Bourbon Event To Help Retired, At-Risk Thoroughbred Racehorses.

The historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel announced today the first-ever "Old Friends Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail" dinner and bourbon tasting, to benefit the famed Old Friends Equine, a haven for retired thoroughbred racehorses.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel, 500 South Fourth Street in downtown Louisville. Tickets are $100 per person and the hotel is offering a reduced room rate of $75 for the night.

"This will be a great match of two of our state’s signature industries – bourbon and horses," said Jon McFarland, the Seelbach’s general manager. "It’s going to be one of Louisville’s premiere events while helping such a dignified, worthy cause."

Old Friends Equine, located in Georgetown, Kentucky, is a home for at-risk thoroughbreds whose racing and breeding careers have come to an end. Among the many champions housed there are the great sprinter Ogygian and Eclipse winners Sunshine Forever and The Wicked North.

"I can’t think of a better way to spend a night in Kentucky," said Michael Blowen, President and Founder of Old Friends. "Great bourbon, unforgettable horse tales and a world-class hotel. And it all goes to help these great Kentucky athletes."

A live and silent auction will offer equine art, horse racing memorabilia, and other items for bid.

Each guest will receive a commemorative Kentucky Bourbon Trail/Old Friends rocks glass from the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail links eight of the state’s legendary distilleries and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The evening begins in The Seelbach’s famous Rathskellar, the only surviving Rookwood Pottery room in the world. Seven of Kentucky’s Master Distillers will be there to offer samples of the Commonwealth’s finest bourbon.

They are: Harlen Wheatley of Buffalo Trace; Jim Rutledge of Four Roses; Parker and Craig Beam of Heaven Hill; Fred Noe of Jim Beam; Kevin Smith of Maker’s Mark; Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey; and Chris Morris of Woodford Reserve.

Blowen, KDA President Eric Gregory, and Larry Johnson, the Seelbach’s celebrity historian, will also be on-hand to discuss the event and their respective Kentucky treasures.

Bourbon-inspired appetizers will be served, followed by a magnificent dinner in The Oakroom. The menu, prepared by Chef de Cuisine Nicole Walker, and served in the only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant in the region, will be a bourbon-inspired feast, followed by dessert and a live auction in the Rathskellar. Bluegrass and other regional music will be performed by Steve Cooley and Mike Shroeder.

For more information, call (502) 807-3463 or go to www.seelbachhilton.com.

For those guests enjoying the special reduced-rate rooms, there will be an after-hours party in The Old Seelbach Bar featuring jazz musician Dick Sisto. Sunday brunch will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $29 per person.

For more information on Old Friends Equine, call (502) 863-1775 or go to www.oldfriendsequine.org. The farm is open daily to tourists by appointment.

For more information on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, call (502) 875-9351 or visit their web site at www.kybourbontrail.com.

Here’s the dinner menu:

First Course

SWEET POTATO BISQUE
Topped with Bourbon Smoked Goat Cheese Flan
Bourbon Crème Fraiche
Pancetta Brittle

Main Course

KUROBOTA PORK SHANK
With Anson Mills Polenta

Heirloom Winter Vegetables
With Bourbon Reduction

Bourbon Roasted Apples

Dessert

OAKROOM CHOCOLATE BOURBON BREAD PUDDING
With Fee Brothers Orange Bitters