Crap! Crap, crap, crap, crap! CRAP!

[rabid1st]

Barbaro was injured at the Preakness. Rear leg injury...maybe a break. It was a misstep. People who don't follow horse racing may not know what a heartbreaker it is...this is the best chance we've had in a long time for a Triple Crown horse. What we all pray for right now though is it isn't a life threatening injury. It certainly appears to be career ending.

Rae
all in tears right now.

Comments

[rap541.livejournal.com]

It is sad... I was hoping for another Triple Crown....

Me, too...

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

...I thought he had a real shot. He's a beautiful animal.

And then today...all his luck went bad...I was angry at the trainer for changing the saddling ritual. I mean, I understand not wanting to be kicked...but still...don't change something that's working in the middle of the Triple Crown. And sure enough...the horse was off his game...then off his stride. Like they said, you can't tell what they're thinking...he might have been off his game anyway...but the weirdness around him was palpable, today.

Rae

Re: Me, too...

[rap541.livejournal.com]

Whenever the Triple Crown comes around, I always remember that time of my childhood when The Black Stallion and his many many colts and fillies were an important part of my childhood. I'm not a race fan... but there's a certain wonderous joy in watching a horse run

I hope Barbaro is ok.

[thisficklemob.livejournal.com]

I didn't see it happen, but I caught a little when I turned the tv on. {{hugs}}

Sadly, it is a compound fracture...

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

...and so could be life-threatening. He's being rushed to a equine emergency surgery facility but the veterinary is advising prayer now, too.

Thanks for the hug. I needed it.

I just had such a bad feeling about him today...they didn't saddle him the usual way...and I was worried about that because horses are creatures of habit. I was kind of angry at the trainer for jeopardizing the Triple Crown. And sure enough he broke through the starting gate (that's very hard to do because they have heavy electronic magnets holding them shut) which pretty much guarenteed he wouldn't be winning the race...but then...this...so heartwrenching.

Rae

[bubonicplague.livejournal.com]

This really depresses me, and I had bet on Bernardini to win. Talk about a hollow victory. I am just hoping this is not life-threatening, but it doesn't look good.

I know...I had Bernadini, too...

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

But not because I thought Barbaro might not win...I just couldn't bet on such a heavy favorite and I thought Bernardini and Brother Derek both had shots at this one.

No, it doesn't look good at all...didn't from the moment it happened. I wonder if he was bruised by the run through the gate and favoring something or if he was just mentally off his game and took a wrong step. It was such a frustrating day for him.

Rae

[vampslayer04.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I had the Tivo running and kept fast-forwarding through the parts that had anything to do with the winner. I don't begrudge them their victory, I just really thought it might happen this year, and I was more interested in hearing about Barbaro. I always end up cheering for whoever won the Derby.

I knew it was bad when I saw the slow-motion replays and the way his foot looked crooked after the mis-step. *crosses fingers and waits for news either way* They are saying that if he compromised the blood flow, it could be life-threatening. I'll probably cry if the worst happens; I'm like that about animals. Especially since this reminds me of the end of Black Gold, Maurgerite Henry's book.

Yeah, I felt bad for the Bernardini

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

...connections, as I, too, couldn't work up any interest. He might well have won anyway as Barbaro left a lot at the gate with that breakthrough. And, yes, I heard it was compounded and so blood flow could be compromised. And yes, I know that could be life-threatening. I, too, knew as soon as I saw the slow-motion that it was bad. I do hope they save him. I know they will do everything possible because he's a very valuable animal.

All of these horse book readers coming out of the woodwork. I, too, of course, read them all. I loved the Black Stallion books (the ones about Black...not so much his kids)...and the ones about Flame. I also dearly loved King of the Wind. I've always wondered why it never was made into a movie...it would be a great movie.

Rae
thanking you for your hugs, too.

Re: Yeah, I felt bad for the Bernardini

[vampslayer04.livejournal.com]

Yes, King of the Wind needs to be a movie right now. Maybe it would make me feel better, since it has a happy ending and all. I used to practically devour every fiction book about animals that my school library had, and even some of the non-fiction ones too.

Re: Yeah, I felt bad for the Bernardini

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

There already is a "King of the Wind" movie. It was made sometime in the late '80s, I believe. There might be more than one version, as well. I loved that book.

Re: Yeah, I felt bad for the Bernardini

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

I just happened to see this post as I came here to read your Doctor Who fic. I'm a huge horse-racing fan.

Barbaro did look good in the Derby but I wonder if he would have beaten Bernardini in the Preakness even if he'd been in perfect shape. No way to tell, of course. After the failures of Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Smarty Jones in the Belmont, I don't get my hopes up too much for a Triple Crown winner. Too many horses look great in one race, then bomb in the next.

The last I heard, Barbaro is doing better than expected but it will be months before he's out of the woods. There's a website that gives daily updates on his condition.

As for "King of the Wind," yes, there's a movie version. Roughly 15-20 years old. There might be more than one. It's a great story though I don't know if the movie I'm thinking of is any good.

Thanks for the info, Ghost

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoyed the Dr. Who fic...can't remember if I already saw you over there...but it is always nice to see another racing fan. I'm not sure about Barbaro either but I felt better about him that the other horses you mentioned...save Silver Charm who really was quite talented. The thing about Barbaro was he was bred to go the distance of the Belmont...and he had a marvelous turn of foot, too.

My assertion that he could have beaten Bernardini was based on the eventual Preakness time which was slow enough for Barbaro to have walked home...and by Barbaro's attitude in dealing with his injury...he is definitely a fighter.

As for that King of the Wind movie...must go searching for it.

Rae

[hudine.livejournal.com]

don't know a thing about horse racing but hope the poor horse will be ok. If it's not able to race again hope ot will be able to retire gracefully in a padock somewhere with lots of grass and treats.

Love animals, hate it when they have to put down a race horse, but I know it's in the best interest of the horse and those horses are bread for racing and they love to do it. Would be more curle to stop a well cared for race horse from doing what it loves.

*pets sleeping dog on her bed cause she's just soo cute at the moment*

[acciochocolate.livejournal.com]

Just found this link:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horseracing/bal-sp.horsenotes25jul25,0,4064756.story?coll=bal-sports-horse

I was concerned as there was a bit on NPR about him the other day, stating that he had developed laminitis in his left foot, and we all know that that's not good. :( But he's still with us!