Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro Euthanized

[Four Kalitta]

Sad news today about Barbaro, he put up a good fight.

 

[BaldyLochs]

That is sad news. I was just going to post this! For a few months, it sounded like he was going to make it, and live a somewhat normal non-racing life. I wonder if they were able to get spe** from him for possible future insemination? Definatley one of the saddest stories to come out of the Triple Crown series in history.

 

[BlueStangGT]

That is sad news. I was just going to post this! For a few months, it sounded like he was going to make it, and live a somewhat normal non-racing life. I wonder if they were able to get spe** from him for possible future insemination? Definatley one of the saddest stories to come out of the Triple Crown series in history.

Artificial insemination isn't part of Thoroughbred racing and in this case it's unfortunate, IMHO. Quarterhorse racing allows it and there are TB stallions in QH racing but I think even then the TB stallion has to cover.

While it is sad that he was injured and ultimately had to be put down it also shows the amazing lengths a good owner will go to in order to save a horse. They were adamant that they would strive to save their horse as long as he was comfortable, eating up good, and showed signs of a reasonably happy horse. The fact that Barbaro survived as long as he did is nearly miraculous in and of itself, he obviously had the heart of a champion. Kudos to the Jacksons for doing right by the horse.

 

[ProStockJunkie]

I cried at my desk when I heard the news. I could not have been more devastated if I actually had known this horse personally. This news has broken my heart.

I started riding ponys when I was 2 years old. Rode western, then 3 & 5 gaited saddle horses, but when I took my first jump, that was what I did. I competed in shows, then taught horseback riding and trained hunters and jumpers.

The break was bad enough, but it is usually the laminitis that brings the horse down when it is all said and done.

I really wanted this colt to make it.

As part of his legacy, perhaps the racing association sand thoroughbred breeders will take a long look at the treatment of these regal animals. They are started too young, before their bones are mature, most are drugged with Lasix and what the fans don't see on TV or at the track is that many of these young horses are bleeding through their nostrils at the end of the race.

Hopefully this colt's life and death will lead to further scrutiny of this industry.

 

[vegasnitro]

Barbaro. I am originally from Kentucky and every year I make it a point to "go home" for the Derby. I usually am pretty handy with the form and can pick a winner every now and then so my friends usually ask me for advice when it comes to making some bets at the window. I told everyone who would listen (and even some that wouldn't) that there was NO WAY Barbaro was going to win the Derby, because no horse had ever won the Derby after a 5 week layoff (which is what Barbaro did after winning the Florida Derby). Then Barbaro stormed to 6.5 length victory, the biggest margin of victory in the Derby in over 60 years!!! I ate a lot of crow that day!! That's how I will remember Barbaro, shaking loose from the pack at the top of the stretch and streaking to glory on a perfect Saturday in May ....

 

[ProStockJunkie]

I stopped watching horse racing the day that Ruffian died. I'll never forget that race, in fact, you could hear the leg crack even on TV. It was horrible.

I hope that this colt's life and death will shine a big light on the thoroughbred racing industry. One of the things which makes the thoroughbred such a beautiful creature to watch are its features, sleek body, fine head, small muzzle, small pointed ears, thin legs, small hooves. These animals are pushed too hard, racing too young for their growing bones to endure.

After Barbaro broke down, the industry started taking a good look at itself. It was heartbreaking for me to read the numbers of race horses that are destroyed every year because of injuries received while racing or training. What is more difficult for cameras to pick up after a race, is horses bleeding from their noses. Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), is characterized by bleeding from the lungs after strenuous exercise. According to an article in the UC Davis Center for Equine Health's The Horse Report, recent studies suggest that anywhere from 70 to 100 percent of horses in racing and training experience EIPH. It is believed horses experience EIPH because during exercise they have unusually high blood pressures in the vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs and this high pressure causes the walls of the vessels to break and release blood into the airways.

There are lots of reasons the horse racing industry should be taking a long, hard look at itself.

More then anything I could imagine, I wanted this colt to make it. Defy the odds. He fought so hard. If one has enough money, broken bones can sometimes be mended. Laminitis however, is difficult to cure.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

I know of a couple of people involved in top fuel racing whose names you'd all recognize who spent at least two weeks out of state a few years ago to stay with a sick horse.

 

[vegasnitro]

I stopped watching horse racing the day that Ruffian died. I'll never forget that race, in fact, you could hear the leg crack even on TV. It was horrible.

I hope that this colt's life and death will shine a big light on the thoroughbred racing industry. One of the things which makes the thoroughbred such a beautiful creature to watch are its features, sleek body, fine head, small muzzle, small pointed ears, thin legs, small hooves. These animals are pushed too hard, racing too young for their growing bones to endure.

After Barbaro broke down, the industry started taking a good look at itself. It was heartbreaking for me to read the numbers of race horses that are destroyed every year because of injuries received while racing or training. What is more difficult for cameras to pick up after a race, is horses bleeding from their noses. Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), is characterized by bleeding from the lungs after strenuous exercise. According to an article in the UC Davis Center for Equine Health's The Horse Report, recent studies suggest that anywhere from 70 to 100 percent of horses in racing and training experience EIPH. It is believed horses experience EIPH because during exercise they have unusually high blood pressures in the vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs and this high pressure causes the walls of the vessels to break and release blood into the airways.

There are lots of reasons the horse racing industry should be taking a long, hard look at itself.

More then anything I could imagine, I wanted this colt to make it. Defy the odds. He fought so hard. If one has enough money, broken bones can sometimes be mended. Laminitis however, is difficult to cure.

Turfway and Keeneland have both switched to polytrack (synthetic racing surface), and the California tracks are scheduled to switch to poly within the next year. Turfway switched to poly in '05 and they "only" had 8 fatalities, down from 22 the previous year, so poly is an important first step.

I think 1 thing non-horse people need to remember is that horse racing is not cruel for the sake of being cruel. These animals are very expensive and very well taken care of and looked after. NO ONE wants to see any of these horses injured or put down. When one of these horses breaks down, the owner and trainer are out of a lot of money, not only from potential racing revenues, but also potential breeding rights. It is estimated that the Jacksons could have syndicated Barbaro for 100 million dollars. Even so-called "nags" that run at the small tracks can get $15-20,000 per trip to the breeding shed.

We also do not treat the human animal very well either. 70-100% of NFL and NHL players have been concussed, probably most of them multiple times. This month's Real Sports on HBO has a very eye-opening look at retired NFL players, guys in their mid 40's who are on their second or 3rd knee replacement or just plain can't get out bed, and how the NFL and the NFLPA do NOTHING for these explayers. It is not only horse racing that needs to take a long look at itself ....

 

[Nitrohaulic]

And then you've got people who'll criticize them for making millions while they still can, as if they should be making peanuts while everyone else involved is making millions.

 

[BlueStangGT]

Turfway and Keeneland have both switched to polytrack (synthetic racing surface), and the California tracks are scheduled to switch to poly within the next year. Turfway switched to poly in '05 and they "only" had 8 fatalities, down from 22 the previous year, so poly is an important first step.

I think 1 thing non-horse people need to remember is that horse racing is not cruel for the sake of being cruel. These animals are very expensive and very well taken care of and looked after. NO ONE wants to see any of these horses injured or put down. When one of these horses breaks down, the owner and trainer are out of a lot of money, not only from potential racing revenues, but also potential breeding rights. It is estimated that the Jacksons could have syndicated Barbaro for 100 million dollars. Even so-called "nags" that run at the small tracks can get $15-20,000 per trip to the breeding shed.

We also do not treat the human animal very well either. 70-100% of NFL and NHL players have been concussed, probably most of them multiple times. This month's Real Sports on HBO has a very eye-opening look at retired NFL players, guys in their mid 40's who are on their second or 3rd knee replacement or just plain can't get out bed, and how the NFL and the NFLPA do NOTHING for these explayers. It is not only horse racing that needs to take a long look at itself ....

An even better example of "the human element" in relation to athletes is the lack of care for journeyman jockeys. The top-tier riders aren't typically strapped for support (as long as they've been smart with their money) but often times when a lower-tier rider gets a catastrophic injury, they end up being ruined. There was some gross mismanagement of the Jockey Club Guild's financing under a corrupt leader that pretty much wiped out the Guild's benefit system. I think they're well on the way to financial recovery now but it was a devastating blow when the corruption was finally discovered and the truly dire straits of their financial situation was revealed. I believe Real Sports did a piece on this as well.

Shane Sellers also hosted a fascinating look at the backside life of jockeys and their struggles... might've been either A&E, History, or Discovery that aired that one.

 

[ProStockJunkie]

Turfway and Keeneland have both switched to polytrack (synthetic racing surface), and the California tracks are scheduled to switch to poly within the next year. Turfway switched to poly in '05 and they "only" had 8 fatalities, down from 22 the previous year, so poly is an important first step.

I think 1 thing non-horse people need to remember is that horse racing is not cruel for the sake of being cruel. These animals are very expensive and very well taken care of and looked after. NO ONE wants to see any of these horses injured or put down. When one of these horses breaks down, the owner and trainer are out of a lot of money, not only from potential racing revenues, but also potential breeding rights. It is estimated that the Jacksons could have syndicated Barbaro for 100 million dollars. Even so-called "nags" that run at the small tracks can get $15-20,000 per trip to the breeding shed.

We also do not treat the human animal very well either. 70-100% of NFL and NHL players have been concussed, probably most of them multiple times. This month's Real Sports on HBO has a very eye-opening look at retired NFL players, guys in their mid 40's who are on their second or 3rd knee replacement or just plain can't get out bed, and how the NFL and the NFLPA do NOTHING for these explayers. It is not only horse racing that needs to take a long look at itself ....

I started riding ponies when I was 2 years old, I've been involved with horses my whole life, showing and training hunters & jumpers (no longer doing that) so I am well aware of what goes on in the 'horse business'.

Money is the worst excuse for hurting animals, whether it is intentionally, or not, in my opinion.

People can 'chose' to enter sports. Animals do not have that choice. There is a BIG difference. Not even one bit the same, sorry.

 

[T.Smith]

Yeah Chris, how dare you compare a human to a horse.

 

[ProStockJunkie]

Yeah Chris, how dare you compare a human to a horse

.....yourself, Tony.

And have a nice day now, y'hear?

 

[TJ]

I cried at my desk when I heard the news. I could not have been more devastated if I actually had known this horse personally. This news has broken my heart.
from Jackee......



Jackee...Do you have the same reaction each time a soilder is killed in IRAQ??

I know I do.....

 

[ProStockJunkie]

I cried at my desk when I heard the news. I could not have been more devastated if I actually had known this horse personally. This news has broken my heart.
from Jackee......

Jackee...Do you have the same reaction each time a soilder is killed in IRAQ??

I know I do.....

First of all, I can assure you that you'll never know if I do or not and....

Second of all, based on your posts on Nitromater, I find it impossible to believe you cry about anything.

Let's see if someone can bail you out of this post Terry.

 

[vegasnitro]

Jackee...Do you have the same reaction each time a soilder is killed in IRAQ??

I know I do.....

Of course not, those soldiers "chose" to enlist ....

 

[Gordon]

I'm not disagreeing with anyone that Barbaro's death was unfortunate, because it truly was.

However, ever since his tragic accident it has seemed to me that more was done to save Barbaro than was done to save Terry Schiavo towards the end of her tragic life. And worse, when it was finally decided that Barbaro was going to continue to suffer and eventually die, he was euthanized to eliminate his suffering quickly while Terry Shiavo was allowed to slowly & painfully starve to death!

Again, I reiterate, my heart goes out to Barbaro and his owners, etc., I don't mean any disrespect towards them at all.

 

[ProStockJunkie]

I'm not disagreeing with anyone that Barbaro's death was unfortunate, because it truly was.

However, ever since his tragic accident it has seemed to me that more was done to save Barbaro than was done to save Terry Schiavo towards the end of her tragic life. And worse, when it was finally decided that Barbaro was going to continue to suffer and eventually die, he was euthanized to eliminate his suffering quickly while Terry Shiavo was allowed to slowly & painfully starve to death!

Again, I reiterate, my heart goes out to Barbaro and his owners, etc., I don't mean any disrespect towards them at all.

That is the age old paradox regarding animal-human euthanasia. Barbaro's owners had the resources to do all they could to save his life and they did. There was a battle going on for control of Terry's life between her parents and her husband. The parents lost because of the law.

Because in most states, animals are considered 'property', the owner has the right to euthanize their animal, but it must be done in a humane way according to the law.

Until the law is changed regarding ending the suffering of humans in an humane way, the Terry Schiavo's of the world seem destined to die as she did, unless someone breaks the law.

Oregon, I believe, is the only state where human euthanasia is practiced and the details of their practice remain private.

 

[Gordon]

I agree with you 100%.

The unfortunate thing is that the laws in our country were/are interpreted in such a way as to allow a human being to suffer rather than allow all attempts to save, lengthen and potentially improve, her life.

The lack of common sense in the application of our constitution is absolutely absurd in my mind.