Silver Charm pensioned, to live at Old Friends

Silver Charm will spend his retirement days at Old Friends (Horsephotos.com)

Three Chimneys Farm and Old Friends Farm jointly announced Wednesday that
1997 champion three-year-old colt and Hall of Fame inductee Silver Charm has
been retired from breeding in Japan and will return to the United States per an
understanding that was reached at the time he was acquired by the Japan
Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association (JBBA).

Silver Charm raced for the late Robert Lewis and his wife, Beverly, earning
$6,944,365, winning 12 of 24 races over four years. The Lewis family have agreed
to pay for the horse’s flight from Japan to the United States.

“We thought the best thing for a horse of his stature was to let him live out
his retirement years at Old Friends, a place that will provide him the
opportunity to receive his many fans,” said Case Clay, president of Three
Chimneys. “I’d like to thank the JBBA for their excellent care of Silver Charm
throughout the past 10 years and the Lewis’ for everything they are doing for
Silver Charm.”

Three Chimneys Farm is offering a small donation to Old Friends for their
magnanimous gesture to make this horse available to his fans.

“Everyone at Old Friends is overjoyed,” said farm president Michael Blowen.
“He’s my favorite horse of all time. And it’s a great story combining the
generosity of the Lewises, the foresight of Three Chimneys and the continuing
support from the JBBA.”

Old Friends tweeted that Silver Charm is expected to arrive at the farm in
late November.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Silver Charm won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness
during his championship campaign, but narrowly lost his Triple Crown bid to
Touch Gold in the Belmont Stakes.