ten billion butterfly sneezes

Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, has been euthanized after taking a dramatic turn for the worse.

Severely injured in the Preakness 8 months ago, his chances of survival were slim from the very start. But he rallied around, and responded remarkably well to his initial treatment. The heart of a champion was never more evident. There was finally just too much to overcome. Horses are heavy animals with relatively small feet and legs. An injury to one puts more burden on the others, and one by one, they failed, developed abscesses, until it became obvious to his doctors and owners that there was no hope.

He was a remarkable race horse, both on the track, and during his last 8 months of fighting for survival. He just had heart.

I got kinda choked up when I read the news; this observation from one of his co-owners helped:

“Certainly, grief is the price we all pay for love,” said co-owner Gretchen Jackson at a news conference.

Sad, but true.

RIP, Barbaro.

-k-

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