‘Heliacal Star’ Grips with Suspense

Rooster City served as the original inspiration behind the book

By Victor Bahna

The horseracing thriller, Heliacal Star (published Jul 29, 2024), is a gripping tale of suspense and high stakes with danger lurking just around the corner. The book also conveys a humanistic perspective about horses, highlighting some exploitive practices. While the novel itself is entirely fiction, my personal relationship with retired thoroughbred, Rooster City, served as the original inspiration behind the writing. 

In 2007, Rooster City was the first thoroughbred I ever purchased at the September Keeneland Sale. On the racetrack, he enjoyed a successful career in winning at least one race every year from age 2 through 6. He was also Stakes placed seven different times. Off the racetrack, Rooster City was usually the first horse anyone would notice, with his curious persona, affection for attention and unlimited appetite for carrots. To illustrate his uniqueness, it was late autumn in 2009 when Rooster City calmly escorted and protected my then eight-year-old son, who inadvertently wandered into his pasture, with a dozen other turned-out thoroughbreds. In 2011, I experienced an unexpected gut punch when Rooster City was surprisingly claimed at Hollywood Park. It was more than a year later before he returned to the starting gate. When he did, there would be no hesitation in my reclaiming him. 

Upon retiring from racing, it was easy to make a commitment to personally care for him while also fulfilling a self-aspiration to start trail riding. In doing so, I could never have predicted the importance of our forthcoming relationship. With just limited experience riding horses from my college days, I found a self-determination to re-discover some lost horse-riding skills and saddle up this potentially feisty thoroughbred. 

Rooster City is now 18 and it’s been 10 years since he retired. He is full of life and constantly showcasing his sharp intellect and big personality. As this human and his equine have bonded over time, the equine has unwittingly helped remind this human of several important life lessons and enabled me to be a better person (or so I’ve been told). These lessons include de-escalating when confronted, working together as one, relaxing under pressure, being consistent in working towards your goals (especially important in writing a book), taking time in pasture and being kind to each other. In doing so, Rooster City has secured a permanent space in my heart.

For time eternal, it seems that humans and horses have shared a unique and special relationship. The thoroughbred can be an intimidating breed to those unfamiliar, but everyone will become aware of their versatility, athleticism, and affection with a little experience. They appreciate having a job, be it racing, trail or pleasure riding, jumping, dressage or helping others in the role of a therapy horse. As an owner of racehorses, I feel an obligation to care for my racehorses after their racing days are over to ensure longevity and safety in their post-retirement home and second career. 

At the beginning of Heliacal Star, there is brief dedication to all retired thoroughbreds, including Rooster City. Today, we are fortunate to have many fantastic charities and aftercare options for retired thoroughbreds. As such, there are no reasons our horses cannot have the opportunity to live out their post-racing days with care and appreciation. In the meantime, Rooster City and I will continue to be pals and perhaps, he’ll inspire my next novel too!

About The Author

Raised just a few miles from Long Island’s Belmont Park racetrack, Victor Bahna fell in love with horse racing in high school. Upon winning a few dollars his first day at the races, he was instantly hooked on the excitement, adrenaline and beauty of the sport. A few decades later, after relocating to Seattle, Victor ventured into the realm of thoroughbred ownership and purchased his first racehorse at Emerald Downs, located near Seattle.

Today, he owns two broodmares and manages a small racing partnership under the stable name of Royal Victory Thoroughbreds. His time on the backstretch with various professionals across the racing industry over the past two decades has brought him the joy of continuous learning while fostering a deep appreciation for the beauty, power and grace of the thoroughbred. Today he is a devoted advocate for racehorse welfare and longevity. His debut novel, Heliacal Star, draws on this passion and experience.

When not writing, working as a tech executive or spending time with his retired thoroughbred, Rooster City, Victor heads to the local races at Emerald Downs and travels to Belmont and Saratoga with the friends from high school who first introduced him to the sport. He lives in Washington state with his wife and two children.