Serena’s Song turned 28 April 4, her true age matching her official birth date. Yet in most other ways one would expect age to catch up to a horse, it largely hasn’t with her.

It was a treat to see about half an hour devoted to a celebration of her through a video made by Denali Stud, where the star mare was given as many peppermints as she wanted, and a few nibbles of a cake made by Sarah Fishback, which spelled out “Serena” in carrots and had numerical candles for her age nestled into the oats. The care that went into making the cake, and the people that gathered to celebrate her in the video, was emblematic of how she means the world to Denali.

Craig and Conrad Bandoroff largely narrated, in turn, walking viewers through Serena’s storied life. They mentioned her first race, restricted to maidens, and while she didn’t win it, they said she must have been in high esteem at her barn since she was in stakes company in her second start, and broke her maiden in her third try.

“She did what horses don’t do, with 38 starts, 11 Grade 1’s, and beat the boys on several occasions.”
Conrad Bandoroff described her running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies against champion Flanders, and how she was barely beaten, and that it reminded him of Alydar and Affirmed.

He went on to say that she had been a front runner in the Derby, and led for over a mile, before going on to win the Haskell against colts.

They joked that D. Wayne Lukas could be thanked for her loving peppermints, to such an extent that it is good horses can’t colic on the candy!

Conrad Bandoroff also said he had a friendship with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis that evolved into a business relationship, and when Serena’s Song retired the Lewises decided to send her to Denali. Bandoroff told them he could keep her in a small pasture “like an animal in a zoo” or let her be a horse, in a pasture with buddies, and the Lewises were adamant they let her be a horse. She arrived at Denali on December 9^th, 1996, and Bandoroff remembered looking at her legs when she arrived and you’d have thought she’d never run a race, let alone 38. She was the leading money earner for distaffers when she retired.

He also said, while Serena had to be good to have the foals she had, there were still decisions to be made about stallions she was sent to, and her broodmare career was right up there with what he is most proud of professionally.

“She is the definition of a blue hen mare, with 6 stakes winners. She helped us grow, with 6 seven figure plus offspring, and we are indebted to her in many ways. She is responsible for a lot of the infrastructure at Denali.”

She was also incredibly special to Craig Bandoroff, who came up with the tagline “Queen of Denali Stud.” The Bandoroffs, father and son, joked that there was probably not a horse in Kentucky who had more halters made, and every year they donate 5 or 6 to make money for charities. Given their admiration for her, it is also wonderful to see all her fans want to visit and how admired she is by multitudes of people. As her stewards, they enjoy sharing her with people who want to visit.

I feel blessed to have visited her several times myself. The first time stood out because until then I didn’t realize they even welcomed visitors, expecting mares to be off-limits due to broodmare duties as most (understandably) are. And hearing from the feature celebrating this birthday that she is considered the Queen of Denali, fittingly, it meshed precisely with a sense she had of her own greatness and how I truly got a sense of being in the presence of royalty. I was that much in awe at meeting her. I am grateful to Denali for being so accommodating over the years to all who admire her, and sharing this celebration of her during a time when visits have to be on hiatus.

I did laugh a little that they mentioned she is still quite stubborn and feisty, which was evident during the video, and that none of her daughters are. But if Serena was not stubborn and feisty who knows if she would have been as tough on the track as she was? I admire that certainty of self, that assuredness and sense of who they are, and Rachel showed it too when she refused to yield in the Haskell. It is inspiring.

Conrad Bandoroff said she is currently doing really well, and has special shoes for her comfort. She spends most of her time outside with her buddies, coming in to be groomed and in cases of inclement weather. She did look incredible, and it was wonderful to see her, and hear the memories of those who have known her best over the years, and how they sent my own memories cascading of her prowess on the track, how I loved watching her run, and even better getting to be acquainted with her myself.

I also love that her legacy not only lives now, in how grand she looks and how she is celebrated by all who want to visit her, but also will be for generations to come, through her daughters and their progeny, and all the promise inherent in Honor Code and his progeny carrying on the line with the distinction worthy of his illustrious granddam.

A toast to the wonderful Serena’s Song!

Today would have been the opening day of Keeneland’s spring meet, an annual highlight not only in Lexington but throughout the racing world.

It also became one of the race meets that had to give way to a new reality, and Keeneland has always been concerned about the community they operate in, giving back in every way possible, and this mission was highlighted again in them canceling the meet entirely, citing that even after considering every safeguard that could be taken, they could not guarantee the horses’ grooms would be able to stay healthy even with limited attendance and no spectators, had racing been held.

I recently learned that, while many places have had to close their doors as Keeneland has shuttered the meet that would have begun today, to my surprise the Horse Park is still allowing visitors free of charge provided they do not attempt to feed the horses and maintain a safe distance from other people on the grounds.

It sounded like a perfect way to mark what would have been a day to revel in the racing tradition if this had been a year like any other.

It still seems surreal at times to see businesses dark as I drive to and from work, to see traffic so light, and so it was to see many more stalls than usual empty at the Horse Park and the grounds nearly empty and silent.

But one thing that has come forth from all of this, is hearing bird songs, seeing the sun rise and set, the trees and flowers erupt in spring beauty and it sends the heart soaring.

This is not to make light of what is happening around the world, of the suffering or sorrow this pandemic has brought to many lives.

But there is still hope and joy to be found, and it is to be found in the places where we can remain safe and still enjoy the beauty of this world.

The Horse Park was a perfect place to visit to find all those things, and to also reflect on what horses can mean to people.

When there is uncertainty in the world, we still can step outside, where the air is clear and worry will not intrude if we focus on what is around. In fact, appreciation for this and finding a place where there is a chance not to be concerned about such things seemed to heighten my focus.

I seemed to see the statue of Secretariat near the Horse Park’s visitor center as though it were the first time. I noticed the fire in his stance, his open mouth, every line captured and showing a grand horse, the epitome of racing fit, and even the chain that was clipped to his bridle seemed as real as if it were not cast in bronze but was in fact the true object. And it was even more fitting to pause and appreciate how his essence was fully captured in that statue, for a few days ago it was the fiftieth anniversary of his foaling.

Walking on to what I had planned to be my first stop before Secretariat’s statue caught my eye freshly, was Cigar’s resting place. I even saw the link between him and Secretariat, for the latter was the horse of my mom’s lifetime, one that another could never compare to, and Cigar fills the same role for me.

As I reflected on what Cigar had meant to me (and that he would have reached his thirtieth birthday on April 18), and caught the sweet scent of the white flowers that flanked the small statue that was also him through-and-through, I was filled with joy at the thought of him. It rose in me unexpectedly and I was glad to feel it.

Once it had been hard to stand near that pasture, knowing I would never again see the bay horse with the unique blaze, but what matters, now that time has ebbed away grief, is that he lived and I was fortunate to get to be in his presence. And that is where the joy came from, and what a grand legacy to leave.

Nearby, Funny Cide and Point Given grazed, in side by side pastures. I took a few moments to watch them both. Simple pleasures again. The peace of bird song. The calm and stillness of being in the presence of horses. The appreciation for Point Given that rippled through me as I reflected on his racing career.

I paused again by Secretariat’s statue on the way out to read the inscriptions on the stones all around it. It is moving to read what these horses meant to people. They do give us hope and joy and peace that stays with us, as well as thrills from their racing days. And sometimes thrills of a different kind, like getting to know them one-on-one.

While we are adjusting to a new normal, the rhythm of the days and seasons are the same and nature is a peaceful respite. It was not the day it would have been with top horses racing for glory at the showcase that is Keeneland, but it was still good. And that is what I seek now, to mind the guidelines for staying well and find the peace in the midst of uncertainty. It is there to find for those who know where to look, and I am grateful the Horse Park is such a place.