Barbaro: One Horse Dies
halv
Posts: 701
The New York Times
One Horse Dies
Published: January 30, 2007
"Why should we feel so much grief at the loss of one horse? After all, this is a world in which horses are sacrificed again and again for the sport of humans. Barbaro was euthanized yesterday, eight months after he shattered his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness Stakes. After an injury like that, most racehorses would have been put down minutes later. But every race is a complex equation — a balance of economics, athleticism, equine grace and conscience. Conscience often comes in last, but not in this case. Barbaro’s owners gave that horse exactly what he had given them, which is everything. It was the very least they could do, and yet it seemed truly exceptional in a sport that is as often barbarous as it is beautiful.
Barbaro was exceptional because he won the Kentucky Derby and looked as if he might have a chance at the Triple Crown. But nearly everyone who met him also talked of the life he displayed, a vivid presence that was so much more visible to us because it happened to belong to a winner.
Humans are not especially good at noticing horses, but Barbaro was easy to notice. And if his life caused us to pay attention to the possibilities of all horses, his death should cause us to pay attention to the tragedy inherent in the end of so many horses. Barbaro’s death was tragic not because it was measured against the races he might have won or even against the effort to save his life. It was tragic because of what every horse is.
You would have to look a long, long time to find a dishonest or cruel horse. And the odds are that if you did find one, it was made cruel or dishonest by the company it kept with humans. It is no exaggeration to say that nearly every horse — Barbaro included — is pure of heart. Some are faster, some slower. Some wind up in the winner’s circle. But they should all evoke in us the generosity of conscience — a human quality, after all — that was expended in the effort to save this one horse."
One or two other articles have noted that Barbaro's estimated worth as a
breeding stud was in the realm of $30 million. That may or may not have been a consideration that affected the efforts to save him. Given that according to an Associated Press article published last year, approximately 700 horses are put down in the United States and Canada every year after racing accidents, presumably all of them as sweet-hearted as Barbaro, one cannot help but wonder if Barbaro's monetary value might have had some influence on the extent of the efforts to save his life. His tale should remind us of all of the others that nobody attempted to save.
One Horse Dies
Published: January 30, 2007
"Why should we feel so much grief at the loss of one horse? After all, this is a world in which horses are sacrificed again and again for the sport of humans. Barbaro was euthanized yesterday, eight months after he shattered his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness Stakes. After an injury like that, most racehorses would have been put down minutes later. But every race is a complex equation — a balance of economics, athleticism, equine grace and conscience. Conscience often comes in last, but not in this case. Barbaro’s owners gave that horse exactly what he had given them, which is everything. It was the very least they could do, and yet it seemed truly exceptional in a sport that is as often barbarous as it is beautiful.
Barbaro was exceptional because he won the Kentucky Derby and looked as if he might have a chance at the Triple Crown. But nearly everyone who met him also talked of the life he displayed, a vivid presence that was so much more visible to us because it happened to belong to a winner.
Humans are not especially good at noticing horses, but Barbaro was easy to notice. And if his life caused us to pay attention to the possibilities of all horses, his death should cause us to pay attention to the tragedy inherent in the end of so many horses. Barbaro’s death was tragic not because it was measured against the races he might have won or even against the effort to save his life. It was tragic because of what every horse is.
You would have to look a long, long time to find a dishonest or cruel horse. And the odds are that if you did find one, it was made cruel or dishonest by the company it kept with humans. It is no exaggeration to say that nearly every horse — Barbaro included — is pure of heart. Some are faster, some slower. Some wind up in the winner’s circle. But they should all evoke in us the generosity of conscience — a human quality, after all — that was expended in the effort to save this one horse."
One or two other articles have noted that Barbaro's estimated worth as a
breeding stud was in the realm of $30 million. That may or may not have been a consideration that affected the efforts to save him. Given that according to an Associated Press article published last year, approximately 700 horses are put down in the United States and Canada every year after racing accidents, presumably all of them as sweet-hearted as Barbaro, one cannot help but wonder if Barbaro's monetary value might have had some influence on the extent of the efforts to save his life. His tale should remind us of all of the others that nobody attempted to save.
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Comments
I posted that editorial because it echoed my thoughts.
But thanks for the kind reply.
Sorry if it came off rude, but I do enjoy the personal thoughts by other PJ fans.
~Michael Bolton
old music: http://www.myspace.com/slowloader
-Enoch Powell
You can relate it to humans. When your anonymous uncle dies, it's only a big deal to the people who knew him. When an ex-president dies, it's the same thing except many, many more people knew the latter.
I don't know why any of it is a big deal. Here's a secret: Everybody and everything dies eventually.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
And I'm not so sure who's to blame ~ the media or the people who enable the media by pursuing stories about injured horses rather than unnecessary war?
Good point....cause pulling for a horse feels good.....acknowledging that humans actually get hurt in Iraq not. Course the media is soooo fkn liberal....jeese.
I still agree the media has blown this up, but for people like me, it is sad to see what happened to Barbaro and know that he had the possibility of being the best horse ever. Regardless, I agree that there are things going on in our country and world right now that should be shown some precident.
And the part in the article about barbaro having such a vivid spark of life? My guinea pig is so full of life it will blow your mind.
And I have to ask, but if people loved this damn horse so much, don't they feel guilty? Racing is what killed him? Geez, to think of all the money that went into his treatment and I cant get a damn MRI for my dislocated elbow because I cant afford it.