The Mystique of Barbaro

The Mystique of Barbaro

By Steve Bellend
The Carousel
November 7, 2023

Barbaro (April 29, 2003 – January 29, 2007) was an American thoroughbred racehorse who decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but shattered his leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, ending his racing career and eventually leading to his death.

On May 20, 2006, Barbaro ran in the Preakness Stakes as a heavy favorite, but, after he false-started, he fractured three bones in and around the fetlock of his right hind leg. The injury ruined any chance of a Triple Crown in 2006 and ended his racing career. The next day, he underwent surgery at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania for his injuries. In July he developed laminitis in his left rear leg. He underwent five further operations, and his prognosis varied during an exceptionally long stay in the Equine Intensive Care Unit at the New Bolton Center. While his right hind leg eventually healed, a final risky procedure on it proved futile because the colt soon developed further laminitis in both front legs. His veterinarians and owners concluded that he could not be saved, and Barbaro was euthanized on January 29, 2007.

He was a third-generation descendant of Mr. Prospector, and as such Barbaro was related to many Triple Crown hopefuls of his time including Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and Fusaichi Pegasus.

Barbaro was cremated shortly after he was euthanized. On January 29, 2008 it was announced that his remains would be interred in front of an entrance to Churchill Downs, and that a bronze statue of Barbaro would be placed atop his remains. The Jacksons chose to place his remains outside of both Churchill Downs and the adjacent Kentucky Derby Museum to allow his many admirers to pay their respects without having to pay an admission fee.

The Barbaro Sculpture, created by Alexa King, was unveiled April 26, 2009 at Churchill Downs, the week preceding the Kentucky Derby. Gulfstream Park established scholarships to the University of Florida with an initial total funding of $30,000 for two fourth-year students in Veterinary Medicine and one graduate student in equine veterinary research.

Barbaro also inspired a large anonymous donation to the New Bolton Center, allowing the establishment of the Barbaro Fund to aid the treatment and care of large animals. In 2006, a Limited Edition Ty Beanie Babies Barbaro Beanie plushie was released. The plushie is 7 inches tall, 8 inches long and wears Barbaro's No. 8 on a pink saddle cloth.

In 2007, Breyer Animal Creations released a Barbaro model that includes a Certificate of Authenticity from his owners, jockey, and main doctor at the New Bolton Center. The Jacksons have endowed a chair for equine disease research at the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school.

In honor of Barbaro's valiant fight against his injuries in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, NTRA has established the NTRA Charities, Barbaro Memorial Fund. This fund will focus on Equine Health and Safety, which will include research to find a cure for laminitis, the disease that ultimately led to Barbaro's death.

After his breakdown in the Preakness, Barbaro became the object of public affection. His stall at the New Bolton Center was decorated with many thousands of Get Well cards (including a 7 ft by 72 ft card from fans at the Belmont Stakes), and flowers and presents sent in by fans. Others sent in items meant to help his recovery, such as saint medallions and holy water. His condition was reported by news organizations on a daily basis.

Over the course of Barbaro's treatment and after his death, there were sections of the media that felt that Barbaro did not merit the amount of attention that he was receiving from either his supporters or the media. Others suggested that Barbaro had demonstrated a disposition that might enable him to survive and in time become a stud. Time magazine commented that despite the difficulties, Barbaro's fight was inspiring and that the hope for a near-miracle was not pointless.

Several books have been written about Barbaro. In 2007, HarperCollins published Barbaro: A Nation's Love Story written by Pamela K.Brodowsky and Tom Philbin. Barbaro, Smarty Jones & Ruffian: The People's Horses, written by Linda Hanna was published in 2008 by Middle Atlantic Press as was My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse written by Edgar Prado, Barbaro's Derby-winning jockey, co-written by John Eisenberg and published by HarperCollins. In 2011,Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy written by Alex Brown, was published by Glen View Media.