As this horrifying spectacle was unfolding, the rest of the field continued on its way, with many of the jockeys saying later that they were unaware of the accident.

Bernardini, who broke from the 8 post, secured a stalking position outside and behind Like Now and his closest pursuers, Sweetnorthernsaint and Brother Derek as the field rounded the turn and headed up the backstretch.

Castellano moved the son of A.P. Indy inside rounding the far turn, as Like Now and Brother Derek began to weaken, and then back out to give him room to chase Sweetnorthernsaint with a quarter mile left to go.

Under a left-handed whip from the 28-year-old Venezuelan-born rider, Bernardini quickly collared that rival and opened a clear advantage in midstretch that he lengthened to 5 ¼ lengths before passing the wire. Sweetnorthernsaint held on for second, six lengths in front of the late-running Hemingway’s Key.

“It’s very exciting for everyone, for me especially, to win the Preakness. It’s also very, very sad. It’s a big disappointment,” Castellano said.

Running time for the 1 3/16-mile race was 1:54.65, more than a second off the stakes record of 1:53 2/5 shared by Tank’s Prospect (1985) and Louis Quatorze (1996).

Bernardini paid $27.80, $9.40 and $5.80. Sweetnorthernsaint, who finished seventh in the Derby, returned $7.80 and $5. Hemingway’s Key paid $8.

Bernardini’s connections were clearly pleased that they had fulfilled Sheikh Muhammed’s dream of winning an American Triple Crown race — albeit not his most coveted prize, the Kentucky Derby.

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“He’s absolutely delighted,” stable manager John Ferguson said in describing a brief conversation with the sheikh, who he said was not able to attend because of commitments in his homeland.  “I’m just very sorry he’s not here because he’s been to the Preakness before … and he’s very aware of the fantastic day that the people of Baltimore put on.”

Winning trainer Tom Albertrani said he didn’t see Barbaro break down.

“I saw Michael run by me and I knew something was wrong,” Albertrani said. “You feel very upset when you see something like that.”

Thoroughbreds have broken down in the past in big races: In the 1993 Preakness, Union City broke down and was euthanized; in the 1999 Belmont Stakes, with Charismatic trying to win the Triple Crown, he was pulled up while finishing third with a fractured ankle; Go For Wand broke down in the stretch of the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and was euthanized; and in 1975, the great Ruffian broke down in a match race with Foolish Pleasure. She was operated on, but was later euthanized.