Race named for Sunlit Song

Sunlit Song, the 2023 Texas-bred of the year, has been retired and will have a race named in his honor at Sam Houston Race Park, the Houston track announced.

Sunlit Song won 19 of 50 starts for career earnings of $806,579. The 10-year-old gelding by My Golden Song was bred by Carolyn Barnett, and raced for Barnett and Becky Harding. Sunlit Song won eight stakes, including two runnings of the Richard King Turf at Sam Houston.

Sunlit Song was retired last month, according to a press release from Sam Houston.

“He is still sound and was training well, but didn’t have the look in his eye that I have seen so many times before,” trainer Mindy Willis said in the release. “Carolyn and Becky supported the decision. It was hard for us, but right for the horse.”

Sunlit Song was retired to an Oklahoma farm owned by Willis.

Sam Houston will rename the $75,000 Houston Turf Stakes the Sunlit Song Turf, according to the press release. Sunlit Song is a past winner of the prep for the Richard King.

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