Honoring the forgotten fillies: Derby mint juleps support retired mares at Our Mims Haven
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — As the spotlight turns to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, one Bourbon County farm is quietly stealing hearts, not with race-day roses, but with a mission of love, rescue, and redemption.
Our Mims Retirement Haven, tucked away in Paris, Kentucky, is a sanctuary for broodmares — the unsung heroes of horse racing. These mares raced, foaled, and raised the champions that go on to make headlines. But after their breeding careers end, many are overlooked. That's where this haven steps in.
'There's a big difference between caring for horses and working with horses,' said Ann Cheek, the farm's vice president and barn manager. 'Here, we get to know them. They've really got great personalities and just want to be with you.'
Named after the 1977 champion filly Our Mims, the farm was founded by Jeanne Mirabito. She discovered the once-glorious mare living in poor condition and made it her mission to give older mares the dignity they deserved. Jeanne cared for more than 60 mares before passing away in 2020, but her legacy lives on in every gentle nicker and soft nose nudge.
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'Jeanie was probably the sweetest, nicest person on the face of the earth, but she was a bulldog when it came to these horses,' Cheek said. 'This was her dream. She made sure the ladies got the recognition they deserved.'
This year, that recognition is going national — thanks to Woodford Reserve's annual $1,000 Mint Julep fundraiser, which benefits Our Mims for the first time. Just 150 handcrafted cups are sold each Derby Day, with proceeds going directly to support the care, feeding, and vet bills of the mares.
'It takes so much to take care of them. Each one gets individual care — we don't just throw the same feed to everybody,' Cheek said. 'This support helps us feel secure this year. We're small, sometimes looked over, but this means a lot.'
Some mares at the Haven were once stars themselves. 'Love Locket was Toby Keith's horse. My Trusty Cat has a stakes race named after her in Louisiana. Sweet Ambition won $250,000 on the track before ending up in a kill pen,' said Cheek. 'Now she's healthy and happy here.'
Others arrive with no trophies — just a need for safety, space, and love.
'Some of these girls have done very well, and some… we don't care if they've won a dime. Their biggest job was raising those babies and teaching them how to be part of the herd,' Cheek explained. 'They're the hardest-working horses in the industry.'
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And while Derby Day focuses on the next generation of greats, at Our Mims, it's the retired mares who take center stage — the fillies behind the fame, finally getting the credit they deserve.
'She told me once that when Mims passed, she didn't think she could do it anymore,' Cheek said of Jeanne. 'But she thought she had to — because Our Mims wanted her to help other old mares. So that's what she did.'
Want to support the ladies of Our Mims?You can learn more, donate, or even schedule a visit at ourmims.org.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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