barbaro

i was at churchhill downs a few years ago and watched a horse break his leg while he was charging to the finish line. they euthanized him right on the track. i was sitting just 100 feet or so from it. i'll never forget the chill that swept through the grandstand when he came up lame and the blanket of death that covered the track when they put him down.

today as i watched the preakness that same chill passed across the entire country when barbaro, the winner of the kentucky derby, broke his leg just before the first turn. two weeks ago barbaro blew away the field in the derby. he was a ferrari in a field of ford mustangs. today he didn't even get into second gear. the rest of the race was almost pointless. the best horse wasn't going to win. he's now in surgery and there is a possibility that he will have to be euthanized. although i'm sure the owner will exhaust all options before making that decision. he's worth too much in the breeding barn.

i know today's events are just part of the sport, but it doesn't make it any easier to watch. i hope barbaro makes it through surgery and goes on to live a happy life as a high paid stud.