Prayers for Barbaro Unanswered
Barbaro was euthanized today after more complications from his leg injury.
It was a series of complications, including laminitis in the left rear hoof and a recent abscess in the right rear hoof, that proved to be too much for the gallant colt, whose breakdown brought an outpouring of support across the country.
“I would say thank you for everything, and all your thoughts and prayers over the last eight months or so,” Jackson [the owner] said to Barbaro’s fans.
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The story of the beloved 3-year-old bay colt’s fight for life captured the fancy of millions and drew an outpouring of support unrivaled in sports.
When Barbaro broke down, his right hind leg flared out awkwardly as jockey Edgar Prado jumped off and tried to steady the ailing horse. Race fans at Pimlico wept. Within 24 hours the entire nation seemed to be caught up in a “Barbaro watch,” waiting for any news on his condition.
Well-wishers young and old showed up at the New Bolton Center with cards, flowers, gifts, goodies and even religious medals for the champ, and thousands of e-mails poured into the hospital’s Web site just for him.
“I just can’t explain why everyone is so caught up in this horse,” Roy Jackson, who owned the colt with his wife, Gretchen, has said time and again. “Everything is so negative now in the world, people love animals and I think they just happen to latch onto him.”
Devoted fans even wrote Christmas carols for him, sent a wreath made of baby organic carrots and gave him a Christmas stocking.
Although the get-well cards and banners eventually will fade or be trashed, the biggest gift has been the $1.2 million raised since early June for the Barbaro Fund. The money is put toward needed equipment such as an operating room table, and a raft and sling for the same pool recovery Barbaro used after his surgeries.
The Jacksons spent tens of thousands of dollars hoping the best horse they ever owned would recover and be able to live a comfortable life on the farm — whether he was able to breed or not.
It’s sad that such a beautiful animal had to be killed, but the fact that so many people needed him to support their fantasy world is even sadder.
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