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Amigos w/ Common Interests
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(LOUISVILLE) -- Unbeaten in five starts, Barbaro was attempting to become only the sixth horse to cross the finish line of the Kentucky Derby undefeated.
As the field made the final turn at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, Edgar Prado seeking his first derby in seven tries made his move.
Barbaro won the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby by seven lengths.
In the winners circle, Barbaro's connections were already looking ahead.
There was no question Barbaro would go for the second jewel in triple crown, The Preakness.
On Preakness race day bettors showed they thought Barbaro could do it, betting him down to 1-2, but just moments out of the gate -- a tragic misstep.
Barbaro sustained what were called "life-threatening injuries" after breaking the bones above and below his right rear ankle.
Barbaro was flown to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania. In the days following the Preakness Barbaro's doctors were hopeful.
"He's trying to bite people and he's extremely interested in mares.
There are a number of young mares in our intensive care unit and that's an extremely good sign in a young colt," said one of his doctors.
At the time they only gave the Derby winner a 50-50 percent chance of surviving.
Support in the form of get well cards poured in; including many from Churchill Downs.
Then in July, more complications. Laminitis, a disease caused by uneven weight distribution developed in Barbaro's uninjured left hind foot.
His chief surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson pledged to continue to work to save the colt's life.
"I'm not going to sugar coat this, it's still a longshot. But as long as he stays comfortable, we will try," said Dr. Richardson at the time.
Barbaro continued to improve. Nearly six months after breaking his leg in the Preakness his cast was replaced by a splint.
Then in December of 2006, the bandage was removed completely from the broken leg and there was talk of bringing the derby winner back to the bluegrass to be treated by doctors from Rudd & Riddle in Lexington.
The thought was that if they could get him safely to central Kentucky, it would be a lot easier to monitor him.
But in just days he suffered another setback. Another section of the left hind hoof was removed and a cast was put back on the right leg.
This past weekend -- more surgery -- leaving his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson to decide to put down the Derby winner.
Barbaro will live on in the records books as only the sixth horse to win the roses undefeated with the fifth largest winning margin in Derby history.
The Barbaro Fund, started in July, has already raised over a million dollars for the New Bolton Center -- the animal hospital where Barbaro was treated for the past eight months.
from wave3 TV
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