Last fall, trainer Phil Schoenthal and his wife Sarah found themselves in an unendurable position. Their three-year-old son Emerson was living in the hospital, suffering from the effects of a rare heart condition, and in need of a new heart.

Their fears and concerns about their own son were more than any parent should bear. Their suffering was redoubled because they knew that in order for their son to live, another child had to die.

“It was terrible,” said Schoenthal, the emotion in his voice belying the inadequacy of the description. “We knew that some family was going to experience a horrible tragedy, and that was hard for us to deal with it. We asked people to pray for that family, whoever it was, in addition to us.”

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Trainer Phil Schoenthal’s son Emerson shakes hands with jockey Victor Rosales after Gifted Heart won her second race. Photo by Dottie Miller.