Barbaro ~ America's Horse

[VirginiaBred]

Saturday~
Thanks, Alex~
Update 1434: A Tribute to Barbaro from a Fan of Barbaro: Barbaro Tribute.
A couple of Fans of Barbaro are planning to visit Fair Hill this morning, wrap up! It looks like it will be a busy morning.

Update 1433: Here is the fourth clip of Barbaro from “The First Saturday in May”: Peter on Barbaro galloping at Fair Hill. Very cool.

Gary Stevens speaks out in response to a very poorly written article in LA Times. I have met Gary a few times and he has supported this site with his comments.

[Anne_FS]

[QUOTE=Fancy;2189865]
Guess they got a lot of flack over the first column–this one is for subscribers only. Can you copy and paste?[/QUOTE]

It’s a free sign up, like the NY Times site. Just enter your email and create a password and you’re in.

Any word on does anyone have a link to Monday’s NBC press conference with Dr. Richardson and the Jacksons? I thought for sure I could find it on youtube but I can’t. Help!

[Anne_FS]

[QUOTE=Peggy;2189698]
The article that he wrote the following day was even worse, IMHO.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers31jan31,1,4857708.column[/QUOTE]

You know, I don’t think it was. It makes the point all those people bashing Larry King on another thread don’t realize: there are basically three groups reacting to the Barbaro story: horsemen, like those who have been following VB’s wonderful thread here (and of course many other horse people, too), who are touched and saddened; then there are those, c’mon, we gotta admit it, NUTS, writing, “Dear Barbaro, I got into so much trouble today…” letters and writing to him like it was to Dear Diary. I find that stuff creepy; and then there are, probably the vast majority of folks, who agree with the newspaper column and just think the whole thing is ridiculous and really don’t care about it at all and don’t understand the hoopla.

It takes all kinds to make the world go round, as grandma said, and if we want them to tolerate US, then we need to tolerate THEM.

[tradewind]

I believe if you go to NTRA website they have a link to the press conference at NBC.

[Spoilsport]

[QUOTE=Anne FS;2189893]
Any word on does anyone have a link to Monday’s NBC press conference with Dr. Richardson and the Jacksons? I thought for sure I could find it on youtube but I can’t. Help![/QUOTE]

Go here to the Penn website, scroll down and you will find a link with excerpts of the conference -

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro.htm

I have no interest in the LA Times article. In Barbaro’s last days, it really hurt to read some of the cruel comments on the internet.

Dr. Anderson’s words made me cry for the first time since Monday, but these tears were a little different. On Monday (even though I was almost certain since Sunday that it was going to happen) I felt just shock and pain. Now there is still sadness but tempered with happiness that we got to “know” this incredible horse and his people. Barbaro couldn’t speak for himself, so we heard about his courage and intelligence from Dr. R., the Jacksons, MM, and all of Barbaro’s “people” (including Alex and VB who shared with us). I am grateful for these good and honest people. You have to wonder. Was Barbaro just a very lucky horse that he was surrounded by such special people, or did Barbaro have the gift of bringing out the best in his people?

[Anne_FS]

[QUOTE=Spoilsport;2189935]
Was Barbaro just a very lucky horse that he was surrounded by such special people, or did Barbaro have the gift of bringing out the best in his people?[/QUOTE]

Both! And what a happy thought that is.

Michael Matz and Dr. Richardson have both been class acts since their Pony Club days (Yay for Pony Club!), and it seems the Jacksons have been the same long before Barbaro came along to grace their lives even more.

And one of the reasons we’re all so sad and took this so hard is that I think everyone here would raise their hand to the question, “Who has ever lost the best horse to ever look through a bridle?”

All here can relate to the pain, and I think that, unlike the folks loving that LA Times article, all here are blessed to know the truth of how noble a horse can be. Lucky us. Even though we’re crying and they’re laughing right now, lucky, lucky us.

[msj]

Here is a link to press conference:
http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_028115637.html

It was first given on page 204 of this thread, item no. 4080.

[Anne_FS]

Thank you so much for the links, everyone!

[ivy62]

Does anyone know the name of the foundation that was set up for research after Secretariat’s death…I know it is here in the posts somewhere but I do not want to wade through them all…anyone?
Thanks

[J_Turner]

[QUOTE=Peggy;2189698]
The article that he wrote the following day was even worse, IMHO.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers31jan31,1,4857708.column[/QUOTE]

I really can’t believe the LA Times allowed that to be published. Fine if people agree with him, but the snippy, snappy, insensitive comments were even worse. He is truly what is diseased in humans.

I think Ghandi said something like A culture can be judged by how it treats those who cannot take care of themselves: children, the eldery, sick, and animals.

If he is representative of our society, we are in trouble.

[Sunsets]

Scott Simon, host of “Weekend Edition” on NPR, read a lovely tribute to Barbaro this morning.

I heard it while I was driving to the barn, but you can listen to it here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7146854

It’s the “Simon Says” segment.

[eggbutt]

@Anne FS;2189954

And one of the reasons we’re all so sad and took this so hard is that I think everyone here would raise their hand to the question, “Who has ever lost the best horse to ever look through a bridle?”

All here can relate to the pain, and I think that, unlike the folks loving that LA Times article, all here are blessed to know the truth of how noble a horse can be. Lucky us. Even though we’re crying and they’re laughing right now, lucky, lucky us.

So, so true…perfect observation…we UNDERSTAND the pain of losing the a great horse.

[FourWands]

[QUOTE=ivy62;2190321]
Does anyone know the name of the foundation that was set up for research after Secretariat’s death…I know it is here in the posts somewhere but I do not want to wade through them all…anyone?
Thanks[/QUOTE]

http://www.secretariat.com/Foundation/index.htm

[VirginiaBred]

Here are a couple of must reads:
Horse racing community won’t forget Barbaro …lets hope not, there is much work to do!

Cohen: A champion dies, reflects on how Barbaro has effected us.

[Auventera_Two]

@Anne FS;2189918

You know, I don’t think it was. It makes the point all those people bashing Larry King on another thread don’t realize: there are basically three groups reacting to the Barbaro story: horsemen, like those who have been following VB’s wonderful thread here (and of course many other horse people, too), who are touched and saddened; then there are those, c’mon, we gotta admit it, NUTS, writing, “Dear Barbaro, I got into so much trouble today…” letters and writing to him like it was to Dear Diary. I find that stuff creepy; and then there are, probably the vast majority of folks, who agree with the newspaper column and just think the whole thing is ridiculous and really don’t care about it at all and don’t understand the hoopla.

It takes all kinds to make the world go round, as grandma said, and if we want them to tolerate US, then we need to tolerate THEM.

Good post. Yeah, he was a great horse. Big heart, tremendous talent. Yeah, it was a shame he broke his leg. Yeah, it was a shame he didn’t make it. But as they say - crap happens. You feel bad about it, you shake your head, and you move on. Why wasn’t anyone mourning and lighting candles and writing letters to the Iditarod athlete who fought a long battle with cancer and lost? You know she had a young son she left behind. It was horribly tragic and sad.

I think the hype about Barbaro was that he was kept alive for many months longer than many people thought he should have been. He had no voice and no choice. And THAT is what pisses a lot of people off. But you know what - that’s life. You deal - you get over it. Life is too short. Enjoy it. I lost my horses tragically in a barn fire 3 years ago. I was devestated, but I realize it’s life. It happens. You play the deck you’re dealt. You move on. I didn’t bury my heart and soul and passion with those horses. I mourned, but ultimately I celebrate their lives. I celebrate every day that they had here, and I do NOT get bogged down in the sadness or heartache. You just can’t. So I do dearly hope that some of these Barbaro people can move on and not let it destroy them. To do so is craziness.

[Anne_FS]

[QUOTE=Two Simple;2190565]

I think the hype about Barbaro was that he was kept alive for many months longer than many people thought he should have been. [/QUOTE]

They thought wrong, though.

[QUOTE=Two Simple;2190565]
He had no voice and no choice. [/QUOTE]

Here’s where you’re REALLY wrong. Read this carefully and comprehend: every day for the past eight months Barbaro made the decision to keep on. Every day his team watched to see what HE wanted to do.

I’ve said this a hundred times and I’ll say it two hundred more: his people told the truth. As long as BARBARO was comfortable and happy and wanted to keep trying, they WENT ALONG WITH HIS DECISION and continued to treat. THE VERY DAY Barbaro said, I don’t like this, I’m done, his team sadly said, we promised it would be your decision and we will honor it, and they put him down.

They certainly could have continued to treat his laminitis. There were certainly other things they could’ve tried, both for Barbaro and for the sake of research for the future, but the horse didn’t want to go on, and when Barbaro came to that place, his team made the decision HE wanted.

Two Simple, I am very, very sorry for your tragic loss of your horses. What a terrible thing.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex~
Update 1437: NoBiz Like ShoBiz won the Holy Bull by two lengths. He ran green, switched leads late and looked like he was lugging a little. If this horse learns to run straight and focused then we will see something very different perhaps. He is at the top of his division. Scat Daddy was off the bridle early. The field was strung out in the end.

Update 1436: NPRs Scott Simon: Barbaro Death Touches Admirers.
I am fascinated at how those who have reported on the Barbaro story have been directly effected by the story.
Jeannine Edwards provided us her perspective.
Jack Ireland, who has followed the story for the Wilmington News Journal provides his: ‘Big Fella’ showed class from start to finish. I had a nice phone coversation the other day with Jack, much of which is reflected in this article.

[ivy62]

Thanks for the link to the fund also isn’t there another one…hmmm Graystone something? I may be mistaken but if anyone remembers…Thanks again…

[Peggy]

[QUOTE=Fancy;2189865]
Guess they got a lot of flack over the first column–this one is for subscribers only. Can you copy and paste?[/QUOTE]That’s probably a copyright infringement. But, you can sign up (it’s free). Or, there’s always www.bugmenot.com for logins.

There were a number of letters today in the Sports section, including the Gary Stevens one.

Link to LA Times Letters to the Sports Editor.

[Anne_FS]

Boy, some of those letters are pretty good.