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Triple Crown Race Ends With Tears

The Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, was severally injured during the Triple Crown race. Barbaro suffered a fracture above and below the ankle, leaving a crowd of 118,402 people in silenced shock. Barbaro hadn`t traveled more than 100 yards before he pulled back from the rest of the field. He limped pitifully as jockey Edgar Prado guided him to the side of the track.

Surgery was scheduled for Sunday. "I can`t really tell you what happened," Prado said later. D.D. Matz, wife of trainer Michael Matz, burst into tears as her husband rushed from the stands to join his injured horse.
Barbaro`s eight rivals raced on, but all eyes were on the stricken colt, whose right hind leg had flared out, causing him to run sideways before coming to a stop.

Was the injury related to his premature burst from the starting gate? He had to be reloaded for a second start. How serious was the injury? The latter question will be answered in the days ahead. Dr. Larry Bramlage, the attending veterinarian at the track, dismissed the possibility that Barbaro hurt his leg during his premature sprint from the gate. "This had nothing to do with him breaking through the gate, as far as cause and effect of the fracture in his leg," Bramlage said. "He wouldn`t have been able to go around the gate, get back in and break like he did."