Trainer Mindy Willis announced the retirement of Sunlit Song, the 2023 Texas Thoroughbred Association horse of the year, after a remarkable 10-year career with 50 starts, 19 wins, and earnings exceeding $800,000. Bred and owned by Carolyn R. Barnett and Becky Harding, Sunlit Song overcame early challenges to become a beloved Texas racing champion, known for his turf prowess and multiple stakes victories including the Remington Green Stakes and the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame race. Willis, who has trained Sunlit Song since early in his career, decided to retire him after sensing a change in his spirit despite his sound condition, with full support from his owners.
Sunlit Song will now enjoy retirement on Willis’s farm in Oklahoma, a decision celebrated by his connections and fans alike. His legacy is honored by the renaming of the Houston Turf Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park to the Sunlit Song Turf starting in 2026. Revered by jockey Stewart Elliott and racing officials, Sunlit Song is remembered as a “people’s horse” who brought excitement and pride to Texas racing, and his retirement marks the end of an era for one of the state’s most cherished Thoroughbreds.
