Barbaro was bred by the Jackson's at their Lael Stable's in West Grove. He was sent to be trained by Michael Matz at Fair Hill Training Center and made his debut in a turf race at Delaware Park on October 4, 2005. He went on to win four additional races, including a dominating performance in the Laurel Futurity in Marylan a little more than a month later.
Barbaro prepped for the 2006 Kentucky Derby with three wins, including an impressive outing at the Florida Derby. He arrived at Churchill Downs following a five-week layoff. Critics said that was too long, but Matz and the Jacksons held firm. Barbaro proved to be a bargain.
Sent off at 6-1 odds, he shot into the lead at the top of the stretch and powered his way to a six-length win – the largest margin of victory in the Kentucky Derby since 1946.
After his majestic win at Churchill Downs he was off to the Preakness, where he was installed as a heavy favorite amid the drumbeat of Triple Crown talk. But soon only silence ensued.
Following a false start in front of a huge and stunned crowd, Barbaro fractured three bones in and around his right hind leg. The injury ruined and chance of a Triple Crown and ended his racing career. The next day he underwent surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in East Marlborough. What followed was a courageous and poignant eight-month battle which captured the hearts of the nation. The Jacksons, meanwhile, became the standard for grace and compassion under trying circumstances.
Barbaro underwent his surgery amid outpourings of cards and flowers from around the world. In December, his recovery took a turn for the better but the short-lived victory proved to be pyrrhic.
Complications set in and the Jacksons finally made the fateful decision to end the struggle. On January 29, 2007, Barbaro was euthanized.
"Certainly, grief is the price we all pay for love," Gretchen Jackson said at the time. "I hope we all turn our love into an energy that supports horses around the world."
Barbaro's remains were taken to Churchill Downs where they lie beneath a bronze statue of his likeness. Even in death, he continues to impact the racing world.
Multiple books have been written about his short, yet eventful life, and HBO aired a documentary on the memorable colt. Numerous scholarships have been set up in Barbaro’s name, including a chair endowed by the Jacksons at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Jacksons continue in the racing game, winning over 25 races and almost $2 million in purses in 2008.
But their legacy will forever be linked to a majestic colt named Barbaro.
Video links for Barbaro: - Click here
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