Barbaro Is Euthanized

Forbes ^ | 1/29/07 | DAN GELSTON

[Kimmers]

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized Monday after complications from his gruesome breakdown at last year's Preakness, ending an eight-month ordeal that prompted an outpouring of support across the country.

"We just reached a point where it was going to be difficult for him to go on without pain," co-owner Roy Jackson said. "It was the right decision, it was the right thing to do. We said all along if there was a situation where it would become more difficult for him then it would be time."

A series of ailments, including laminitis in the left rear hoof and a recent abscess in the right rear hoof, proved too much for the gallant colt.

Barbaro battled in his ICU stall for eight months. The 4-year-old colt underwent several procedures and was fitted with fiberglass casts. He spent time in a sling to ease pressure on his legs, had pins inserted and was fitted at the end with an external brace. These were all extraordinary measures for a horse with such injuries.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson were with Barbaro on Monday morning, with the owners making the decision in consultation with chief surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson.

"I would say thank you for everything, and all your thoughts and prayers over the last eight months or so," Jackson said to Barbaro's fans.

[mel]

There are some people who have the mental capacity to care about more than just themselves. Too bad you aren't one of them.

[Joe 6-pack]

Born in the valley
And raised in the trees
Of western Kentucky
On wobbly knees
With mama beside you
To help you along
Youll soon be a growing up strong.

All the long, lazy mornings
In pastures of green
The sun on your withers
The wind in your mane
Could never prepare you
For what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red --

And its run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moments at hand
Its the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And its high time you joined
In the dance
Its high time you joined
In the dance --

From sire to sire
Its born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
Its breeding and its training
And its something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.

And its run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moments at hand
Its the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And its high time you joined
In the dance
Its high time you joined
In the dance --

[John W]

Nobody reined in Bill Clinton.Through our elected representatives we failed.

[Kimmers]

Didn't Dan Fogelberg sing that, always one of my favorites and for some reason it always gave me goose bumps when I listened to it.....thank you for the memory

[Diddle E. Squat]

Nobody reined in Bill Clinton.Through our elected representatives we failed.

The Clinton puppet Gore would have been elected in 2000 if not for the magnitude and breadth of scandals exposed, in part by Deborah Orin. And Hillary would be polling higher if not for the exposing, tarnishing, and defining.

[vpintheak]

Oh for the love of Pete! I am a Desert Storm Veteran, a Son, a Brother, a Husband, and Uncle, a Father of 3 wonderful children. I even have a dog and a cat. I am ever mindful of the separation between humans and animals. I will always know that this is a HORSE! Get over yourself.

[Nonstatist]

Oh, stop it- people cared about the horse, deal with it

Horse meat is considered a delicacy in Southern Asia. Tenderized and adorned with spices, it has lots of protein too!!

[Busywhiskers]

I'm wondering if the owners cut their losses by selling the meat to the French.

[mel]

Why are you even on this post, simply to make fun of people. Gee, with all the ugliness in the world, here was one story that could have had a happy ending. Well, gee whiz aren't you a rocket scientist.

[Kimmers]

eweeeeeeeee !!!!!!!

I doubt the French would give them fair market value.

[mel]

You got that right, there are just some people who obviously have limited intellectual, emotional capabilities. We should simply pity them.

[Xenalyte]

Lots of things bother me.

That doesn't mean I get to turn every freakin' thread into a referendum on what bothers me and why we should be sad.

[BigCinBigD]

It's a dead horse. Get over it.

[mel]

Obviously you are mind is lacking in any emotional level outside of your ownself. What a boring world it would be if there were more people like you.
Things that give people happiness and joy would not be in your vocabulary. I pity people like you

[mel]

You have such a juvenile mind. haha that is a third grade joke. Try to think of something original. But pity some people just can't think beyond themselves.

[mel]

If that is all the beauty you can see in animals you must have a very limited brain capacity.

[mel]

Yes, me also.

[IamConservative]

I think was a long time in coming. I am sure those directily involved in his care of going to miss him.

Hate to see a fine horse die the way he did. While the effort to save Barbaro was noble, in the end we learn why horses with this injury are normally put down.

I know you cannot raise a "test tube" horse and compete. Wonder if a race horse can have any artificial husbandry in it's bloodline?

[Kimmers]

To be a registered as a thoroughbred race horse the "act" has to be done naturally and not by artificial means. I think one reason why there was an interest in this horse is the owners willingness to try to save him. They could have easily put him down ASAP and collected insurance and that would have the right thing to do at that time. I am not a big fan of the racing industry so I have to admire the owners willingness to take care of this horse. I know people think they were saving him for stud purpose but I really think physically he would have been unable to perform, given his injury and resulting complications. Just my opinion.

[irish guard]

Spot on....while it is a shame to see an animal die and mel seems to be harping on that note....let's call a spade a spade. The owners of Barbaro were keeping it alive for stud purposes. mel, ask yourself whether that horse makes it past that day on the track if he's a gelding. Yes, its a shame, but it was for MONEY.

, Now as for AI, it is my understanding no one likes it when you use AI in the racehorse industry due to an inability to prove bloodlines. This is old school, but people who breed these animals watch "it" happen.