Barbaro's Long Struggle Ends

Kentucky Derby Winner Euthanized After Months Of Painful Leg Injuries

(CBS/AP)  But after months of upbeat progress reports, including talk that he might be headed home soon, news came Jan. 10 of a serious setback because of the laminitis. Richardson had to remove damaged tissue from Barbaro's left hind hoof, and the colt was placed back in a protective sling.

On Jan. 13, another section of his left rear hoof was removed. After Barbaro developed a deep abscess in his right hind foot, surgery was performed Saturday to insert two steel pins in a bone.

This after Richardson warned last December that Barbaro's right hind leg was getting stronger and that the left hind foot was a "more formidable long-term challenge."

Even before the injury that ended his career, Barbaro had earned his fame for simply being a magnificent racehorse.

Foaled and raised at Sanborn Chase at Springmint Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., Barbaro always stood out in the crowd. "He was an enormous foal," recalled breeder Bill Sanborn. "He was a tall and leggy horse, and when he grew it was like in two-inch spurts."

When the Jacksons sent Barbaro to trainer Michael Matz more than a year ago, exercise rider Peter Brette climbed aboard and said "I thought he was a 3-year-old."

A son of Dynaformer, out of the dam Le Ville Rouge, Barbaro started his career on the turf, but Matz knew he would have to try his versatile colt on the dirt. He reasoned that if he had a talented 3-year-old in America, he'd have to find out early if his horse was good enough for the Triple Crown races.

Barbaro was good enough, all right. He won his first three races on turf with authority, including the Laurel Futurity by eight lengths and the Tropical Park Derby by 3 3/4 lengths.

That's when Matz drew up an unconventional plan for a dirt campaign that spaced out Barbaro's race to keep him fit for the entire Triple Crown, a grueling ordeal of three races in five weeks at varying distances over different tracks.

Barbaro won the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 4, but his dirt debut was inconclusive since it came over a sloppy track. After an eight-week break, an unusually long time between races, Barbaro came back and won the Florida Derby by a half-length over Sharp Humor despite an outside No. 10 post.

The deal was sealed — on to the Derby, but not without criticism that Barbaro couldn't win coming off a five-week layoff. After all, it had been 50 years since Needles won the Derby off a similar break. But Matz was unfazed and stuck to his plan, saying all the time he was doing what was best for the horse.

Not only did Barbaro win the Derby, he demolished what was supposed to be one of the toughest fields in years. The 6½-length winning margin was the largest since 1946, when Assault won by eight lengths and went on to sweep the Triple Crown.

The 55-year-old Matz, meanwhile, was living a charmed life. Before turning to thoroughbreds eight years ago, he was an international show jumping star and a three-time Olympian and silver medal winner who carried the U.S. flag at the closing ceremony at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He also survived a plane crash in Iowa in 1989 and became a hero by saving three children from the burning wreckage. The crash killed 112 of the 296 people on board United Flight 232.

In Barbaro, Matz truly believed he was training a Triple Crown winner. He often said Barbaro was good enough to be ranked among the greats and join Seattle Slew as the only unbeaten Triple Crown champions.

But two weeks after the Derby, Barbaro took a horrible misstep and one of the most extraordinary attempts to save a thoroughbred was under way. The injury was considered to be so disastrous that many thought the horse would be euthanized while still at Pimlico.

Instead, Barbaro was transported that night to the New Bolton Center's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals and was operated on the next day by Richardson.

The injuries were as serious as everyone feared: Barbaro sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated. Richardson said the pastern bone was shattered in "20-plus pieces."

Barbaro, who earned $2,302,200 with his six wins in seven starts, endured the complicated five-hour surgery in which Richardson inserted a titanium plate and 27 screws into the broken bones. After calmly awakening from anesthesia, he "practically jogged back to his stall" looking for something to eat.

At the time, Richardson stressed Barbaro still had many hurdles to clear, and called chances for a full recovery a "coin toss."

Afterward, though, things went relatively smoothly. Each day brought more optimism: Barbaro was eyeing the mares, nickering, gobbling up his feed and trying to walk out of his stall. There was great hope Barbaro somehow would overcome the odds and live a life of leisure on the farm.

But by mid-July, Richardson's greatest fear became reality — laminitis struck Barbaro's left hind leg and 80 percent of the hoof was removed. Richardson recalled recently what it was like when he met with the Jacksons, and Matz, and his wife, D.D., to deliver the news.

"It was terrible," Richardson said. "I wouldn't have blamed anyone at that point for saying they just couldn't face the prospects of going on."

But Barbaro responded well to treatment, and his recovery was progressing until a final, fatal turn.

[fatherteresa]

Barbaro was victimized. When he was running, he was zapped. It was done so he would not win. When he finally started to recover, it was in the news, so the criminals finished him off. You will notice when ice skaters are competing, they will suddenly fall. Slow-motion replays prove that they should not have fallen. "Something" was done, which I call "zapping" for lack of a better word. We have our own terrorists. FatherTeresa

[buttergun]

The outpouring of people that were caught up in this his struggle is a good sign that we haven't all turned to stone. It gives me hope that there are folks out there that still have hearts. Even though
this had a sad ending, I think this country and the world needed something meaningful to focus on besides war. Rest in peace Barbero, and long live your younger brother The Wind Keeper.

[buttergun]

The outpouring of people that were caught up in this his struggle is a good sign that we haven't all turned to stone. Somehow it gives me hope that there are folks out there that still have hearts. Even though this had a sad ending, I think this country and the world needed something meaningful to focus on besides war. Rest in peace Barbero and long live your beatiful brother The Wind Keeper.

[auntco]

I certainly hope the death of Barbaro was able to touch hearts like it touched mine. So often animals are thought of a just animals. This is not true. Just like the world saw Barbaro as something unique, all the animals of the world are just a unique.

May this sad, sad experience bring a joyful ending for, not just other horses, but the rest of the animal kingdom.

Barbaro, your legacy and legend will live on to help your fellow creatures, big and small.

[jn122736]

Quote from Wikipedia;
%u201CModern thoroughbreds are bred for extreme speed, and a primary goal of this breeding has been to DECREASE BONE MASS while RAISING MUSCLE MASS,
As a result, modern thoroughbreds are muscularly powerful but osteologically delicate creatures. Three out of every 2000 races result in a career-ending injury to one or more racers, typically due to broken leg bones; a ratio far in excess of almost all other human and animal sports.
A horse's weight must be distributed evenly on all four legs to prevent circulatory problems, laminitis and other infections. If a horse loses the use of one leg, it cannot function; its other legs will quickly break down as well, leading to a slow death. _____________

Did Barbaro%u2019s owners efforts to save him stem from human kindness or the desire to reap the dividends from future breeding service? I could be either or both.

If only the former, then why expose such a delicate horse to the known hazards of racing in the first place?
Logically speaking, it most likely was for future breeding. Barbaro%u2019s definitely was a faster and lighter horse, the very essence of the term, thoroughbred. He was internationally known, both from winning races and from national publicity surrounding his accident. The demand for his sperm would have been exceptionally high.

As for %u201Cvaliantly fighting for his life%u201D Barbaros did no more than any other horse would have done under the same circumstances.

[carlylaine]

Horses (animals) do not engage in wars except that a HUMAN drags the critter into it, ie horses, camels, elephants.

Barbaro was a special horse and he suffered a great deal. To those who are animal lovers NOT OF THE FREAKISH 'DON'T-EAT-EGGS' group, but who care for animals and saw his STAR rise and fall so suddenly this is a horrible loss to us. It is an even greater loss to Roy and Gretchen Jackson.

ROY & GRETCHEN: My heart goes out to you. What a wonderful horse BARBARO was. What a joy it must've been to have him and known him. He holds a special place in racing and in many hearts.

[butterfly277]

I think that alot of the viewers are rude and inconsiderate. They don't even think about Barbaro's owners who raised this horse and trained him. They were very attached to him My mom was very upset to hear of him being put down she used to watch the derby all the time.

For some of the viewers. GROWUP yes we do have troops over seas and yes every day they die. we all mourn them. we read about it in the news everyday.But Barbaro was history in the making he won a derby by over 6 furlong. He did deserve the front page for amerca to say goodbye. Nohe wasn't human. but be considerate to the people that love animals. and don't be rude in your comments.

I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

[sistermegan]

fleshmonger6 wrote:
"All this interest in the death of a horse while at the same time, human beings are dying with little notice to none, and no apparent concern from a lot of the same people so upset about this animal"

and newster 1 responded:
"I think a significiant portion are not worth they clothing they have on their backs, people lie, cheat, steal, con, play mind games, hurt other people for profit or kicks, they are subversive, polluted, petty, selfish money grubbing **** who will stab friends and family in the back..."

Well, why don't we just agree that ALL life is precious, then we can mourn the passing of all creatures - human or animal - without judging them?

[lindu813]

fleshmonger6 at 12:27 AM : Jan 30, 2007 wrote:
All this interest in the death of a horse while at the same time, human beings are dying with little notice to none, and no apparent concern from a lot of the same people so upset about this animal... What does that say about human beings???

fleshmonger6: Do the words "All God's Children" mean nothing to you. I know I'm gonna take some heat so bring it on (LOL)for bringing religion into this. But do you really believe that The Higher Power we often refer to as God loves this animal any more or less than he loves you. God forgive your insensitivity to another living being that shared this world with you, that did what he was put here to do, that suffered and now has found rest. My thoughts are with the people that have lost this horse. They went the distance and when the tough decision had to be made they made it.

[graham1953-2009]

I was really sad to read that Barbaro had to be euthanized. He was such a beautiful horse and he had very caring & loving owners. Anyone who has or does own a pet know how easy it is to become attached to them. We had to euthanize our Weimaraner 4 years ago and it was one of the hardest decisions we had to make. I had the vet. call me when he was ready to euthanize her so I could go and be with her as he gave her the shot. I held her head in my lap with her favorite "blankie" and watched and cried as she took her last breath. I lost my 14 month old granddaughter just 4 months prior to this and so I told "Dusty" that she was going to Heaven to be with Kaeli. Does that make me insane? I don't think so I think it means that a person has a very big heart and cares about others whether it be a human or an animal. I know a lot of animals who think that they are human and I know some humans who act like WILD ANIMALS! My sympathy goes out to the owners of Barbaro and all the people who supported their decisions. I also want to give my sympathy to all the unsympathetic people that have posted on the comments. May God be with you and hopefully you will never own a pet!!! As for people not having insurance there is all kinds of insurance out there you just have to get it. Of course, that means you have to work like other working people to pay for it. Sorry but these insensitive comments from insensitive people just was more than I could take and I wanted to put my 2 cents in.