By Jessica Able, Record Staff Writer
Daisy Baez walks along the rows of barns on the backside of Churchill Downs before day breaks on a Wednesday two weeks before the 144th running of the world’s most famous horse race.
On the first Saturday of May — now just two days away — all eyes will be on the prized thoroughbreds who will vie for the blanket of roses at the end of the mile and a quarter race.
But on that Wednesday in mid April, hundreds of men and women have already been at work — some for more than two hours — before the sun rises: walking, grooming, exercising and riding the majestic animals.
Baez, 24, floats through the dozens of barns with a buoyant step despite the day’s cool temperature of 40 degrees. She greets workers in their native language with an exuberant “Buenos días!” and “¿Cómo estás?”
She lingers in the barns and asks how their children are doing. She inquires about one woman’s spouse and checks to see if she’s feeling better after an illness.
Baez is a part-time chaplain at Christ Chapel, an interdenominational church that sits on the backside of Churchill Downs. A native of the Domini-
can Republic, Baez has served at Christ Chapel for two years, primarily ministering to women and children at the chapel.
Baez is a graduate student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTC). She first came to Christ Chapel as a volunteer in 2016 and was hired as associate chaplain in 2017.
She is only 24 years old and yet the associate chaplain carries herself in a self-assured manner. Her unyielding faith in God, she said, propels her from day to day.
“When I first started I didn’t feel capable. I thought someone else could do it better, but the Lord made it possible,” she said during an interview at the chapel last month. “I was a little scared. This work is not simple; it’s important.”
Baez wants to be there, she said, for the hundreds of workers who care for the horses.
“God gave me the love for them and he gave me the words to give them,” she said.
Faith offerings
On Monday nights the chapel hosts a nondenominational service in both English and Spanish. Following the service, volunteers offer a meal and fellowship.
Baez leads a women’s Bible study on Wednesday nights. On any given week, there are about eight to 10 women who attend, she said.
Among them is Soreyda Contreras, who said she feels “at peace” when she’s at Christ Chapel.
“I have a good time and feel good when I’m studying the Bible,” said Contreras, who works in the same barn as her husband, Jorge.
Recently, Baez expanded her ministry to include a youth group. About 10 or 11 teens meet with volunteers while Baez leads the women’s study.
“The older kids have so many questions. They are so thirsty and are looking for answers,” she said. “I’m impressed to see how God is working in their lives.”
Ministry of presence
In addition to the formal services held at the chapel, Baez ministers to the women and children in informal ways as well.
She “walks the barns” several days a week where she offers a smile and words of encouragement. She stops by the homes of those she serves in the evening for dinner or simply to touch base. And it’s not uncommon for her to transport women to the hospital, doctor appointments or even the grocery.
“I go to their houses and interact with the kids. I see what their real life is like. I get out of my bubble,” she said, adding, “I appreciate their trust and willingness to share.”
She said she considers her ministry to those who labor on the backside a privilege and hopes she provides some sort of spiritual care to those she serves.
“One of the challenges of this ministry is that these people are in transition all of the time,” Baez noted.
“Sometimes I look back and think ‘Did I give them the Gospel? Was I faithful to my main responsibility?’ It gives a sense of urgency to the ministry,” she said.
On average, there are 600 to 700 men and women who work on the backside. During the Derby season, that number grows to about 1,000. More and more women, Baez said, can be found caring for the 1,000-pound animals.
Baez is set to complete her master’s degree in missiology from SBTC this month and said she hopes to continue the track-side ministry.
She is one of a trio of chaplains at Christ Chapel, which also includes chaplains Dan Hatfield and Joseph Del Rosario. All three are fluent in English and Spanish.
Many are one
In all, about 30 churches of all faiths regularly volunteer time and resources to Christ Chapel. Included in that number are several Catholic parishes. Among the churches are Epiphany, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Edward and St. Gregory in Samuels, Ky.
Christy Martin, a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, has volunteered regularly on Monday evenings at Christ Chapel since 2014. Her work with children of the workers “energizes” her soul for the rest of the week, she said.
Since Baez began working at the chapel, Martin said, she’s seen the ministry swell.
“It has flourished. Daisy is young and very energetic — physically and spiritually,” she said. “Daisy shines with the light of the Lord and it is quite evident by the way she shepherds families.”
Martin noted that she’s witnessed Baez provide emotional support to the women and children. She’s also added service projects to the chapel’s roster of activities, including visits to nursing homes, clean up days at the chapel, summer camp days for the children and craft and baking days with youth.
Muffy Sinclair, a parishioner of Epiphany Church and long-time Christ Chapel volunteer, said the women and children’s ministry at the chapel is instrumental. It provides a foundation on which the children can base their lives and guide their actions, she said.
“In an age of uncertainty about the future for immigrants, this ministry is a comforting and loving space for them, where they can build a relationship with Jesus Christ,” Sinclair said.
Epiphany became involved with the backside in 2004. The Epiphany Backside Ministry serves five to six meals per month for those who attend services at Christ Chapel. The group also stocks paper products for meals and food for the food pantry.
Volunteers also collect and purchase clothing, linens, toiletries and socks for the clothing closet. And, at Christmastime the parish ministry team donates presents to the children.
Christ Chapel is sponsored by the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy, which serves race tracks in Kentucky and southern Ohio.
The work these people do for the backside workers is phenomenal. God has strategically planted chaplains & their associates at almost every racetrack. All the while being His hands & feet, sharing His love. Thank God for all who serve on the backstretch!