Preston Madden, who bred Alysheba, called the 1988 Horse of Year and racing Hall of Fame member “a gift from heaven” during a memorial service for the pensioned stallion at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington April 29.

The bay son of Alydar was euthanized March 27 after he fell in his stall at the Horse Park, injured his right hind femur, and was unable to get up. A chronic degenerative spinal condition, his advanced age, and severe pain that didn’t respond to analgesic therapy also were factors in the decision to end the 25-year-old horse’s life.

“Alysheba, it was an honor to have been associated with your greatness, Madden said. “We are here to say goodbye. We will see you in the next life at the big racetrack in the sky.”

Clarence Scharbauer III, whose family campaigned Alysheba, and Hall of Famers Jack Van Berg and Chris McCarron also spoke during the service. Van Berg trained Alysheba, and McCarron rode the horse during 17 of the runner’s 26 career races