Hollywood and Horsepower Show

Hollywood And Horsepower Show with Mark Otto

Guest: John Nicholson - President and CEO of Old Friends, a Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky as founder Michael Blowen, stepped down after 20 years of leadership. Nicholson, former Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park served as CEO of the Virginia Horse Center.

Racing Legends, Retired Champions, and the Future of Old Friends

A Career Built Around Horses and Public Experience
The episode centers on Mark Otto’s conversation with John Nicholson, now president and CEO of Old Friends. Nicholson traces his connection to horses back to childhood in Winchester, Kentucky, where visits to a thoroughbred farm and early mornings at Keeneland shaped his love for racing and the broader horse world. He explains that although he once imagined becoming a trainer or farm manager, the demands of that life led him toward tourism and public-facing horse institutions instead.

From the Kentucky Horse Park to a Global Equine Stage
Nicholson describes his years at the Kentucky Horse Park as a period that expanded his perspective beyond thoroughbred racing into many equestrian disciplines. He discusses major international museum exhibitions connected to China and Britain, the role of the International Museum of the Horse, and the successful effort to bring the World Equestrian Games to Kentucky in 2010. The conversation presents the Horse Park as both a tourism destination and a cultural center for the horse world.

Michael Blowen’s Vision for Old Friends
A major theme is the founding vision of Michael Blowen, whose optimism and persistence helped Old Friends grow from a small retirement farm into a high-profile aftercare organization. Mark and John both reflect on the early uncertainty surrounding the idea, the industry’s gradual understanding of it, and Blowen’s continued presence as a guiding figure. Nicholson compares his role to preserving the founder’s spirit while building systems that allow the organization to continue for future generations.

Aftercare as Respect, Not Rescue
The discussion strongly distinguishes Old Friends from a simple rescue operation. Both speakers emphasize that the organization celebrates racing and views retired racehorses as accomplished athletes deserving dignified care after their careers. Nicholson explains that Old Friends considers what is best for each individual horse, including whether another job or second career might be appropriate, while Mark stresses that aftercare should be seen as part of the racing industry rather than an adversarial force.

The Emotional Intelligence of Horses
The conversation becomes personal as Mark shares stories about Game On Dude and the way horses at Old Friends respond to visitors, including people with physical or emotional challenges. Nicholson affirms that the quiet, secure atmosphere at the farm reflects the horses’ comfort and the strength of the human-horse bond. The episode repeatedly returns to the idea that horses communicate through behavior, sense human emotion, and thrive when allowed to be horses.

Kentucky, Saratoga, Del Mar, and the Culture of Racing
The final stretch broadens into a celebration of racing culture, tourism, and heritage. Mark and John discuss Kentucky farms, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, Del Mar, jockey-horse relationships, and the accessibility of racing compared with other professional sports. The episode closes with encouragement to visit Old Friends, support the horses, and experience Lexington and Georgetown as part of a wider horse-country journey.