What a difference a fortnight makes

In a effort to become the "feel good" story of the decade, Barbaro has survived a five-hour reconstructive surgery on his right hind leg and actually stands a reasonably good chance of living out his life having sex with the world's most desirable female horses.

The surgery lingered through the afternoon (in fact, evening in Pennsylvania) as the world sat idly by awaiting the fate of this strapping three-year-old colt who so many believed would become the sport's next superstar.

Dr. Dean Richardson, the surgeon from the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals, said Barbaro's leg was shattered into "more than 20 pieces" and required extensive metal to repair.

The battle is far from over, the surgeon was quick to note. Due to the lack of blood flow to a horse's legs, Barbaro still may have only a "50-50" chance at long term survival. Complications could include, of course, infection or a condition called laminitis, or more commonly, "foundering," in which the horse essentially breaks down over time due to an improper distribution of its weight and subsequent severe muscular inflammation.

Have you ever considered the size of a horse's foot relative to its weight? (approx. 1200-1300 pounds for male thoroughbreds).

Laminitis

Whether it ultimately be life or death for the now beloved Barbaro, I believe I learned something about the sport of horseracing this weekend.

Really, why were calloused old men usually concerned only with Pick 4 or Superfecta returns reduced to tears when they watched this poor colt reduced to a crippled mess on the Pimlico main track Saturday?

The reason, I think, is because the horses, like it or not, run for us. Whether it be a low-level claiming race or a $1 million stakes race, the horses simply get in the gate and run.

And, like in any sport, occasionally an athlete comes along that most everyone agrees is "special," the rare exception who can transcend his game and become front page news. Horseracing has longed for such a runner for many years.

But a horse can't bad-mouth his teammate like Terrell Owens or shun the media like Barry Bonds.

Whether or not you're a fan or racing, there's hardly any denying there's something "pure" about this game that just made this story so damn sad.

And now, we hope, makes it the stuff of sappy Hollywood melodrama.

Viva Barbaro!

The world's most famous horse enjoys some oats after surgery Sunday.