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The 2006Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro’s fight for survival ended Monday when the champion horse was euthanized after complications from his tragic accident at last year’s Preakness, ending an eight-month ordeal.
“I really didn’t think it was appropriate to continue treatment because the probability of getting better was so poor,” said Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the New Bolton Center.
Richardson, fighting back tears, added: “Barbaro had many, many good days.”
“Certainly, grief is the price we all pay for love,” co-owner Gretchen Jackson said.
A series of ailments — including laminitis in the left rear hoof, an abscess in the right rear hoof, as well as new laminitis in both front feet — plagued the colt. Barbaro was given a heavy dose of a tranquilizer and an overdose of an anesthetic and put down at 10:30 a.m.
Barbaro has underwent nearly two dozen surgeries and other procedures, including cast changes under anesthesia. He spent time in a sling to ease pressure on his legs, had pins inserted and was fitted at the end with an external brace. These are extraordinary measures for injuries that most horses never survive.
On Sunday, a day after Barbaro’s fight for survival had reached a critical point when the laminitis that attacked both front feet had left him vulnerable. Richardson compared the various injuries to a “house of cards.” One part falls, and the rest start to crumble.
The disease affected his personality, too. The eyes that had been so bright and full of life were darker Monday morning. Barbaro clearly was in distress.
“You could see he was upset,” Richardson said. “That was the difference. It was more than we wanted to put him through.”
On May 20, Barbaro was rushed to the New Bolton Center, about 30 miles from Philadelphia in Kennett Square, hours after shattering his right hind leg just a few strides into the Preakness Stakes. He underwent a five-hour operation to fuse two joints.
The tragedy affected not only horse racing fans but animal lovers across the United States who sent contributions to the Barbaro fund, which was used not for the colt but for other animals needing treatment.
Barbaro’s career earned him $2,302,200, it ended on that fateful day at Pimlico Race Course in a tragedy that led lead to his only career loss.
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