Post by NanciK on Jan 31, 2007 17:09:01 GMT -5
Barbaro's legacy positive
By Bill Finley
Special to ESPN.com
Barbaro was famous, fast, handsome and immensely
talented. But I have never believed that any of that
had anything to do with why everyone cared so much
about this horse and why so many were captivated by
his battle for survival. It wasn't because he was a
fast horse or a Kentucky Derby winner but because he
was, simply, a horse. Most Americans have a soft spot
for these noble animals and can't stand to see them
suffer. Sometimes, we love animals more than we love
people. Perhaps that's because an animal is more
helpless than a person, and their vulnerability brings
out the caring side in most of us.
We only seemed to care more about Barbaro than any
other horse or horses because his story got told. Had
a $5,000 claimer suffered the same catastrophic injury
that day, had he been owned by terrific people who
cared about his well-being and had he gone through an
eight-month battle for survival, no one would have
ever known about it. I can't imagine, though, that
people would have cared any less had that story been
splashed all over the sports pages for eight months.
Call me naive, but I truly believe that.
Here's what some ordinary people had to say on Monday
on a message board on the New Bolton Center's website:
"In today's New York Times there is an editorial about
the gentle soul. It spoke to the pure of heart of
Barbaro. This gentle giant taught us more about the
dignity and understanding of living and dying. Thank
you for your work."
-- Diana Whitehead
"Deepest sympathy on what is truly a national loss.
Barbaro is an admirable hero, bolstered by the love
and respect for life shown by all who cared for him.
He has entered into eternity, taking our love with
him. Thanks to all."
-- The Cole Family
"Barbaro was a magnificent horse and was loved by all.
Godspeed Barbaro. Rest in Peace. You have been an
inspiration to many. You will always be in my heart."
-- Carla Trottier
"I have cried along with the rest of America, with you
and for you and for what extraordinary care you gave
him. If by chance there's a heaven for horses, I know
he is running in big green fields, head high."
-- June
Despite the tragic ending to Barbaro's life, his story
produced so many positives, among them this
overwhelming evidence that America is truly a country
that loves the horse. Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the
owners of Barbaro, understand that and, Monday, when
speaking to the media following Barbaro's death, they
asked people to redirect their grief toward doing some
good for these animals.
"Certainly, grief is the price we all pay for love,"
Gretchen Jackson said. "I am sure there are a lot of
grieving people out there. A lot of them have
contacted me and I am so very appreciative of that. I
hope we can turn our love into an energy that supports
horses throughout the world. Not just in our own
country and not just the thoroughbred we love so
dearly, but all horses. Each of us might find a
certain path that interests us. Whatever it is, I just
pray that you will follow that path in support of the
horse."
There are so many ways that can be done. Write a check
to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
(www.trfinc.org). The group helps rescue horses from
slaughter and currently cares for more than 1,300
retired race horses. Call your congressman or senator
and implore them to support a bill that has been
floating around in Washington for what seems like
forever to ban the slaughter of horses in this
country. Send off a check to the Grayson Foundation
(www.grayson-jockeyclub.org). That's a group that is
committed to the advancement of research to enhance
the health and soundness of all horses.
"An awful lot of positives came out of this," Roy
Jackson said Monday. "Veterinary medicine has learned
a great deal by this and the general public has been
educated about veterinary medicine. There have been a
whole host of subjects that have come to light because
of this, like the anti-slaughter bill and helping
people on the backstretch. Our hope is that some of
these issues won't die and will continue be brought up
and acted upon in a positive way."
Horse racing is a great sport and its largely made up
of people who love their horses and care for them in
the best possible manner. But it is also a sport that
is hard on its participants. Horses get hurt at
racetracks every day and many have to be euthanized.
Too many horses who come off the track have no place
to go and are in risk of being sent to slaughter. In
2006, 100,800 horses were slaughtered in the
three-foreign owned slaughterhouses operating in this
country. That shocking number includes thousands of
ex-race horses.
Horse racing will never be perfect, but the point is
that it can always make improvements and people should
never stop trying to make it a sport that is kinder to
its horses. After all, after what we have all seen
with Barbaro, never again can anyone claim that people
don't care about the horses. They do.
<end>
By Bill Finley
Special to ESPN.com
Barbaro was famous, fast, handsome and immensely
talented. But I have never believed that any of that
had anything to do with why everyone cared so much
about this horse and why so many were captivated by
his battle for survival. It wasn't because he was a
fast horse or a Kentucky Derby winner but because he
was, simply, a horse. Most Americans have a soft spot
for these noble animals and can't stand to see them
suffer. Sometimes, we love animals more than we love
people. Perhaps that's because an animal is more
helpless than a person, and their vulnerability brings
out the caring side in most of us.
We only seemed to care more about Barbaro than any
other horse or horses because his story got told. Had
a $5,000 claimer suffered the same catastrophic injury
that day, had he been owned by terrific people who
cared about his well-being and had he gone through an
eight-month battle for survival, no one would have
ever known about it. I can't imagine, though, that
people would have cared any less had that story been
splashed all over the sports pages for eight months.
Call me naive, but I truly believe that.
Here's what some ordinary people had to say on Monday
on a message board on the New Bolton Center's website:
"In today's New York Times there is an editorial about
the gentle soul. It spoke to the pure of heart of
Barbaro. This gentle giant taught us more about the
dignity and understanding of living and dying. Thank
you for your work."
-- Diana Whitehead
"Deepest sympathy on what is truly a national loss.
Barbaro is an admirable hero, bolstered by the love
and respect for life shown by all who cared for him.
He has entered into eternity, taking our love with
him. Thanks to all."
-- The Cole Family
"Barbaro was a magnificent horse and was loved by all.
Godspeed Barbaro. Rest in Peace. You have been an
inspiration to many. You will always be in my heart."
-- Carla Trottier
"I have cried along with the rest of America, with you
and for you and for what extraordinary care you gave
him. If by chance there's a heaven for horses, I know
he is running in big green fields, head high."
-- June
Despite the tragic ending to Barbaro's life, his story
produced so many positives, among them this
overwhelming evidence that America is truly a country
that loves the horse. Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the
owners of Barbaro, understand that and, Monday, when
speaking to the media following Barbaro's death, they
asked people to redirect their grief toward doing some
good for these animals.
"Certainly, grief is the price we all pay for love,"
Gretchen Jackson said. "I am sure there are a lot of
grieving people out there. A lot of them have
contacted me and I am so very appreciative of that. I
hope we can turn our love into an energy that supports
horses throughout the world. Not just in our own
country and not just the thoroughbred we love so
dearly, but all horses. Each of us might find a
certain path that interests us. Whatever it is, I just
pray that you will follow that path in support of the
horse."
There are so many ways that can be done. Write a check
to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
(www.trfinc.org). The group helps rescue horses from
slaughter and currently cares for more than 1,300
retired race horses. Call your congressman or senator
and implore them to support a bill that has been
floating around in Washington for what seems like
forever to ban the slaughter of horses in this
country. Send off a check to the Grayson Foundation
(www.grayson-jockeyclub.org). That's a group that is
committed to the advancement of research to enhance
the health and soundness of all horses.
"An awful lot of positives came out of this," Roy
Jackson said Monday. "Veterinary medicine has learned
a great deal by this and the general public has been
educated about veterinary medicine. There have been a
whole host of subjects that have come to light because
of this, like the anti-slaughter bill and helping
people on the backstretch. Our hope is that some of
these issues won't die and will continue be brought up
and acted upon in a positive way."
Horse racing is a great sport and its largely made up
of people who love their horses and care for them in
the best possible manner. But it is also a sport that
is hard on its participants. Horses get hurt at
racetracks every day and many have to be euthanized.
Too many horses who come off the track have no place
to go and are in risk of being sent to slaughter. In
2006, 100,800 horses were slaughtered in the
three-foreign owned slaughterhouses operating in this
country. That shocking number includes thousands of
ex-race horses.
Horse racing will never be perfect, but the point is
that it can always make improvements and people should
never stop trying to make it a sport that is kinder to
its horses. After all, after what we have all seen
with Barbaro, never again can anyone claim that people
don't care about the horses. They do.
<end>