When a great racehorse reaches the end of a life, the course of the lifespan he or she had can remind one of a quote that a racehorse is the only horse that can take thousands for a ride at the same time.

When Denali Stud announced that Serena’s Song passed away peacefully, having nearly reached the actual thirty-fourth anniversary of her foaling, which would have been in April, part of their tribute to her and the tremendous life she lived brought to mind that impact she had on a multitude of racing enthusiasts, myself included.

Knowing that she had long held the grand title, well-deserved, of Queen of Denali Stud definitely showcased the esteem she was always held in there, and what a privilege everyone there felt it was to be her retirement home for each year of her life once she left the racetrack.

When I read their tribute to her, a cascade of memories flowed through my mind. I could see that the same must have happened when the farm wrote their tribute as well.

While I had not spent as much time in her company as they had, naturally, thanks to the graciousness of Denali Stud, visiting Serena’s Song was an opportunity they were glad to offer.

I still remember that I first got to visit her in 2010, when the World Equestrian Games were held in Lexington, and in conjunction there were a lot of special events that were horse-related happening throughout central Kentucky. At that time, I thought visiting Denali and seeing Serena’s Song would only happen then, and only because of the World Equestrian Games.

That definitely meant I savored the moments seeing her. At that time, she was still in her active broodmare years but since it was fall that year’s foal had been weaned. I recall the tour guide saying the filly she had was anxious, as a weanling can be, but Serena’s Song was ready for the time to herself again.

I don’t recall when I next saw her – while I don’t remember specific dates or years, as part of that cascade of memories made possible by Denali opening their gates to her fans, the visits and time in her presence are fresh in my mind. I too always felt like it was a privilege to be near her.

One of the first times I got to stand close to her, I learned that peppermints kept her happy and helped her be less inclined to get impatient with standing still. She was always a horse with a strong will – and I admire that. No doubt it had a lot to do with why she was so successful on the racetrack, and why so many of her progeny left their mark on racing as well. I could imagine it even had a bearing on her long life, along with the care she received at Denali.

I remembered a time visiting her with a friend, one spring when the Keeneland meet was in full flow. When I stood alongside her then, I found a spot on her side near her withers where she wanted to be scratched and it was evident how much she enjoyed that. Doing something she loved for her also felt like a gift.

Now and then I would send her peppermints as the time of the anniversary of her actual foaling date approached, wanting her to have more of what she enjoyed.

And thinking of it being a privilege to be near her, once a groom who handled her during a visit when it was just me offered her lead rope so that just I was handling her for that part of the visit and for photos. I thought then of the years watching her on TV, and it was incredible to realize that the horse I only saw through a TV screen when I never knew I’d one day live in Kentucky was now one I was given the chance to handle myself. I love farm visits with retired horses because getting to know what they are like and their temperaments is best revealed when they are at a farm and one-on-one contact is possible, when they’re not focused on racing. That day handling Serena’s Song showed me so much of who she was. She was not mean, just sure of what she wanted, and she danced a bit at the end of the lead rope. Standing still was not what she wanted to do, and I could feel her energy through the line that connected us.

There are many reasons I know she will always have a place in my heart. The days I got to know her more than articles or race broadcasts could ever reveal are a lot of those. I am awe of the age she reached, and how she excelled as a racehorse and a broodmare, and a horse who touched people’s lives. She was truly a singular individual, and I am grateful for her life.