Racing To her death

In 1975 the famous filly Ruffian was entered in the Belmont Stakes. The race was advertised as the second greatest battle of the sexes, coming two years after the tennis match between Bobby and Billy. Her rival was the Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. It was argued before, and has been since, that she was physically unprepared for the grueling race. The build up and number of spectators were unprecedented. A half mile into the race Ruffian was ahead by a neck when she shattered her right front ankle. Her jockey was unable to pull her up. She raced on, pulverizing her leg bones as they tore through her skin, leaving her hoof flopping with each stride. She was only three and her life was taken. Ruffian's trainer was named Frank Whiteley Jr. Mr. Whiteley died Friday at the age of 93.

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Running in the 2006 Preakness Stakes Barbaro broke his right hind leg in more than 20 places. I watched the the video of his injury innumerable times, and then promised myself I would never watch another horse race. I followed his progress every single day on the veterinary center's website. After eight months of treatment Barbaro was euthanized. He was not yet four.
"Obsessing over that individual injury misses the bigger picture, which shows that horse racing routinely devours its stars", states Pat Ford, writing for ESPN on the death of Barbaro.----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Barbaro's breeders were Roy and Gretchen Jackson. They also bred a horse named George Washington. Last October at the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park, George Washington, the two-time European champion, who was running on dirt for the second time and in mud for only the first, had to be euthanized on the track after suffering multiple fractures to his right front leg.

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Michael Matz was Barbaro's trainer. When I was a junior equestrian Matz was one of the most successful and acclaimed show jumpers on the circuit. I've no idea when or why he turned to horse racing. Until two days ago he trained another horse named Chelokee. Last year Chelokee won the first running of the Barbaro Stakes. Friday Chelokee broke his right front leg while racing at Churchill Downs. The injury is similar to Barbaro's, only to a different leg. His prognosis is still unknown.