The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated

Today, after a long and courageous fight following a broken leg sustained during the 2006 Preakness, Barbaro was euthanized. The Kentucky Derby champion, who, arguably, had showed the most promise of any horse since Secretariat and was widely expected to take the Triple Crown, had hung on for eight months, despite the pessimistic prognosis of his veterinarians. Dreams of being the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 were cut short when, a mere hundred yards into the race, Barbaro pulled up lame. While in the past this would have resulted in immediately putting the horse down, Barbaro’s owners were determined to spare no cost to spare their beloved equine athlete. In a climate which fosters self-obsessed, ignoble athletes, Barbaro exemplified everything we love about sports—equal grace in victory and defeat, the heart of a champion, athletic beauty, and bravery in a time of pain and uncertainty. He remains an inspiration to all, and will be sorely missed.