Barbaro wasn't kept alive for future breeding dollars as some of the misinformed would love to believe. Barbaro wasn't an ordinary horse, he was a Champion. I was 50 yards from the finish line at Churchill Downs when he left the rest of the field behind to win the Derby and fulfill the dreams of the owners. When he broke the gate at the Preakness, to me it showed what kind of Champion he really was and if not for the tragedy that occurred that day, myself and many experts felt he had a great shot of winning the Triple Crown, the first since Affirmed close to 30 years ago. The owners had the means, more than enough money (enough where they need not worry about future stud fees) and love for the creature that made their dreams come true to try to save him. They were Major contributors to one of the best animal hospital facilitys in the country and it was located in their own back yard, so if the Vet gave him even the lousy 5% chance he did, why not go for it. From the git. the doc said it was going to be a long, long, battle and as soon as Barbaro got to the point where the pain was too much and they couldn't keep him comfortable, the Battle would be ended. Well, after just a month ago, when it seemed like The Champ was only weeks away from moving to the beautiful green pastures of Kentucky, this turn for the worse occured and now, for the sake of The Champ, the Battle is over. May be hard for some to believe, but it's not always about the money. I went on ebay after returning from the Derby this year to find an 8x10 of Barbaro. I actually found one of Barbaro crossing the finish line and in the background, dead center, right above Barbaros back, up in the first row of the infield bleachers was a shot of me and my buddy cheering him on. I contacted the photographer and he hooked me up with a poster sized, I have framed and hanging on the wall. It'll stay there along with the other greats, Go For Wand, Ruffian, Secretariat and the rest, til the day my Battle is over. Howard, believe me, Buddy, you and the wife weren't the only ones shedding tears today.
Awesome perspective Fungooli, thanks.
We just lost a Triple Crown winner that never was, a modern day Seabiscuit. A legend like Seattle Slew, Secretariat, or Affirmed. RIP Barbaro.
Fungooli put it well...there was no ego in play or thoughts of big bucks to be gained; everybody who touched that horse felt an instant admiration and love; he worked with the medics, adapting to slings, hoists, pins, plates, casts...every tool used in his behalf. He was never tortured nor was any prolonging of his life causing misery....his responses to surgery were beyond belief, everyone admired his stamina, his desire to live and his smarts. The medical staff and owners monitored his well being from the very beginning and all agreed that when it became obvious that he was suffering, it was time to quit. My heart goes out to Dr. Richardson and his staff and to the owners and the trainer and Edgar Prado, the jockey who acted so quickly and humanely the instant of the accident....they all must be devastated. One cannot work with an animal of this temperment for such a long time without developing a bond that cannot be defined. I speak as a veterinarian who practiced for 50 years; it is a feelng that you have to live to appreciate. A little bit of you dies with every animal that succumbs under your care and you always wonder "could I have done more?" They are never "just animals" and Barbaro was one in a million, worthy of every ounce of love from those around him.
What would the media reaction and public sentiment been had Barbaro been put down soon after his injury at the Preakness? I'm guessing most people might have reacted with strong criticism for not making an attempt to heal his leg. Personally, I tip my hat to all involved for trying to save such a beautiful and gifted horse. You were one of a kind Barbaro.
Finally, That horse got better medical attention than most people do. He would have been put down a long time ago had it not been for the monetary value of his potential stud fees. They probably got some frozen sperm before they put him down. Hope they try to clone him. posted by Atheist If they could get "frozen sperm" why would they spend so much money to keep Barbaro alive? That's as logically flawed as the rest of your argument. And what is it with you and horses? Did you not get a pony as a child? I had hoped the owners and medical staff were aware of some revolutionary technique, but I see now that there was nothing really new there. It is sad that the animal had to suffer, even just a bit, to satisfy humans who were just after a buck. Sometimes I like horses a lot better than people. posted by Howard_T Because they failed it was all about the money? Am I missing something? I know plenty of pet owners that would spend every last cent they could, wise or not, to keep their pet alive. These people had the money to try, and I'm not sure how you can look at their reactions and think it's all about the money. If it was all about the money we'd still be reading about more emergency procedures. They almost pulled it off, and when it got too tough they put the horse down. I fail to see where the hate is coming from.
I doubt it was about future earning potential. The chances of Barabaro ever recovering enough to be able to cover a mare were so slight that it was pretty much an impossibility. And in Thoroughbred Horse racing foals must be conceived naturally in order for them to be registered and allowed race. Therefore having sperm frozen, or whatever, would do the owners no good, financially. It might cheer them up to have a chance of an offspring about the place, but under current rules it could never race. It is a sad end for Barbaro, but racing is often a sad sport.
I love a rodeo where the rider gets mauled by the bull or horses. I love a horse race where a rider gets the shit kicked out of him in the starting gate. Horse racing is cruel. Rodeos are cruel. And what they did to that horse was inexcusable. Rot in hell you rich bastards.
Fungooli, thanks for including Ruffian in that list of greats. She holds a special spot for me. My father was a thoroughbred trainer when I was growing up, and I vividly remember him crying when she broke down in that stupid race.
I LOVED THE BIG FELLA! REST IN PEACE! And Weedy, why is it when you attempt a humorous post on a thread like this you're funny. When I attempt humor, I'm an insensitive asshole (probably because I am, but still). SummersEve, that was utterly hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.
If they could get "frozen sperm" why would they spend so much money to keep Barbaro alive? That's as logically flawed as the rest of your argument. As somebody pointed out artifically inseminated mares cannot produce horses that are allowed to race. Rules you know. But of course if someone managed to get some of that sperm into a mare and it produced a foal. That foal could eventually reproduce normally and some of those Barbaro genes could wind up in a racer down the line. Where there is a will there is a way. For the record, I am sure that for every foal that is conceived there are horse racing police that stand around to make sure a mare and a stallion did it. Right. I still think there is some Barbaro sperm somewhere waiting for a home.
For the record, I am sure that for every foal that is conceived there are horse racing police that stand around to make sure a mare and a stallion did it. Right. I still think there is some Barbaro sperm somewhere waiting for a home. And what good would that do? There has been a public statement that Barbaro never stood as a stud. What good would it do to produce Foal of Barbaro now? (and why are you so very determined to find and expose venality in this whole story, even to the point of manufacturing it if necessary?)
I love a rodeo where the rider gets mauled by the bull or horses. May e-coli of bovine origin infest your next salad. Lettuce. It's what's for dinner....
I'll respect Barbaro's owners trying to keep him alive, but a scholarship in Barbaro's name seems a bit much.
l_b_b, I'd be willing to bet that if somebody showed up tomorrow with a vial of Barbaro's little swimmers, it'd be bought up in a second, for some fairly impressive coin. You might not like Atheist's take on the story, but you know better than to bring common sense into a situation like this.
Anybody want to buy mine? C'mon, I'll sell 'em cheap.
l_b_b, I'd be willing to bet that if somebody showed up tomorrow with a vial of Barbaro's little swimmers, it'd be bought up in a second, for some fairly impressive coin. I repeat: what for? You couldn't race the horse.
I repeat: what for? You couldn't race the horse. You're anticipating rationality in a story that couldn't be farther from the concept. And we're talking about a land that sells grilled cheese sandwiches that might look like the Virgin Mary. Possible uses: Worship. The semen is like a radio to God. For looking at and quietly saying "thank you, thank you - you brave, beautiful semen, you. I love you." For annointing their children with the seed of glory that is the all-mighty Barbaro. For reviving the dead... C'mon, people this was a special horse. Remember the bible, here: "Be unto as the great steed and, lo, thy strength shall become all hugeness and, yay, ye shall enter the kingdom of Heaven really fast and beat thyne runner-up by a minimum of 6 lengths. Thy will be done. Amen"
Nice to know I can always count on Weedy. l_b_b, it was all about the absurdity. Come on, lighten up a little bit, life is good, the Patriots are in the Sup---oops. Sorry.
There has been a public statement that Barbaro never stood as a stud. Maybe it's the way my brain processes words. Maybe it's the font I use to read SportsFilter (Papyrus -- very cool, but not very practical). Maybe it's my painfully desperate need to be the center of attention. But sometimes when I see "Barbaro," a quick read makes it look like "Bullpenpro." And some of these comments are striking a little close to home.
Weedy: yeah, that's about what I expected. Well, now your months of waiting are over: the horse has kicked and you've had your say about the excess of sentimentality lavished on it (never mind whether anyone actually did so, that's beside the point). Back when Barbaro broke his leg, I believe that I asked you why other people's emotional attachments to anything were any skin off your nose, but I never got an answer. Oh well, I make fun of the Super Bowl Shuffle, so have at it, I guess.
As somebody pointed out artifically inseminated mares cannot produce horses that are allowed to race. Rules you know. Yes, I knew that already, which is yet another reason your argument made little sense. You were the one who brought saving his sperm into the equation. You also left out the rest of fence's post: I doubt it was about future earning potential. The chances of Barabaro ever recovering enough to be able to cover a mare were so slight that it was pretty much an impossibility. And in Thoroughbred Horse racing foals must be conceived naturally in order for them to be registered and allowed race. Which kind of blows away your argument. But you know, kids are dying in the middle east, so whatever.
Remember the bible, here... "The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; for all its strength it cannot save." Psalm 33:17 Fungooli, you are probably correct about the reasons for trying to keep Barbaro going. Being the life-long professional cynic that I am, it was too easy for me to believe what some were saying early on about stud fees. Perhaps I have not given Barbaro's owners their due. If it was all about the money, then the words above truly apply.
I, for one, welcome our new horse semen overlords.
I believe that I asked you why other people's emotional attachments to anything were any skin off your nose, but I never got an answer. Who said it's any skin off my nose? I mock it because it deserves to be mocked. I think the sympathy extended is ridiculous in manner and thought - and I've explained as much I find the whole thing utterly absurd and laughable - and I like to share. And yes - the Super Bowl Suffle begs to be mocked.
I bet you sleep with a teddy bear, Weedy.
Two, actually - and I LOVE them. :-)
