Monday, January 29, 2007

Barbaro was Sports' Best Friend

By Jared Trexler
From draped in roses after a multi-million dollar victory to showered with roses at his bed side in Kennett Square, Barbaro's true "life" began and ended with love.
That's why I'll never understand the bitter connotations behind the phrase, "You treated her/him like a dog." My own miniature collie, Maggie, was buried just over one month ago after a life filled with eating, sleeping, Frisbee sessions and adoration.
If only our lives could be filled with so much joy, and so little hurt.
Barbaro made a name for himself on a brisk Saturday in early May, as big wigs and gambling experts flooded into Louisville, Kentucky for the annual champagne toast known as the, "Run for the Roses."
The Philadelphia horse started fast, but unlike other area sports stars and professional teams, he ended faster. While winning the Kentucky Derby is quite an accomplishment, dominating a race by 6 1/2 lengths to capture a sixth victory in six starts is Sea Biscuit territory.
Enter MGM.
Yet the storybook never reached Chapter 2. Two weeks later, on an in-town track near the Baltimore Harbor, surrounded by a tent party that would make Phi Beta Flip Cup salivate, the horse with so much to gain lost it all.
Barbaro fractured his right hind leg in three places barely out of the starting block, ending his career and putting his life in jeopardy.
An emergency procedure led by chief surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson began an eight-month struggle for the area's new sports star. A plate and screws were inserted in the hind leg at the New Bolton Center at Kennett Square, and so began America's love affair with an ailing animal.
There is a reason the sympathy meter scales off the charts for dogs and cats, fish and horses. They are best friends, always there to listen without finding the need to prove you wrong.
And so Barbaro sat in the hay at the luxury complex with top-flight physicians and team owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson there around the clock. Yet, the story wasn't necessarily the team of Med school prodigies or wealthy owners, but the area fans who came to Kennett Square to offer their support.
Many didn't even watch Barbaro's emphatic win in Louisville. Others would have been hard pressed to offer insight into the sport of horse racing at all.
Yet, here they were. With cards and cakes, signs and sympathy. Flowers flooding the outside of Barbaro's "hospital room." All from people who strongly felt they were part of the family.
"Animals are sacred creatures," one woman told me some eight months ago. "We feel a strong affinity to them, no matter who they are or where they are from."
The story took on a nationwide slant because of WHO Barbaro was -- a talented thoroughbred with the genes for racing. And because of WHERE he was from -- a populous sports area with fans dying to embrace a winner.
Even if it was just a horse.
After many turns for the better and worse, Barbaro finally lost the battle for his life on Monday.
"We just reached a point where it was going to be difficult for him to go on without pain," co-owner Roy Jackson said. "It was the right decision, it was the right thing to do. We said all along if there was a situation where it would become more difficult for him then it would be time."
The situation occurred over the weekend when a series of complications, including laminitis in his left rear hoof and a recent abscess in the right rear hoof, started taking their toll.
After a Monday morning consultation, the grave decision to end Barbaro's life was made. In the aftermath, Jackson's first words were to US -- Barbaro's fans.
"I would say thank you for everything, and all your thoughts and prayers over the last eight months or so," Jackson said.
Barbaro lasted longer than the odds suggested at the beginning, leaving behind a legacy as a fighter more so than as a winner.
Sounds like typical Philadelphia. And that's why he'll be forever missed.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great story.

Anonymous said...

Gag me, its about a freaking horse.

Anonymous said...

Its sad Barbaro's gone. He'll make a great bottle of glue, though.

Anonymous said...

Gee I wonder why some people like animals more than people

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering where this coverage is at Phillysportsline! Good work guys!

Anonymous said...

This sickening love fest borders on beastiality.

Anonymous said...

I object to your reference as Barbaro as a Philadelphia horse when the overrated nag never set foot on a Philly track during his brief career. Having local owners who had the sense to stable him in Florida, where he could face legitimate competition, does not equate to being a local horse. Smarty Jones was a Philly horse, Barbaro is nothing more than Philly fertilizer now. Maybe because the horse couldn't finish the job, just like every sports team around here, gives him a connection to Philadelphia

Anonymous said...

They are not saying BOOOO they are saying GLUUUEEEE

Anonymous said...

Cowher = Fraud

Anonymous said...

Horse...it taste just like chicken.

Anonymous said...

When I listened to Gretchens news conference last night, near the end she asked us all to say a prayer for Barbaro. Which of course I have and will do. But it reminded me of something Jackie Kennedy asked the whole nation to do on the night that JFK was assassinated. She asked everyone to light a candle (electric) and put it in your window tonight to guide his spirit home. For some reason this gives me great comfort, as though I am able to do one last thing for Bobby. This is just a suggestion for anyone who would like to do it for Bobby. I want to know that he is over the Rainbow Bridge.

Anonymous said...

I hate this cruel industry of horse racing. thousands of horses who are bred that don't turn out to be "horse racing material", have nowhere to go, but to slaughter houses (including some past race winners), not to mention the thousands of horses that break their leg (like barbaro) at races and even in training every year..and for what???? To make a buck or two??? That's just ridiculous. So the next time you're about to go to a horse race or bet on races or even support this "sport" in anyway (even watching the racing events on tv) think about all of this. Greed sucks, and if any of you think that horse racing is not all about that money then you are in complete denial. These horse breeders make so much money your head would burst if you really knew how much. Barbaro's sire's stud fee is $150k...and has over tons of offspring (Dynaformer's offsping's earnings top the $60M mark). Also, may I also bring to your attention that Barbaro's Dam will most likely be pregnant for half of her adult life...she's been bred countless times already. Does any of this seem fair to you??? Relentless efforts as displayed for saving Barbaro's life would not have been made for any other horse, had it not been a Kentucky Derby winner this past year and y'all know it! It's sad that most of you don't realize this and just look at Barbaro like "an athlete in their prime that was taken down too soon". Lastly, I cannot STAND all these comparisons between Barbaro and an athlete. A comparison of apples and oranges if you ask me. Athletes CHOOSE their profession knowing all too well the consequences. Well, this beautiful horse never CHOSE this short life of being trained to run his ass off and ultimately paying the biggest sacrifice..and for who? for anyone that contributes to horse racing and has earned one cent off of him. PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY!!!!!