First, rick03, you might want to re-think the word order of that last sentence.
Second, just because you do not believe that the death of a horse is something worth crying over, doesn't mean that everyone shares your views, and it is arrogance and stupidity to think that only your opinion is the right one. For some, a horse's death counts for as much as a human's, and you have no right to judge.
Third, this is not a posting about American soldiers, but I have no doubt that many of the people who have cried over Barbaro have also cried over these soldiers.
The point is that before you begin counting a horse's death as worthless, just because it happens everyday, you need to consider the fact that humans also die everyday. I might also add that at least the horse was an unwitting participant in the race, whereas there is much discrepancy in the worth of killing other human beings, particularly for a bogus cause -- which is what many in the United States and around the world feel is happening in the Middle East. Afterall, these soldiers were not forced into service; they volunteered.
Foremost, however, is the fact that this post was started as a tribute to Barbaro -- a place where the many who have admired the horse and felt saddened by his loss can post their own memories of Barbaro. This was not an opinion post, and in view of the nature of this post, your message, rick03, has been in poor taste. If you wanted to openly state your support for the Iraq War, then do so on a post and a board more appropriately suited for such comments, or, more to the point, if you find our own lamentations for a horse so detestable, then make your own post and get off this one.
reply
share
jnp97
17 years ago
Seabiscuit was an American icon. During the Great Depression, this horse was symbolic of the hopes and dreams of the common man while overcoming great handicaps. Barbaro was not simply a horse who died. This horse was a champion, and like Seabiscuit, struggled against great odds. His fight captured the hearts and imagination of those who believe in hope. Heroes are not always human.
reply
share
rick03
17 years ago
I am sorry. Not sorry that I said what I said, but that I apparently was not clear enough as you have grossly misunderstood my post.
What I was trying to say is that horses fracture bones all the time and are put down because of it. Many horses go through the same struggles that Barbaro had as well before they are put down.
Someone said that many believed this was going to be the greatest horse of our generation. That is quite ridiculous. That label has been thrown around so often in the past 30 years since our last Triple Crown Winner that it has lost any credibility. He won two G1 stakes, which is very impressive but there are a long, long, long list of horses who have done that and then not amounted to anything close to being considered a superhorse. If you want a real potential superhorse look at Curlin and Street Sense as they both just broke the track record at Pimlico.
Your response, Clanhar, seems to condemn me as someone who hates horses and just wanted to make a statement about the War in Iraq. You could not be further from the truth. I love horses and racing and my family has even owned multiple racehorses. I was just using the Iraq as a comparison, I can use something else if you like? Would Darfur suit you? Furthermore, I loved watching Barbaro race in both the Florida and Kentucky derbies, but I will still save my sympathies for others.
reply
share
clanhar
17 years ago
Owning racehorses doesn't make you an expert on them, rick03, nor does it automatically make you sympathetic to their plight. In fact, I've found that most people who do own horses are the least likely to be sympathetic towards them. Like dogs, horses have the unfortunate ability to attract the cruelest people.
Also, it isn't an accident that those people, universally acknowledged as qualified judges of horse flesh, have also counted Barbaro among the greatest in Triple Crown history. It is also less than coincidental that Barbaro inspired those who, before, had never been inspired by anything related to horses at all. Could it be that he was something special after all?
What is perhaps the best aspect of this whole Barbaro incident is that more and more people are becoming aware of equine medicine. People who knew nothing about laminitis, or any other equine ailment, suddenly found themselves donating to, and supporting, charities that had gone unnoticed by most. Furthermore, because people have lost such an athlete, and under such circumstances, people are starting to appreciate more of what these animals go through for our pleasure. It has been a remarkable movement! I hope to see more awareness and greater support grow in Barbaro's name.
reply
share
rick03
17 years ago
I am not positive but I believe you just implied that I am an extremely cruel person. Being an expert on racehorses is something that has nothing to do with this argument, but now that you mentioned it; I actually do know a lot about horses. I broke out in laughter when you counted Barbaro as one of the greatest horses in Triple Crown history. You, quite obviously do not know much about horseracing and its history. Barbaro does not even make the top 100 in the greatest horses in Triple Crown history. As I previously stated, there are AT LEAST two horses this year alone that are better than Barbaro (Curlin, Street Sense, and maybe Hard Spun).
reply
share
Diabla_In_Disguise
17 years ago
" As I previously stated, there are AT LEAST two horses this year alone that are better than Barbaro (Curlin, Street Sense, and maybe Hard Spun)."
I have to disagree with you on this. Barbaro was undefeated going into the Derby and won. Curlin, was also undefeated going into the Derby and lost. Barbaro won the Derby in 2:01.36 Street Sense won the Derby in 2:02.17 Barbaro was also very versatile he could run on turf as well as dirt.
reply
share
rick03
17 years ago
Times mean nothing in a 20 horse race. Barbaro had a great trip. Curlin and Street Sense were forced into 18th and 19th place respectively. Look at the times in the Preakness for Curlin and Street Sense. I doubt Barbaro would have equaled the track record.
reply
share
Diabla_In_Disguise
17 years ago
We will never know what Barbaro could have done in the Preakness.
reply
share
rick03
17 years ago
We actually know exactly what he did. He broke his leg and didnt finish.
reply
share
17 years ago
[deleted]
rick03
17 years ago
haha, all I can do is laugh. Do you have any idea how many times a jockey gets offered multiple mounts in a race and chooses the wrong one even though he has ridden both? The answer is countless. Jerry Bailey was offered two eventual winners of the Kentucky Derby and he declined both mounts in those races and finished second both times. Jerry Bailey is a legendary jockey and if he cannot tell which horse is best, others will have difficulty as well. Of course Prado is going to say that. I do not think he is going to say Barbaro was "just another horse" in the tv special that was made for Barbaro.
reply
share
17 years ago
[deleted]
horsecrazie99
17 years ago
Michelphaba: I couldn't agree with you more about horse racing. What really happens after TBs are finished with their career-one way ticket to a slaughter house or a lucky few could get retrained into eventing horses, dressage, jumping, western riding, or trail horse.
I have a TB who was a racehorse. He is 14 and has arthritis. Together with my trainer, he is being well taken care of and is living a life full of being doped up with bute and the other rigos of horse racing.
All other horses after him, will be TBs off the track. At least I know they will have a great home.
reply
share
lifelike001
17 years ago
yep.... 'friends of barbaro' (who no doubt never gave a crap about horses before hearing of him) seem oblivious or willfully ignorant of the thousands upon thousands of racehorses worldwide who suffer FAR WORSE fates than he did.
get a GRIP people. he was ONE horse, and you didnt even know him. go to an auction yard and meet the killer buyers if you really give a toss about horses.
reply
share
jewil_82
17 years ago
First off these race horses are broke to young and are not developed enough to run the races and worked that hard that is why they break legs (most of the time). I blame the owners/trainers/vets for Barbaro's injury that led to his death. It is sad! All they care about is making money off the animal instead of taking of the animals needs first!
reply
share