Laura sent me this link to an excerpt from the book written by Barbaro's jockey: Remembering Barbaro

I have never watched horse racing that much. Mainly because it isn't on the channels that I regularly surf. Then I saw Barbaro. There was a charisma about him that all truly great athletes seem to generate. I admire great athletes because I recognize the commitment it takes to become one. In a human, that commitment might mean endorsements and huge contracts. What does it mean for a horse? I think Barbaro ran for the joy of running. He tried so hard just for the sake of being the best. He was pure in motive and form.

I forget where I saw him first but I remember that we had to hurry back to the hotel room In Anderson, SC so that I could watch him run at the Derby. I was very excited but Laura wanted to go eat. 'Just a minute, baby. The race is less than a minute and a half and there are no timeouts!' Thankfully, she let me have my way and he did what he did. A dominating performance.

Then the tradgedy. I saw it when it happened and gasped. I was watching him when the gate opened and I screamed, "NO!" I knew what it meant the moment I saw his leg break and my heart broke with it.

I walked around the house chanting, 'Don't put him down. Don't put him down' I did not understand how high the odds where stacked against him. Barbaro fought on as the champion that he was.

Although I have never read it I am certain they collected him MANY times over the months that he endured. That makes me glad. There will be Baby Barbaros in the world and that is a good thing. Godspeed.