@johnwalsh3215]

He’s a good boy!!

[@lsieu]

My friend is racing a filly, Evening Sonnet, out of the Touch Gold dam, Daylight Song. She's in the 4th at Del Mar 2020/08/21.

[@g0ezle0nard96]

Evening Sonnet ran 9th field of 10, beaten 25 lengths on 8/21. Came back ten days later 8/31 to run 5th beaten 15 lengths in a field of 11 horses. If that horse wins it will be very long odds.

[@lsieu]

True. I think she's on a layoff right now. She's posted some impressive workouts in the past. I wonder why she's not performed better in her races.

[@lespangen]

Gary Stevens ( Silver Charm’s jockey in a Legend’s interview p recalled that McCaron on Touch Gold was familiar with Silver Charm and what a fighter he was and stayed about two paths out and Silver Charm didn’t perceive the challenge until it was too late

[@peggypapczun2906]

Touch Gold looks super good for his age, like almost race--ready! He is so friendly and gentle and sweet to be around. Remember his Belmont win vividly, so exciting. Thanks for the videos, love them all!

[@veronicacarney8411]

Handsome fella 👍🏻🐎 looks at him nodding his head up & down 😘 "yes, more carrots".

[@bobbieswift2874]

Oh... he’s so handsome and looking so happy ! Sure doesn’t look his age, still moving like a three year old.

[@joseguedes2498]

Michael and his staff are angels God put on Earth.

[@ZenyattafanfromCa]

Such a great looking horse!

[@peggypapczun2906]

What a sweet horse! Such a cute video, it made my day!

[@lisacepluch1152]

They all love Michael!

[@giaguidera7845]

Hes super good natured