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Remembering Barbaro A look back at the life of 2006 Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro, euthanized in 2007 after a months-long fight to recover from a broken leg. more photos |
No runner ever beat Barbaro — unless you want to count the ill-begotten Preakness Stakes in which he ran all of 200 yards.
Later, in retirement, the gallant horse emerged a symbol. He inspired thousands to join him in a struggle against the odds. He fought through a grueling surgery, overcame laminitis — a deadly disease, and remained treatable through setback after setback, as hundreds, maybe thousands, of compassionate Barbaro watchers kept their vigil.
In their efforts to keep Barbaro alive, the Jacksons became the embodiment of goodness. For all that the Jacksons did for him, they fulfilled our vision of how people should act toward each other, not just of how humans should relate to other living things.
In Dean Richardson, Barbaro’s soft-spoken surgeon, we witnessed an expert at work. He gave generously of his time, in the same way that the Jacksons gave generously of their money, and his reports from New Bolton Center gave us reassurance that whatever could be done was being done.
And, lastly, there were Barbaro’s fans to admire. For them, the daily news of the up and down struggle of the horse’s convalescence might have been a balm, but their infectious involvement in the lives of Barbaro, the Jacksons and Richardson was staunch. In times when the unanimity of humanity is unfound, the collective and unswerving support that they lent Barbaro and each other was admirable.
Many people might see Barbaro’s passing as nothing more than another sad turn in a sport already too burdened by tragic accident for its own good. Some may even turn bitter to horse racing as a result of the steady focus that Barbaro’s fight for life gave to the problem.
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With the passing of Barbaro, for many reasons, the sport of horse racing lost a great one. Tomorrow, like the meaning of the image in a photo, his myth begins.
The first of three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday and the bet's opening scenario is very similar to each of its opening pools since the wager was created in 1999.
It's first time that Classic will be broadcast in primetime on Nov. 3.
INTERACTIVE |
Slideshow |
Derby celebs Plenty of stars from the entertainment and sports world attend the 136th Kentucky Derby. more photos |
INTERACTIVE |
Triple Crown winners The horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same year. |