Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Second Annual “Old Friends” Event Is February 20.

One of the main things I love about Kentucky is how it is so unlike anyplace else. Case in point: its two 'signature' industries are whiskey-making and horse breeding.

That's my kind of state!

The two converge at a now-annual event at Louisville’s historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel, called “Old Friends Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail,” a bourbon tasting and progressive dining experience to benefit the thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, that is home to more than 80 retired racehorses.

The event on Saturday, February 20, begins at 6 pm with distillery representatives hosting a bourbon tasting (with appetizers) in the hotel’s famous Rathskeller, followed at 8 pm by a bourbon-inspired dinner in the beautiful Oakroom, Kentucky's only Five Diamond restaurant. Presiding over dinner will be the Seelbach’s Executive Chef Jim Gerhardt and Chef de Cuisine Bobby Benjamin.

Following dinner, guests will return to the Rathskeller for sumptuous desserts and coffee.

A highlight of the evening will be a silent and live auction to benefit Old Friends that will feature equine art, racing memorabilia, jewelry, accessories, and much more.

Tickets are $100 (tax and gratuity included) and the hotel is offering a “take the elevator home” reduced room rate of $79 for the night.

If you have never been, the Seelbach is a wonderful hotel in the Grand Hotel tradition of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Rathskeller is a one-of-a-kind space, every inch of it covered with terra cotta made by Cincinnati's Rookwood Pottery. The Oakroom is a genuine fine dining restaurant and $79 for a room at the Seelbach is an absolute steal.

Although this is billed as a fundraiser, it is also a terrific deal.

The Seelbach Hilton Hotel is located at 500 South Fourth Street in downtown Louisville. For reservations please Call Jennifer Biesel at 502-585-9292 or email jennifer.biesel@ihrco.com

Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that operates Dream Chase Farms, home to more than 80 retired racehorses. It is located in Georgetown, Kentucky, and is open daily for tours by appointment. For more information call 502-863-1775, or see their website at http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/.

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