Barbaro: We Loved Him and Now We Miss Him
Published by GHC • Nov 3rd, 2007 • Category: International Horse, Showing and Sport, by Sydby Syd, age 12
We loved him. We willed him to get better. And most of all we miss him.
Who is he? He is Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner. He should have been the 2006 Triple Crown winner if it had not been for that fateful day of the Preakness. What was it that made all of America cry? What was it that made the whole country will him to get better? Why was the whole country shaken and sad when he died? The answer is simple: Barbaro was the horse that captured America’s heart. Or maybe it was the fact that for once in a long while there was a chance that we could have a Triple Crown winner. Whatever the reason, I’m here to tell you more about this magnificent horse and write a tribute for him.
Barbaro was born on April 29, 2003 on a breeding farm called Wimbledon Farm. Out of La Ville Rouge by Dynaformer. He grew fast and was apparently a big yearling. His first race (aka maiden race) was at Delaware Park. It was one mile on the turf and he won it by eight and a half lengths. In fact Barbaro won all his races up until the Preakness. Barbaro’s racing history:
- Oct. 4, 2005: Maiden Race, 1st place by 8 ½ lengths, 1 mile at Delaware Park
- Nov. 19, 2005: Laurel Futurity, 1st place by 8 lengths, 1 1/16 miles at Laurel Park
- Jan. 1, 2006: Tropical Park Derby, 1st place by 3 ¾ lengths, 1 1/8 miles at Calder
- Feb. 4, 2006: Holy Bull Stakes, 1st place by ¾ lengths, 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park
- April 1, 2006: Florida Derby, 1st place by ½ length, 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park
- May 6, 2006: Kentucky Derby, 1st place by 6 ½ lengths, 1 ¼ miles at Churchill Downs
- May 20, 2006: Preakness Stakes, no place, broken down at Pimlico
In Barbaro’s short racing career he definitely made a name for himself. I would like to reflect on his Kentucky Derby victory. What made it even more special was that he was not the favorite. A horse name Brother Derek was the favorite. In horse races I never like to pick the favorite so for some reason I looked on my television screen and said, “I like that Barbaro horse!” Then I watched him win the Derby by six and a half lengths with a winning time of 2:01 and I listened to the announcer scream, “It’s all Barbaro!”
The vets that took care of Barbaro at The University of Pennsylvania tried everything. Most of the time he improved a lot. But then one weekend he had “complications” and on January 29, 2007 Barbaro was put down. The whole country wept, but Barbaro was in a better place.
Also Barbaro helped lots of other horses to come. Even though he didn’t survive, all that time spent saving him was not a waste. Now when another horse breaks down like Barbaro did, that horse has a better chance of surviving because vets know more about injuries like that. There is also a Barbaro Memorial Fund that you can donate to help equine medical research.
So thank you Barbaro for helping horses like you. Thank you for an exciting Kentucky Derby, and most of all thank you for the memories.
Many thanks to photojournalist and lifelong horse girl Sabrina Louise Pierce for allowing us a one-time use of her photos of Barbaro as he fought for his life at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Click here to see more of her Barbaro photos.
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Oh, Barbaro, there is always a place in my heart for such wonderful horses like you. You were an awesome racer, and you never gave up. It just isn’t fair how you fell and your leg hurt. It is just so sad. I will miss you Barbaro, I really will. I already do.
My friend, for $25 dollars, bought a biography on Barbaro. In the middle, it had a lot of Barbaro photos and a full page Barbaro poster which now hangs on her wall.
Keep dreaming, Barbaro! If there is one thing that I have learned, it is to never let your dreams fade, never!
that was soooooooo depressing, it was really sad. Good job on the article I enjoyed it! :(
That’s very sad. I actually watched Barbaro race! He’s awesome. It’s so sad it makes me want to cry. :((
OMG! Barbaro was born on my birthday!
great job Syd
Barbaro was such a great horse! He will be happier in heaven, great blog Syd!
Brilliant blog Syd!
I have a confession to make, I never heared of Barbaro before, and now i’ve read about him, I wish I had..
my dad told me about him it was sad when i heard it. :((
I don’t really like horse racing, so I haven’t heard of Barbaro before. He is wonderful, though, and I know lots of people on other sites who are sad too.
Thank you for bringing me more understanding of this brave-hearted racer, since I only know him through reading. Great blog Syd, may Barbaro rest in peace.
Ohhh :( How sad! Many weeks after Barbaro’s death I cried myself to sleep :(( He was such an awsome horse, he never deserved to die :( Great blog Syd, couldn’t have done it better myself.
Another great blog by Sid! You know,I never got to see him race,but this blog helps me to see how awesome Barbaro really was.Thankx for letting me see what Barbaro’s life was like,Sid.
I cried sooo much when i heard that they put him down.
He was a great horse. He captured America’s heart, and in
the process, mine.I was watching his every move that fatefull day.
I cry whenever I hear a horse dies. Good blog Syd. You made me cry.
Well written Syd! It makes me sad, but writing should give the reader feeling…right?
America’s horse,
With Heart and Soul,
Runs now where He’ll never
Grow old…