Barbaro Is Euthanized

[Keith]

Barbaro loses long fight, is euthanized
Jan. 29, 2007
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. -- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized Monday after complications from his breakdown at the Preakness last May.
"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."
Roy and Gretchen Jackson were with Barbaro on Monday morning, with the owners making the decision in consultation with chief surgeon Dean Richardson.
It was a series of complications, including laminitis in the left rear hoof and a recent abscess in the right rear hoof, that proved to be too much for the gallant colt, whose breakdown brought an outpouring of support across the country.
"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.
On May 20, Barbaro was rushed to the New Bolton Center, about 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia in Kennett Square, hours after shattering his right hind leg just a few strides into the Preakness Stakes. The bay colt underwent a five-hour operation that fused two joints, recovering from an injury most horses never survive. Barbaro lived for eight more months, though he never again walked with a normal gait.
The Kentucky Derby winner suffered a significant setback over the weekend, and surgery was required to insert two steel pins in a bone -- one of three shattered eight months ago in the Preakness but now healthy -- to eliminate all weight bearing on the ailing right rear foot.
The procedure on Saturday was a risky one, because it transfered more weight to the leg while the foot rests on the ground bearing no weight.
The leg was on the mend until the abscess began causing discomfort last week. Until then, the major concern was Barbaro's left rear leg, which developed laminitis in July, and 80 percent of the hoof was removed.
Richardson said Monday morning that Barbaro did not have a good night.

[revnecro1273]

very sad news

[Davydave]

Very sad...

[Dr. Jack]

This is sad and it was a long battle.

[Victor]

Very sad news to hear.

[WildKat]

This is horrible for me....This was the closest that I had followed a horse. Obviously, I had seen him at the Derby and won the most money on him than any other horse in my 20 years at the Derby.....I thought he had this thing beat and then took a turn for the worst. The one good thing about this is that he might have helped alot of other horses in the future....I will be sad the rest of the day.......................

[domafia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVJo7AieWRg

And before anyone gives me a hard time, it's just a joke. It's sad that he died.

[TCD619]

Very ashame. He's no more important than any other horse, but it just sucks. he fought HARD for a while

[bambino66]

This is a day that I figured would be comming sooner than later but still a sad day....This horse showed that he had a heart of a champion...

R.I.P.

[cman]

this is sad...

Glad his suffering is over though

wde

[Bobtheicon]

Sportsman of the year. RIP Barbaro!!!

[njtrader]

Should have been horse of the year VIA eclipse awards instead of invasor.. if this would have happened before the voting he would have... just a shame we will never see his offspring run... being in the business he was the next storm cat IMO...

[ZIGGYSTARDUST]

Barb... Say Hi to Mr Ed for me..

[WildKat]

Originally Posted by ZIGGYSTARDUST

Barb... Say Hi to Mr Ed for me..

Oh yeah! I had forgotten who that was before, but know I remember...The one that had to say something bad about the situation...........You have never said anything before to make me mad, but I believe you were the one last time...am I right?

[Gobbler's Knob]

Will never forget that race, made me so sick