BARBARO PULLED UP

[soccerpmp]

Hey yall... I have played soccer for 22 years and Barbaro's injury is the same one I've seen in alot of people... If you watch the front view closely you can see him take a really bad step in probably one of the hoof prints from one of the front runners. To many times you see people take a bad step that usually causes a sprained ankle but when your putting all your weight and power on that foot it will snap. I feel it wasnt a freak thing it was just a really bad step. I was so hoping a for a TC winner this year to get more people my age interested in the game... Hopefully they can save him... I would love to breed to him in a couple of years.

[StrawberryFelidos]

question for those with this experience...how safe is to van to new bolton with a broken hind limb? (over an hour van ride)

They probably don't have a choice. No matter how bad the van ride is, they need a really good facility to work on him if they want a chance at saving his life.

[Derby2004]

Gary Stevens said he had no thought that the gate incident had nothing to do with it. Maybe he hurt his front ankle or leg in the accident and put all of the pressure on the bag legs. So sad. Sweetnorthernsaint has been my favorite, but after Barbaro pulled up, I didnt care who won after that. Barbaro was meant to be one of those once in a lifetime horses that everyone remembers. I had Triple Crown feeling all over when I thought about him. It was meant to be, but the Racing Gods saw it other wise. Tragic ending to a great Triple Crown trail. Hopefully they will be able to save him for stud. The doc on call didnt seem so optimistic once the x rays came back. he said just pray that it is not life threatening. Even if he could come back, I dont think they will. He is way too valuable for stud than to jeopardize his chances by running lack luster races. My opinion on that. He will be in my prayers tonight.

[Heidilady]

They warmed him up more than usual and more than the other horses. Do you think they figured he was stiff and just needed a little more pre-race? Before this happened I just assumed it was to get the jump in placement on Brother Derek.

I don't think it was 'warming him up' so much as it was 'keep him moving so he doesn't freak out'.

During the saddling maybe but not during the typical pre-race warmup. He's got a prior saddling M.O. with the Florida and Kentucky Derbies, but the extra warmup is just what Gary Stevens said. The commentators all mentioned it as well. If they hadn't said something, I wouldn't have known it. I'm guessing the warm up was not-letting-Brother Derek-get-away related rather than due to any physical concerns.

I've just had a bad feeling all week. The whole talking 'superhorse' thing always gets me upset cuz it feels like a jinx even when I wanna believe it myself. Just from past Smarty Jones/Point Given/etc disappointments. The trying to put 2 horses in the 4 hole, the gate misfire... Arghh. Please get better fella. We're crossing our fingers.

[BJ]

He pulverized that ankle. They're going to lose him.

I was having Charismatic flashbacks after the Derby, I just wasn't feeling good about this horse ... I knew they should have skipped the race.

I think I'm going to be sick.

You and I were on the same page with this one...UNFORTUNATELY

I didn't even want to watch the race and only turned it on at about 2 minutes before they went into the gate.

It is doubly sad, because you know Matz *wanted* to do right by the horse.

[Mahubah]

I'm trying to remember the stallion that had something like this happen. Exbourne?

I remember something about the full leg cast and how they had to pin the cast to his leg to take pressure off the foot/ankle so it would heal

Could be Hoist the Flag you were thinking of. He fractured his right hind during exercise while in training for the Gotham Stakes and was saved by a masterful piece of surgery, devoted care round-the-clock, and his own fighting spirit. May God grant Barbaro the same.

[ak1]

They probably don't have a choice. No matter how bad the van ride is, they need a really good facility to work on him if they want a chance at saving his life.[/quote]

Thanks! Was just remembering on one of my trips home an article about a newly built equine hospital in Monkton that was spoken of as being top of the line(est. docs got hold of a property to build an expanded hospital). Makes me wonder if they have the equipment, why wouldn't you trailer to the closest hospital and 'copter in the docs.

[Heidilady]

Could be Hoist the Flag you were thinking of. He fractured his right hind during exercise while in training for the Gotham Stakes and was saved by a masterful piece of surgery, devoted care round-the-clock, and his own fighting spirit. May God grant Barbaro the same.

We all know how important Hoist the Flag became post-racing career so maybe while a sad analogy to have to make and hopefully the fight won't be anywhere near that intense for Barbaro (knock on wood), it'll be a good one in the end because he'll have an impact in another way.

[Nancy T]

Mahubah, what about Spanish Riddle, did he not have a similar injury?

[Keith]

Barbaro is a really nice horse who ran great off of layoffs. So many horses break down trying to get to the Triple Crown. I strongly believe there should be a month in between races in the Triple Crown. It is unfortunate that he hit the track the wrong way. Afleet Alex was fortunate last year that his bad step did not cost him. Prayers out to Barbaro because one hates to see any horse hurt himself whether a cheap claimer or a horse the caliber of Barbaro. Unfortunate for cheap horses and even graded stakes winning geldings like Native Heir their future is not bright for them as they wind up in places they should not be. We can talk about hindsight that they should not have run Barbaro but any horse can be unlucky and hit the track the wrong way causing them to break down. There could have been something not right about him before the race but who knows. It is a sad day in racing for Barbaro but look on the bright side seeing a good horse like Benardini win the Preakness so hopefully we have a star take over where Barbaro left off. Hopefully first we pray that Barbaro's injury is not life treatening and that he still has a future ahead of him residing on a farm eating nice green grass because he deserves it.

Keith

[Sam]

I'm trying to remember the stallion that had something like this happen. Exbourne?

I remember something about the full leg cast and how they had to pin the cast to his leg to take pressure off the foot/ankle so it would heal

Could be Hoist the Flag you were thinking of. He fractured his right hind during exercise while in training for the Gotham Stakes and was saved by a masterful piece of surgery, devoted care round-the-clock, and his own fighting spirit. May God grant Barbaro the same.

I might be combining two stories, but I'm positive this was a stallion in the last 10-15 years. And I'm pretty sure the injury happened when the horse was already at stud.

[BJ]

So many horses break down trying to get to the Triple Crown. I strongly believe there should be a month in between races in the Triple Crown.

I absolutely agree. It should be more about ability to handle all comers than about the ability to do it without reasonable time to "recover" from the strain on the body and bones.

Otherwise, they should change the name to the "Iron Horse Stakes" (like the Iron Man Triathalon); especially when one considers the shape/soundness of the "breed" in this day and age

[Nighthenge]

I might be combining two stories, but I'm positive this was a stallion in the last 10-15 years. And I'm pretty sure the injury happened when the horse was already at stud.

Maybe you're thinking of Nureyev?

[onalimb]

Lets hope they can fix him I would like to see him go to stud... I had to go out to my barn and look around ( so much for trying not to get attached )

[BJ]

Lets hope they can fix him I would like to see him go to stud... I had to go out to my barn and look around ( so much for trying not to get attached )

With that kind of hind leg injury...wouldn't that be pretty hard on him to stand at stud? The terrible irony is, the back leg makes it more likely they can save him, but less likely he can stand at stud.