Bradleys reflect with a writer friend on their 41 years at the local grocery, "the community 'hub' of Midway"

Chuck, Scott and Shirley Bradley posed in front of the Midway Corner Grocery after Scott sold it. (Photo provided)

By Renee Head

To a small, historic town named Midway in the year 1979 came a strong, dedicated family: Chuck and Shirley Bradley and their three sons and two young daughters.

What brought this family from Los Angeles to a tight-knit community, wondering how they would be accepted? It was a desire for a safer place to raise their family and a need to help Chuck’s mother care for his grandmother, who was nearing 100.

Chuck had left the Lexington area when he was a young man and hitchhiked his way to Los Angeles! He spent his life in the trucking business. He left his job as terminal manager of the Santa Fe Trucking Co., a subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railroad. Shirley was a hairdresser.

Their family has become a cornerstone in Midway! They owned and operated the Midway Corner Grocery for 41 years. Their quiet children worked behind the cash registers and in the deli, and grew up in the store.

They told them it couldn't be done

Chuck and Shirley have many stories to tell of how God was involved in their move. His guiding eye was directing and protecting their every step. The long drive across our country found them in a terrible snowstorm; it was 5 below and they got a foot of snow. They had to stop every 10 minutes to clean the windshield wipers and headlights. Their steering on the vehicle was not working properly. They managed to get their family of seven safely to Kentucky to live with his mother and grandmother until he could get a job.

The only job he could find wanted him to move to Texas! One day he saw a very small ad in the Lexington Herald-Leader: “Grocery store for sale,” and a phone number. When he called, the Realtor turned out to be his Mom and Dad’s Sunday-school teacher, Bob McCray. He went to look at the store and told McCray he could not afford it. McCray told him there were some creative ways to get a loan. So they did, at 23% interest! That was in 1979, just before a recession.

They had no experience in the grocery business, but they gave it their best. They were in the store day and night, seven days a week. They opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 10 p.m. They stocked the store to the ceilings and greeted every customer. The first thing they did was get rid of the unfavorable magazines. They received letters thanking them for doing that. That’s right, for 41 years they have run a successful grocery store without a dime coming from the unfavorable magazines or beer!

The bankers told them it couldn’t be done! You may wonder how they did it. Well, it was being there for their customers. They started charge accounts, and Chuck started delivering groceries to shut-ins. He would often do little repairs for the customers, especially the widows, while he was there. He would start a pilot light on a hot water heater, fix a toilet and so on! Sometimes they would drive their customers home. They even gave their vehicle to a lady who didn’t have a car. One customer didn’t have any hot water and they got her a portable hot water heater so she could have a hot bath.

They heard the true appreciation from their customers, who would thank them and say they were going to pray for them that night. Yes, it was a heart for people that helped them succeed. Families would buy their entire week’s groceries there. One family in Midway had three of their children work at the store. The lady comes in nearly every day. She thanked the Bradleys for teaching them how to work and to be responsible.

They were told they could not succeed without beer. But succeed they did. Their first year, the business more than doubled, and again the second year! And so it goes. A lot of hard work and a caring heart were more valuable!

Part of the community

The Bradleys lived in Scott County, but became a part of the Midway community. He volunteered at the fire department and was invited to teach a class at the Midway Christian Church how to cook a country ham. Another man knew how to make beaten biscuits so they served it up! Chuck was also on the president’s advisory board at Midway College. It was now home!

Their five kids grew up in the store. Each one learned the business. All the guys worked in the meat department and learned to be butchers. Lesley paid her tuition to Pensacola College working summers in the store. But Wendi was the bravest of all. She worked behind the cash registers and would chase down the shoplifters!

When you have been in business as long as they have, there are several stories to tell. Chuck would sometimes restrain the thief until the police came. He even had to stop one guy beating the police with the handcuffs.

If you ever met Chuck Bradley, you felt like you made a friend on the first encounter. They had small business promotions like midnight sales, 99 cents for a half gallon of ice cream, free coffee, chicken for 29 cents a pound, bacon for 99 cents a pound. One time they had an airplane fly over dropping handbills for free doughnuts or $5 cash! They generated a lot of traffic over that. They had contests and gave away a bike at Christmas.

They would have Wildcat days and put blue food coloring in the mayo. Once they had a Wildcat jacket on display. A customer, Mike Perry, would come in. Every time he saw the jacket he would fall in the floor and say someone give me that jacket! This month Chuck had the great pleasure of taking that jacket and giving it to him! Mike was so thankful. It was a great memory!

But maybe the biggest thing is what goes on behind the little screen door. It’s the lunch line! They serve soup and sandwiches. They started with a little skillet that cooked three cheeseburgers, fresh chuck, never frozen! Then they got a griddle, then three. They finally got a commercial grill! They sell hundreds of fresh, juicy cheeseburgers every day. And you must get a country ham sandwich! It is worth the wait in line.

For decades they sold country hams for the holidays, and even sold homemade jam cakes. Now the specialty is deviled eggs with jalapenos! They make six dozen at a time.

They tried for five years to get permission to put in gas pumps, but were always denied. They kept fighting, and in the mid-1980s, the third judge, Circuit Judge Paul Isaacs said, “You guys have given Bradley enough headaches; leave him alone and let him put his gas station in.”

The Bradleys are deep conservatives. Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream made fun of President George W. Bush, by pulling a statue they had made of him saying, “Liar, liar pants on fire.” Chuck took all of his Ben and Jerry’s ice cream out of his store and set it on fire. Ice cream won’t burn, so Chuck Jr. got the Herald-Leader papers to burn it! They thought they had used the proper material, a liberal newspaper. A friend of theirs called a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, who flew over and videoed them burning it. It was shown on CNN.

Moving on

In 2001 Chuck and Shirley sold their business to their son, Scott. At age 10 he had started working behind the cash register. That was hard for him because he was a very quiet kid. He never outgrew being quiet, but he learned the grocery business. Chuck and Shirley actually got to retire for two years, except for doing the country hams at Christmas, but came back and continued as bookkeepers.

Scott and the Bradleys have stepped down from the grocery business. After four decades, it was time to move on. The business was sold Feb. 4, and they wanted to take this time to take you back through the years with them.

Their family started with seven, has grown to 31, and is expected to grow more. They have family in the professional world, military life, ministry, medical field and construction. “We are continuing to grow,” Shirley and Chuck say as they end this journey. “We certainly appreciate all the time with friends, neighbors and customers. We want to extend our thanks to all the people of Woodford and Scott county. We appreciate the 41 years Midway has been friends to us!”

They added, “Scott wants to try something new after 41 years in the grocery business. It remains to be seen what road he takes now. He wants to thank all of his customers in Midway for being so kind to him all these years. We want to give our best wishes to the new owners. May they create the relationships, memories, and continue the community ‘hub’ of Midway, Kentucky.Scott, Chuck and Shirley say, “Thanks to all who entered our doors through the years.”

Renee Head of Lawrenceburg is a friend of the Bradleys, who submitted this story to the Messenger. We thank them for it, and invite other examples of journalism by citizens.

State and local officials to hold ceremonial ribbon-cutting at new Weisenberger Mill bridge at 12:30 p.m. Friday

Story on event: https://midwayky.blogspot.com/2020/01/state-and-local-officials-celebrate-new.html

The new bridge and its approaches, and the mill and its dam, shone in the late-afternoon sun on Jan. 6. (Photo by Al Cross)

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray and officials from Woodford and Scott counties will celebrate last month's completion of the new Weisenberger Mill bridge with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31.

Those joining Gray will include Judge-Executives James Kay of Woodford County and Joe Pat Covington of Scott County, and state Reps. Joe Graviss of Versailles and Phillip Pratt of Georgetown. Parking will be available at Weisenberger Mills, and cover will be available in case of rain.

Under a longstanding agreement with Scott County, Woodford County has responsibility for the bridge over South Elkhorn Creek at the historic Weisenberger Mill, but the state agreed to be responsible for its replacement several years ago. The state closed the old bridge for safety reasons July 1, 2016, removed it Aug. 30, 2019, and opened the new one Dec. 23.

Council asks state to replace bridge ASAP, but state says much remains to be done and work is set for 2020

By Sarah Ladd

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway City Council voted Monday to ask the state to reopen the Weisenberger Mill Bridge as soon as possible and keep the public updated “clearly, consistently and regularly” about the project.

The council’s resolution cited delayed emergency-response time and resulting anxiety in the Zion Hill community, “increased costs to the city of Midway” for street paving, and additional traffic, as reasons to “act with urgency” in replacing the bridge.

The resolution requests the Commonwealth of Kentucky “do what is necessary to make the required repairs or replacements to reopen the bridge as soon as possible.”

The bridge, shortly after it was closed July 1, 2016

State engineers closed the bridge July 1, 2016, after they concluded that it was unsafe for traffic. Since then, parts of the community have become more isolated, and tensions have increased.

The state kept working on a plan to replace the one-lane bridge with a two-lane span, but neighbors of the bridge wanted it to be only one lane because it represents a historical presence, having been constructed in the 1930s, and because they feared a two-lane span would increase speeds on Weisenberger Mill Road.

The state agreed in October to make the replacement bridge only one lane, but construction has been delayed by environmental and historical studies requested by the State Historic Preservation Office and the Kentucky Hearitage Council. In March, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said all indications were that the new bridge wouldn’t be built until 2020.

The latest state road plan has money to build the bridge in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2019. Engineers have said the work would take a full construction season, and before construction, small amounts of right of way must be purchased. The state can't do that until the historical and environmental tasks are done, Transportation Cabinet spokeswoman Natasha Lacy told the Midway Messenger in an email.

"The Historical Eligibility and Effects report remains in the draft phase," Lacy wrote. "We anticipate having a second Section 106 Consulting Parties Meeting sometime in early June. In the meantime, there may be some additional environmental field work such as archaeology in the mill’s historic district."

Lacy wrote, "At this time there is not a selected alternative," suggesting that plans could change again. "After completion of all field work investigations and reports; the Cabinet must seek approval by the SHPO," circulate a memorandum of agreement for approval and seek approval of the National Environmental Policy Act documentation from the Federal 
Highway Administration.

"We anticipate the above activities to be complete by the end of this year, although this is dependent on how well the process progresses." Lacy wrote. "Due to the complexities and controversies of this project, it is still premature to determine a completion date for the bridge."

Google map points to Zion Hill community. Black dot in pointer is on bridge site.

The bridge, over South Elkhorn Creek, connects county roads in Scott and Woodford counties. Under an old agreement, Woodford County has responsibility for it, but the state agreed to replace it in return for the county repairing a state bridge a few years ago. The project was further complicated when federal funds were allocated to cover the costs that exceeded estimates, including of building a one-lane bridge in the historical "pony truss" style of the existing bridge.

Vandegrift said the resolution is to be a joint one with the Scott County Fiscal Court. He said he and residents of the county’s Zion Hill community, who have been forced to use non-direct routes by the bridge closing, met with the court last week and he agreed to draft the resolution. He said Scott County might make changes, but they would be minor.

Party time: In other business, the council authorized the outdoor use of open containers for alcoholic beverages for Midsummer Nights in Midway on June 29, July 27 and August 24; the Midway Block Party on May 26; and the Midway Fall Festival Sept. 15-16.

Midsummer Nights will continue as in previous years, as a catalyst for wholesome, family fun that showcases local talent and businesses, Debra Shockley of Midway Renaissance told the council. The popular photo booth from last year will be featured again, and non-profit vendors will sell from 6 to 8 p.m. and a band will play from 7 to 10 p.m. 

The open-container rule will apply to Main Street and North Gratz Street, ending at the Brown Barrel, Vandegrift said.

Water bill policy: The council also began moving toward a new policy on adjustment of water bills, after former council member Sharon Turner's bill showed an unexplained 9,000-gallon jump from her average usage of 2,000 gallons.

Turner said she hadn't experienced a leak and could not explain her bill. "I know I didn't use it," she said of the excess water. Vandegrift said it was unlikely that 9,000 gallons could be stolen. Turner said she was aware of at least one other citizen experiencing similar glitches, and was concerned for families on fixed incomes. 

"It's the strangest thing I've ever seen when it comes to water meters," said Vandegrift, who defeated Turner in the 2016 election for mayor. He said he wondered if it is time to consider changing the city’s policy, which allows adjustments only in the case of a leak.

Turner agreed. "One of the things I would ask is that there be some consideration for issues like this. ... It's a mystery to all of us," she said.

The council briefly discussed possible solutions, such as a once-a-year, no-excuses adjustment, perhaps for usage above a certain multiple of a customer's average. The council agreed to revisit the ordinance and to waive the late fee Turner had been charged.

Budget: The council will hold a special meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday another workshop on the budget for fiscal year that begins July 1. Vandegrift said no action will be taken. All council meetings are open to the public.

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Pipeline proposal causing concerns, several meetings: Mon. in Frankfort, Tue. in Millville, later in Versailles

UPDATE: About 60 people attended the Frankfort meeting, which "grew heated," reports Ryan Quinn of The State Journal. Franklin County Attorney Rick Sparks said the company does not have the power to condemn property in Kentucky through eminent domain. (Read more)

Several meetings have been scheduled to discuss the proposed pipeline that would carry natural-gas liquids through Central Kentucky, including the greater Midway area.

The Franklin County Fiscal Court will hold a public meeting on the issue Monday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m. A representative of the Tulsa-based Williams Companies, one of two partners in the project, is scheduled to make a brief presentation. He did likewise at Friday's meeting of the Scott County Fiscal Court, where residents expressed "strong emotions," reported the Georgetown News-Graphic.

People from several counties met in Versailles and Bardstown this week to discuss the pipeline, and at least three other meetings about it are scheduled soon in Woodford County. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, a citizens' meeting will be held at Millville Christian Church.  Woodford Fiscal Court is scheduled to discuss the pipeline in its work session at 6 p.m. July 23 at the courthouse in Versailles. A citizens' meeting about the pipeline is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at the courthouse.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/07/11/2711769/underground-gas-pipeline-in-central.html#storylink=cpy

The exact route of the pipeline will be determined by negotiations with landowners and perhaps court action. The company is seeking easements 50 feet wide, plus a temporary 50 feet for construction, and says it is trying to use existing utility-easement corridors. Williams' generalized route map shows it going through much of the Midway ZIP code area in Franklin and Woodford counties before heading west, crossing the Kentucky River near Millville and going back into Franklin County:

For maps of the entire pipeline route, from Pennsylvania to Louisiana, click here.

The pipeline proposal has drawn skepticism from residents who fear leaks or explosions of the flammable liquids. "There is a lot of concern about the project," Woodford County Judge-Executive John Coyle told the Lexington Herald-Leader. "If an accident happens and there's a break in the line, what the effects would be to the water and the soil and the cattle and the people. . . . If the benefits are going to outweigh the risks."

Woodford County resident Lori Garkovich, a rural sociology professor at the University of Kentucky, told the Herald-Leader, "A pipeline rupture has a low probability of occurrence, but it has a very high probability of damage if it does occur. If you look at federal data on accidents per mile, these pipelines that carry hazardous liquids represent the smallest amount of pipeline miles, but over half of all the incidents."

The state Public Service Commission says it has no authority over the pipeline because it does not fit the state's definition of a utility, but the Kentucky Resources Council is disputing that. Council Director Tom FitzGerald argues that if the pipeline is not a utility, its owners do not have the power to condemn private property for it.

At an early meeting in Bardstown, "A representative for Williams said it was unclear whether Kentucky law would allow the company to use the right of eminent domain, but it preferred not to exercise it," Randy Patrick reported for The Kentucky Standard. "State Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon,  said it was unclear as to whether a private company could get eminent domain for a non-utility pipeline, but it is not the legislature’s intent that it could. Higdon and state Rep.  David Floyd, R-Bardstown, urged residents to call Gov. Steve Beshear’s office and ask that he add to his call for a special session on Aug. 19 discussion of a bill to allow an existing state Board on Electric Generation and Transmission Siting to have the authority to regulate natural gas liquids pipelines."

Fitzgerald has called for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study for an environmental impact statement. At the Scott County meeting, Magistrate Tom Prather said he would be appalled if the Corps does not do a study before construction, Nancy Royden reported for the News-Graphic. Fitzgerald says a study would take a year; Williams says it wants to have the pipeline operating by 2015.

FitzGerald has posted online a detailed discussion of the pipeline, much of it oriented to landowners' concerns. To read it, click here.

The state
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/07/11/2711769/underground-gas-pipeline-in-central.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/07/11/2711769/underground-gas-pipeline-in-central.html#storylink=cpy

Georgetown incident may have stemmed from prior conflicts; fan labeled red says he bleeds blue too

The nationally noted incident between two basketball fans, one of the University of Kentucky and the other represented as a fan of the University of Louisville, "may actually have stemmed from ongoing hostility" between the two, Dan Adkins reports in today's edition of the News-Graphic in Georgetown (which had a Midway edition almost 30 years ago). And the supposed U of L fan says he's a UK fan.

Charles Taylor, 71, punched Ed Wilson, 68, right, after Wilson gave him the finger and told him to stop "running his mouth" and saying Louisville would beat Kentucky in" the national semifinals of the NCAA men's basketball tournament Saturday.

“Listed witnesses stated that Mr. Wilson antagonized Mr. Taylor, and that they attempt to keep them apart during their visits,” says a Georgetown Police Department report quoted by the newspaper. “We were advised that the apparent victim of the assault had antagonized the apparent perpetrator, and that this sort of behavior has been on-going.” (Images from WKYT-TV, Lexington)

Taylor, left, told the paper that he is a Kentucky fan, too, but arrived at the clinic with "a Louisville fan, with whom he was discussing the upcoming game," Adkins reports. He said Wilson gave him the finger three times and he told him, ‘If you do it again, I’ll break that finger off.”

"There is some dispute about the blow that was thrown," Adkins reports. "A police report says Wilson 'reports that Mr. Taylor came over to his chair and stood over him ... (and) struck him on the left side of his face.' The report also said Taylor 'stated that he struck Mr. Wilson in the head.' . . . Taylor told the News-Graphic that he 'hit (Wilson) in the chest.' In any event, Wilson did not appear to have been injured, the report said. No charges have been filed." Wilson declined to discuss the incident in detail.

"Taylor said he’s come out on the worst end of the incident – and not because he has been inaccurately labeled a U of L fan," Adkins writes. "Officials at the dialysis center told him he has been suspended from receiving the life-saving treatments there, Taylor said. He must now travel to Lexington for treatments. 'They’re saying it’s going to cost me $18 for a ride to Lexington,' Taylor said."

All but the first two paragraphs of the News-Graphic story are behind a pay wall, so it will cost you $6 to read it.

Sunday alcohol sales get first-reading approval

By Meghan Quigley
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Woodford County Fiscal Court voted 6-2 in favor Tuesday night on first reading of the ordinance to allow Sunday alcohol sales in Midway and the rest of Woodford County outside Versailles.

Voting for the ordinance were Magistrates Larry Craig of Midway, Ellen Gormley, Geoff Reid, Gerald Dotson, Jim Staples and Steve Barnett, who was absent at the last meeting. Charles “Bones” Webber and Jackie Brown voted no, as they did at the last meeting on Craig’s motion to draft the ordinance.

The ordinance would allow alcohol sales from 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays and would include sales of packaged alcohol in stores as well as restaurants. Midway restaurants are the leading proponents of the change.

The City Council in Versailles, where three restaurants asked for the change, turned down Sunday sales on a tie vote a few weeks ago. Versailles makes some of its own alcohol rules but Midway’s are governed by Fiscal Court. Midway’s population of 1,620 makes it a fifth-class city, which prohibits its city council from making its own decision on the issue.

“Fiscal Court wanted Versailles to take the first step, but they rejected it,” said Bill Van Den Dool, owner of The Black Tulip, one of five Midway restaurants that have asked for Sunday sales, primarily saying that it would boost tourist business.

“I feel good about it,” Van Den Dool said in an interview. “I believe it’s going to happen and that is going to put the pressure on Versailles.”

Midway restaurants say they need Sunday sales to compete with restaurants in Lexington and Frankfort, especially with the World Equestrian Games coming in 2010. The council in Georgetown, the same distance from Midway as the other two cities, passed a Sunday-sales ordinance Monday night.

According to the Georgetown News-Graphic, the Georgetown ordinance will allow Sunday sales only by the drink. Several council members said approving Sunday sales was not an easy decision, but necessary considering the economic downturn and a $1 million city budget shortfall. It has been estimated that Sunday sales will generate $15,000 in added yearly revenue for the city.

The Woodford County ordinance is also not without opponents, though none spoke at Tuesday night’s meeting. Craig said in an earlier interview that regardless of his personal opinion, his job is to represent the people in Midway and this is what they asked him to do. “If we’re going to do it, let’s start now,” he said. “If we’re going to attract people to these restaurants, we’ve got to be competitive with our surrounding cities.”

Brown, who lives on McCowan's Ferry Road between Versailles and Mortonsville, said in an earlier interview, “I have a strong belief that we don’t need it. We don’t need to be selling on Sundays. It’s sabbath day, we already do it six days a week.”

In October, Midway restaurants Bistro La Belle, The Black Tulip, Holly Hill Inn, Darlin’ Jeans and Quirk gave Fiscal Court a petition to allow Sunday sales. The Heirloom restaurant has since joined the bandwagon.

Craig told The Woodford Sun that the ordinance should also allow retail sales, to avoid what he called discrimination between retailers and restaurants. He told the newspaper that if restaurant sales were approved, retailers would ask for the privilege. "Do it all at once, be done with it," he said. "Or turn it down, all at once, and be done with it." The license fee would be $300 for restaurants and $125 for package stores.

Mark Wombles, owner of Heirloom, said in an interview that alcohol sales on Sunday coincide with alcohol sales in general. “They should legalize it or take it away completely,” he said.

To those who oppose the ordinance for religious reasons, Van Den Dool said, “I respect everyone’s opinion, but they can’t push those beliefs on other people. . . . It gives us the opportunity to generate more revenue on Sundays.”

UPDATE, March 25: A second reading was expected to come March 24. Instead, magistrates heard first reading of a revised ordinance, removing fees for retailers, on advice of state officials. A second reading is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.

Old Friends is a home for retired Thoroughbreds

Story and photos by Ashley Camblin
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Horse racing is a multi-million dollar industry that continues to grow and attract fans both nationally and internationally. Once thoroughbreds have finished their racing careers what happens to them? Where do these beautiful, retired horses end up?

Southwest of Georgetown on Paynes Depot Road, six miles from Midway, is a farm for retired race horses called Old Friends. It was started by Michael Blowen in 2003 as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned thoroughbreds. After news broke in 2002 of the presumed slaughter of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand, Blowen wanted to save at-risk horses.

“We knew such a death must never happen again,” Blowen says on the Web site for Old Friends. “And so the plan became to bring 'at risk' racehorses, those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end, to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve.”

Old Friends has 30 horses at the Dream Chase Farm. Old Friends is the only retirement and rescue facility that houses stallions, and there are 15 on the farm. Some stallions include Ferdinand son Bullintheheather, and Williamstown (left, with tour guide Charlie Brown), a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

The farm is also home to four mares and five geldings. The mare with a star-studded pedigree is Bonnie’s Poker, the dam of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm. The most popular gelding is Popcorn Deelites (photo at top), who was one of the many horses used as Seabiscuit, in the movie "Seabiscuit." The scenes with Popcorn Deelites are all the starting gate scenes and the race with War Admiral.

Amanda Bennett came from Lexington to go on a tour of Old Friends. “I love horses and had a horse when I was growing up,” she said. “I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful horses and learning about each of them and their racing careers. My favorite horse was Popcorn Deelites, or Seabiscuit.”

The connection with the movie was a draw for Jonathan Clark, a visitor from Indiana. “Seabiscuit is a great movie and one of my favorites,” he said. “My fiancé told me that Old Friends was home to one of the stars of Seabiscuit, so I had to come see it for myself.”

The mission of Old Friends is to provide a safe harbor and dignified retirement for Thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have ended. Visitors are encouraged to come see the retirees. Tours are free and open to the public, but donations are always gladly accepted.
Old Friends, at 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., offers daily tours at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. year round. Tours take about an hour to an hour and a half. The mantra of Old Friends “Guests come out to see a few old racehorses, but they leave touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero.”