Monday, May 22, 2006
Barbaro
 It's been 28 years since a horse last won the Triple Crown (Affirmed, 1978). We've had some close calls with Funny Cide and Smarty Jones, but neither one was able to capture that coveted distinction. This year, however, three-year-old colt, Barbaro, looked as if he just might pull it off.
He had a 6-0 record, including a win at the Kentucky Derby by 6-1/2 lengths--the largest margin in 60 years. A win by him at Preakness this past weekend would set the stage for the 7th Triple Crown attempt in ten years.
I watched the Preakness this weekend with friends in the lounge of a hotel in Daytona (where I was attending a convention). Barbaro was spirted, feisty and raring to go before the race. He made a false start, was slowed and reloaded into the gate. Then ... they were off.
 After about 100 yards, Barbaro listed to the left, favoring his right hind leg. It took the jockey (Edgar Prado) another 100 to 200 yards to stop the horse. In reviewing the video tape, it appears Barbaro had improperly planted his right hind leg on the dirt track and broken his ankle. Then, he complicated that injury by shattering two more bones because he didn't want to stop running. When humans break something, we stop. Horses are not always so inclined.
One of the vetinary surgeons said, "It was like twisting an ankle at 40 mph."
Barbaro will never race again and his chances for survival are still only 50/50. Broken legs can lead to circulation problems and deadly diseases if horses can't distribute their weight onto all four legs. His surgery included insertions of a plate and 23 screws. It will be several weeks before we know if Barbaro is going to make it.
The race was won by Bernardini (jockey Javier Castellano). A bittersweet victory, I'm sure.
posted by Deeanne at 12:25 PM
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4 Comments:
Barb said...
Maybe you should be a newspaper reporter??? I recently met a person who attended the Derby and she was excited by all the ladies' hats!
4:18 PM
Deeanne said...
Actually, I used to be a newspaper reporter. It sometimes creeps back into my system every once in a while. Sorry about that.
I heard the Derby has an actual Hat Parade. Now, I would *love* to see that. I'm a shoe fanatic, so I have a feeling I'd thoroughly enjoy the hats.
5:27 PM
Barb said...
A novel-writing newspaper reporter, painting & scrapbook-making shoe fanatic! You're multi-talented!
9:45 PM
Tiff/Amber Miller said...
It was a sad day for certain to see Barbaro break his ankle and immediately have to be pulled up and out of the race. He trains at the track near my home and I had just spoken with one of the trainers the day before the race.
Smarty Jones was a local horse too, so the past 2 years, these races have meant a lot to me.
As "funny" as it might sound, Barbaro is definitely in my prayers for healing to allow him to live.
Thanks, Dee, for the journalistic report. *g*
9:52 PM
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