As We Celebrate Victory, We Remember … Tyler’s Sensation

Tyler’s Sensation giving a grateful glance at the Bridge Sanctuary. (photo courtesy of The Bridge Sanctuary)

By Maribeth Kalinich

On Belmont Saturday, another horse finally won his last race. But there would be no winner’s circle or trophy for this horse. His victory was peace and comfort.

While Thoroughbred horse racing fans across the country and the world held their collective breaths at the finish of the Belmont Stakes at toney Saratoga on Saturday, June 7, a Thoroughbred named Tyler’s Sensation took his last breath at The Bridge Sanctuary in Robinson, Texas. 

As stark a contrast as one can get, most people only see the top horses and never know about the underbelly of this “Sport of Kings.”

Tyler’s Sensation should have been loved given his name. One wonders who the “Tyler” referred to is? 

Tyler was born into a family affair. He was trained by Brent Delahoussaye* and bred by his brother Tommy J. Delahoussaye, Sr. 

The owner of record on Pedigree Query is Tara Ann Delahoussaye and Tommy J.’s wife, Diana, is noted as an owner of other horses in their stable (as noted on Equibase)—2-year-old filly Glossy Kate, 5-year-old gelding The Last Cat and 5-year-old gelding Gasolina.

The brothers’ father, Wilton Delahoussaye, who passed in 2009, was a retired horse trainer in his home state of Louisiana and a retired member of the H.B.P.A. The elder Delahoussaye was also decorated war veteran. During his tenure as a horse trainer, Wilton Delahoussaye was “selected as the top trainer and received awards for outstanding trainer for three years prior to his retirement,” his obituary noted.

So…

The good news is Tyler is still with us. He didn’t eat or drink much overnight but was up and down and fairly bright-eyed this morning.

The bad news is he likely won’t overcome his condition barring a miracle. He isn’t stable enough to transport to a clinic and he is in… pic.twitter.com/1XhUJV7ISK

— The Bridge Sanctuary (@TheBridgeSanct1) June 7, 2025

Tyler’s Journey

Tyler came into this world in Louisiana on April 7, 2019. Of an unremarkable pedigree, he was son of Unbridledsensation out of Dolly Bonz by Wire Me Collect. 

Tyler made his first start in Louisiana at Delta Downs as a 3-year-old on February 11, 2022, in a 5-furlong sprint on dirt finishing seventh out of eight.

He didn’t make his next start for 10 months. On December 27th he finished seventh of seven.

The gelding would make five starts in 2023 from February until October.  

In his August start Tyler ran pressured in second off the leader past the half mile but stopped in the turn. He finished last of nine 56 lengths out with an Equibase Speed Figure (ESF) of zero after a career high the month before of 31.

Then Tyler made his first start of 2024 in a one-mile test at Evangline in April. He went to the lead by a head until the half mark and then totally faded eventually being eased to the wire. 

Tyler’s Sensation ran his final race at Delta on November 16, 2024. He ran for a tag of $5,000 as usual but was never claimed. 

Then he disappeared until turning up here and there and then finally in McLean, Tex., in June 2025.

The Journey Back

So, how did this 6-year-old gelding slip through the cracks a couple of times and into oblivion only six months after his last start? 

Tyler’s journey from the track to The Sanctuary is a little blurry.

Apparently, original owner Delahoussaye sold Tyler to a woman who turned around and sold him again. The new owner put him in illegal match races. Not very speedy in his career Tyler was now cast into running as fast as possible on very dangerous bush tracks.

In April, Tyler was taken by his new owner to Emory, a tiny Texas auction that doesn’t often have horses. Two months later he ended up in the the panhandle in a McClean lot at Stanley’s annual Spring Horse Auction on May 18.

The notorious Texas panhandle is an area where many Thoroughbreds end up on their sad journey. On the TH Livestock Facebook page they state “We will buy your unwanted stock. Studs, thin, blind or crippled. Premium on fatties weighing 1000 lbs+. No one in the panhandle will pay more.”

The Bridge Sanctuary (TBS) posted on Facebook: “After being “advertised” for a day here on FB, nobody helped (Tyler’s Sensation). Nobody. We couldn’t just leave him there to die so tomorrow we’ll bring him here and do all we can.”

A group led by Marlene Murray at RACE Fund, Inc. put their own money together and bailed him. The receipt for his bail was $750. 

Marlene Murray is exceptional at keeping track of the thoroughbreds that turn up at kill pens. And raising money and finding them forever homes. She’s super at it and has saved thousands of lives.

“My husband and I drove six hours to Amarillo to pick him up on Thursday and then six hours back. It’s amazing that he made the ride home at all,” said Margaret Ransom of The Bridge Sanctuary.

Tyler was 744 pounds on the tape and the vet’s notes say he was emaciated and a 1 out of 9 on the Henneke body scale. “I think if he could give him a less than one score he would’ve,” said Ransom.

In far worse condition than anticipated, Tyler landed at TBS in Robinson, Tex., with high hopes and was given immediate medical care. With a seemingly healthy appetite, the dark bay was covered with raw sores all over his back and side and was still very weak.

Although they tried to stay optimistic and administered what medical care they could, it sadly would not be enough. 

Tyler’s Sensation spent his last day grazing in the trees at The Bridge Sanctuary knowing he was wanted and loved. He died peacefully with a rose taking him over the rainbow bridge. 

Take Me To The Bridge

90% of the horses at The Bridge Sanctuary were pulled from kill pens.

“I paid for two with my own money initially three-ish years ago, but every other one was pulled by someone else and sent here or we were sent money to bail them for other people,” said Ransom.

“Right now, I’m full. I have 25+ who are all amazing and thriving. Thank God,” she added.

Most of the horses at TBS are permanent residents, either broken from racing or retired broodmares who were dumped. There are a couple of surrenders. Most are Thoroughbreds with few of quarter horses, three donkeys, a couple of ponies and a mini hinny.

“I own my property but there is land all around me that’s available, but I’d need help financially.”

“I am looking to obtain a little more land to help a few more even if I have to rent it. If I could get someone to commit to supporting that at $700 a month, I could probably help another five or six,” Ransom added. 

“But because I don’t have that commitment, I can’t move forward.” 

*Note: Neither Tyler’s Sensation’s trainer nor breeder could be reached for comment on this story

Sidebar:

So, in the middle all of our collective grief at the loss of Tyler, we wanted to give a special thank you to this amazing human right here.

Kathy is our friend, and she also volunteers here every weekend (and many days in between) because she loves the horses. And they love her. I tease her that she’s the “treat lady” but she is so much more.

Soon after Tyler met her, it was clear he wanted her to be his human. When he didn’t want to get up, he would get up for her. When he didn’t want to move, he would move for her, when he didn’t want to eat, he would eat for her. He watched her and leaned on her and pressed his head against her for extra love and comfort.

And in the last few hours of his life, she made sure he had everything he needed from a cool shower to an umbrella over his head in the blazing hot sun, and then her soothing voice and soft hands on his face when he took his last breath. She’s absolutely devastated that he didn’t make it.

Every rescue and every horse should have a Kathy and we are beyond happy she’s our friend. 

Thank you, Kathy, for loving all of the beasts here, but most especially the one who needed it most. 

—The Bridge Sanctuary