Our Mims Retirement Haven

Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, KY, was founded by the late Jeanne Mirabito. Credit: Ann Cheek

Services: Sanctuary

Location: Paris, KY

Founded: 2004

Website: ourmims.org

Social:

Average Number of Thoroughbreds: 10

Nineteen years have passed since the incorporation of Our Mims Retirement Haven as a nonprofit. Until her passing, Haven creator Jeanne Mirabito oversaw the restoration of health to many mares from disparate backgrounds. No matter where they came from or how they got to the Haven, each mare that arrived found sanctuary in Paris, KY, where love and attention is doled out as freely as individualized veterinary and nutritional regimens.

With the passing of Elmhurst, the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and maternal grandson of Our Mims, the Haven is now home to 10 Thoroughbred mares and one mascot, a miniature horse named Tea Biscuit. Exciting Bucket is the oldest resident at age 33, with more than half of the mares at Our Mims being 25 or older. In 2021, the farm saw the arrival of its newest mare, 29-year-old Pleasantry.

The Haven is aided by volunteers who help feed, groom, assist farriers and veterinarians, and help with general farm maintenance.

Fans have traveled to Our Mims from all 50 states and more than 20 countries. Visitors are welcome by appointment to see the Haven’s residents and walk the cemetery, where almost all of the Haven’s past horses have been buried. Each grave is marked with a stone and plaque indicating the horse’s name and birth and death dates. In warmer months, beautiful flowers adorn the memorial garden.

On May 7, 2017, the ashes of 1986 champion older male Turkoman were interred in the cemetery, and in 2020 a memorial stone for Jeanne was placed in the cemetery and was later flanked by her two best boys, Elmhurst (31) and Two Bits (26), whom she had since he was a yearling.

Farm residents have included Australian-born Princess Royale (who died at age 30); Turkoman’s dam Taba (32); major stakes producer Iza Valentine (33); Grade 1 winner Lotka (30); Alydar’s and Our Mims’s Grade 1-winning sister Sugar and Spice (27); and nine-time stakes winner Bel’s Starlet (27).

To honor Jeanne, the Haven will continue to ensure all current and future horses that grace its paddocks are cared for in a manner respectful of her wishes and of which she would approve. Board members Pete Mirabito, Ann Cheek, Laura Fallis, and Sidna Trimmell are dedicated to keeping Jeanne’s dreams alive by taking care of her charges and the place that her love, sweat, and tears built, and will endure to be the place where human and equine souls can find peace.

Our Mims Success Stories

Braggin Rights – She only made 10 starts, winning once and picking up five other placings, earning a total of $12,591. Now, the mare lives at TAA-accredited Our Mims. Read More >>