It's been a few months, but let's play word association. "Barbaro."
No, not the cartoon elephant. That was Babar.
No, not the tropical island. That's Barbados.
Come on. You know this one. He was a horse. He won the Kentucky Derby. Remember, we were all in agony when his hind leg broke mid-stride during the Preakness?
Well, he's still recuperating from the broken leg, and it sounds like still no one's sure if he'll survive. But now that the national pandemonium has turned to other pressing issues like Ozzie's dirty mouth and minor league managers getting ejected, Barbaro can munch his oats without being bombarded with throngs of letters that read "GET WELL BERBARO!! love, payton age 4."
But even those in the horse-racing and betting-for-cool-G's industry have forgotten—to some extent—the Derby winner. Barbaro's former stablemate Showing Up won a $1 million race in Virginia, the first race in a series of five that could net his owner $5 million.
And Showing Up is in the running to win the Eclipse Award, which goes to the year's top 3-year-old horse. After the Kentucky Derby Barbaro seemed like a shoe-in (horseshoe-in?) but Showing Up, by merely showing up, could show up his former stablemate.
Stop me before I pun again.
I'm not bragging that I was never on the bandwagon praying for Barbaro's well-being. He's a horse. Lots of horses break legs. OK, I so am bragging. You got me. But it was odd that once Barbaro's leg broke, horse racing's yearly allotted time on horse racing was devoted to a broken bone.
For example, quick—name the winner of the Belmont Stakes. Look if you must, but once it was "Affirmed" that no horse would claim the Triple Crown we all stopped paying attention to the healthy horsies.
It's not that I vest much interest in the sport—on the contrary I tune in solely to make fun of the horse's names—but it would be refreshing to see that horse racing can rebound from the loss of a star. If this Showing Up horse becomes the next big thing, hopefully the sport can return to normal.
But if he breaks his leg, then all bets are off.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Vince F
Man, lighten up. Jealous that a horse is more thought of than you? I guess, it's Only a horse, but he had special abilities and wasn't able to show what he could do. If you were a highly touted sprinter on course to win all the medals and broke your leg in the start of one of the races, you would get a lot of sympathy. Well, maybe not You. People would throw dirt on you and go watch Idol.
VF
2 - alex
we run a site with Barbaro updates, if you take a look at it you will see plenty of people stick care about Barbaro: Tim Woolley Racing. The site went from 6 visits a day (for about 2 years) to about 1800 a day at this point, 5 weeks after the horrific accident. It is also getting about 500 comments a week. Seems to me people still care despite mainstream media moving on to other things I guess.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
A guy who said people would throw dirt on me if my leg broke is telling me to lighten up.
4 - LyndaP
Matthew,
Please, before you make ignorant comments like this, please understand what you are talking about. I get people at my job and at school that ask me how Barbaro is doing. The only people who have forgotten him is the media, who would rather talk about baseball players on drugs or rabid soccer fans. If Showing Up becomes a star, people will recognize those silks and remember Barbaro. They will see the Jacksons and remember Barbaro.
5 - Shelby
I was a horse owner for more than 35 years. I had to have my last horse put down this past year at the age of 30, I delivered her when she was born. I care about all horses. But Barbaro's story touched my heart. I still want to know how he is doing. I find it sad to hear people saying "it's just a horse", when horses were resposible for carrying humans to war,to town, accross a nation,they carried our mail, plowed our fields. They were an important part of our lives. And now "It's Just a horse" The old saying goes "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of Man".
6 - Peg
I have no clue why you have anything to do with animals of any kind, much less horses,,,although at least from this article, there is certainly a resemblance between your attitude and a certain part of their anatomy, and I don't mean the end that goes into a bridle...if you know what that is.
7 - Cheryl
I look for any news can I find everyday about Barbaro. Don't pretend you know how people are feeling towards this wonderful horse. Once again the media doesn't know what they're talking about and think their views are the same as the worlds.
8 - M.J.Riggs
What insensitive rhetoric. This "writer" is clueless regarding the tremendous amount of affection and concern the majority of the American public feel for Barbaro. Your ill advised comments are not appreciated or understood and better kept to yourself,Mr. Sussman.
9 - Kathy
When reading your comments a lot of things come to mind and yet one especially stands out -- insensitive boor!
I certainly hope that you neither own pets or other animals, nor are you planning to do so in the future.
Your comments diminish both a great horse -- yes, Barbaro is great, and might have been greater still but for a cruel twist of Fate (no pun intended) -- and the efforts of his fantastic connections and the veterinary staff that is sparing no effort to save the life of this extraordinary creature.
Racing will recover from this tragedy. As you noted, Showing Up gives many of us reason to cheer on the Jacksons in yet another capacity.
Having Showing Up to follow and cheer for, however, will never replace the special spot in our hearts, minds and souls that will always be reserved for Barbaro.
Now, if YOU only had a heart. . .
10 - Therese Dyer
Mr. Sussman,
You have got to be joking, right?
For there would be nothing more satisfactory right now for all of Barbaros' fans, (and there are many, as you will see throughout the day as they respond to your very insensitive words) for his stable mate, Showing Up, to have a successful run at the Turf races. Go Go Barbaro..Go Showing Up, and Go Away Mr. Sussman!!!
11 - DYLAN
Your aritcle was tasteless and cras.
Quite obviously you do not see the UofPenn site
with over 41000 messages,messages which are still posted hourly to Barbaro.
You article is offensive and if a reflection of your true colors than sorry I am for you.
Read the emails and weep,for the Barbaro has become an inspiration and hero for many people who otherwise might have either given up or just continued to suffer.
Amazing that such mediocrity as your article could abound in this world, that drowns in pathetic lack of something or someone to believe in..
12 - Animal Lover
I wouldn't waste my time!
13 - Daphne
Wow, Matthew, how misinformed you are! Barbaro trots back into obscurity? Where have you been living? What's the opposite of obscurity? Take a look at New Bolton's website to see how many people have forgotten about Barbaro. Take a look at Tim Woolley's website to see how many people have forgotten about Barbaro. People who were never interested in horses or horse racing, have been touched by this horse and have become interested in many of the issues facing horse racing. It sounds like to me the only one who has forgotten about Barbaro is you. Have you also forgotten about having a heart, Matthew?
14 - Leslie
Dude,
Why are you picking on an injured horse? Why dont you "trot back in obscurity" yourself and let the rest of the world revel in the miracles of modern veterinary science? Bobby WILL make it....while your name will swirl down the drain where it belongs.
15 - Margo
Matthew,
I hope you wrote your article about Barbaro just to get some attention for yourself. Some people will attack a horse who is fighting for his life in a hospital just to achieve some personal publicity. I don't associate with people who would do things like that, mind you, but I realize that people do cruel things like that. I don't know you, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are actually a nice person who loves animals. But you should know that you offended me and many other people by what you wrote about Barbaro. There is too much negativity in the world as it is, so why do you want to add more to it?
16 - Therese Dyer
To Leslie, comment #14....couldn't have said it better myself...Well done!!!
17 - mish
Really have to say I found your article disgustingly insensitive. Maybe you just wrote it to get some attention. I, my family, and many friends check on Barbaro every day and look for all articles we can to see how he is doing. My children delight in being able to e-mail him and keep him in their daily prayers.
I'm sorry for you that you cannot see how great or how loved this horse is.
18 - Lynda
Too bad your comments are completely contrary to what the race trainers are have been trying to convey, that this entire thing shows that they do care and are in it because they love the horses. You care to ask Edgar Prado why he rides? There are so many more jobs where you don't have the opportunity to get killed 7 or more times on an 11 race card.
I've never believed that race trainers or other connections to the horses are heartless.
I have, however, always believed that sports writers aren't too smart and probably aren't great athletes and are pretty heartless when it comes to humans or horses.
19 - lynnette
Matthew Sussman,
I'm sure you enjoying the comments your blog is receiving regarding "Barbaro Trots back to Obscurity" is getting. You revel in these types of comments...
[Considering what The Fulton Report, Toledo Free Press is like and the type of person you seem to be (by reading your public bio)]
Like previous comments were made - why not do the same with the sports drugs, etc., (which are 'supposedly heros' to our children!!).
Your column not worthy of anything else..
20 - Vicki Jasch
Bararo still has a long way to go. I get updates on him every day, and pray for his full recovery. You are totally ignorant on the matter. I wish Showing Up all the best in his career, but Barbaro is Barbaro. He had a great racing career ahead of him that was snuffed out by a terrible turn of fate. Maybe you can do us all a favor, and snuff yourself out too. I can't imagine anything you have to say in the future would be of any interest to me. The thing that always amazes me is people like you who are not afraid to put in writing, and display your total ignorance.
21 - Linda
Your comments are totally out of line.
It is a discredit to the news that you are allowed to even write a article.
" What goes around - Comes around"
22 - mcverrell
Stick to making fun of horses' names--maybe that is or can be humorous (with the right writer. I certainly will not attempt to track your effortsd own because this article suggests it is unlikely you can write anything funny or entertaining. It does illustrate that people who think they are funny or all-knowing, however, can instead achieve the opposite by demonstrating how woefully crass and ignorant they really are.
23 - Matthew T. Sussman
Fair enough, now let's see a show of hands of people who didn't like this column.
24 - Mercy Turano
Why don't you check and see how many emails, cards, packages and $$ Barbaro has raised to date??? Last time I checked donations to The Barbaro Fund at New Bolton were at $560,000 and all for just a "horse"....not to mention the awareness he's bringing toward protecting horses. Barbaro was just getting started and it's always sad to see an athlete at their peak have an unfortunate accident. It's just too bad the same can't be said for you if you broke your hand and couldn't write......such a shame!!!
25 - alex
Matthew, what surprises me most is you don't seem to have a response to the obvious fact, people DO care about Barbaro. You were simply wrong. There is no harm in being wrong, there is harm in not recognizing when you are wrong.