War Emblem

Charles "Nucks" Nuckols III, owner of Nuckols Farm, passed away Sept. 21. He was 78. He is survived by his wife; Mary Jane; his son, Charlie Nuckols IV and partner Amanda Reardon; his son, Thomas Hunter Nuckols and spouse Stacey, grandchildren, Claire Alexandra and Thomas Elliott; his daughter Mary Dunlap and spouse Zachary Armgard, grandchildren, Bruce Ryker and Ashford Henry. He was preceded in death by Hetty Nuckols Gross, and survived by Judy Nuckols Offutt, and Jimmy Nuckols. "Nucks" alongside his father bred and produced several champions including Mr. Leader,...

2002 GI Belmont S. winner Sarava (Wild Again) has died at Old Friends. According to the preliminary report from Dr. Colton Thacker at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, he was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture at the age of 24. The dark bay was the first Classic winner to be retired to the farm Sept. 29, 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain. He upset the field of the 2002 GI Belmont S. at odds of 70-1, defeating Medaglia...

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, KY., will inter the ashes of multiple graded stakes winner Medina Spirit on Tuesday, April 5. Medina Spirit will be laid to rest in Old Friends's Nikki Bacharach Memorial Garden alongside such champions as Kentucky Derby Winners Charismatic (1999) and War Emblem (2002), as well as Eclipse Winner Hidden Lake and Breeders' Cup Classic Winner Alphabet Soup. Old Friends will host an open house Tuesday, April 5, 2022 from 12:30pm to 2:30pm to offer fans an opportunity to visit the grave site...

He was 12 when he finally convinced his father that he was ready to work with the horses. Previously he had been baling, mowing, weed-hooking, stripping bluegrass. His father agreed, albeit at a cost to his pay from $7 a day to $5. But the company of horses has always been beyond price to Alfred H. Nuckols Jr. Nor, to be fair, was that literal grounding--in the soil and pasture of the historic Hurstland Farm--lost on the youngster. To this day, in his stewardship of the portion that devolved to...

Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, released the findings of the necropsy report regarding the recent passing of dual Classic winner War Emblem. The 21-year-old was found deceased at Old Friends Mar. 11 after what was initially perceived to be a fatal paddock accident. A full medical report was pending at that time. The following statement was issued by Old Friends resident veterinarian, Dr. Bryan Waldridge of Park Equine Hospital in Versailles, KY: "After War Emblem's sudden death, a complete necropsy was performed at the University of Kentucky...

War Emblem (Our Emblem-Sweetest Lady, by Lord at War), winner of the 2002 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. died early Wednesday morning at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Kentucky. Pensioned at Old Friends since 2015, he was 21. While the cause of death is thought to be the result of a paddock accident, exact details are unknown. However, results from a necropsy report are expected to be forthcoming. In 2015 Old Friends re-repatriated War Emblem from the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Farm in Japan. He was...