Taylor’s Special, winner of the 1984 Bluegrass Stakes and a six-furlong record holder, died on September 19 at Old Friends, a rescue and retirement center for pensioned Thoroughbreds, located in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Under trainer Bill Mott, over a career of five years, Taylor’s Special, won 21 of his 41 starts, with 13 stakes wins at nine different tracks and set a six furlong record (1:08) at Arlington Park that still stands.

Found abandoned on a farm in Granite, Washington, the 25-year-old stallion came to Old Friends in 2005 through the Washington-based Hope for Horses.

Old Friends is the only rescue and retirement facility that accepts stallions. Their pensioners include Hall of Fame star Precisionist, 1988 Eclipse-winning Turf Champion, Sunshine Forever and Ogygian, one of the last great sons of Damascus. Old Friends is home to retired mares & geldings, including Bonnie’s Poker, the dam of 1997 Derby winner Silver Charm.