It's a sad day at the New Bolton Center: Barbaro, the little horse that could, was euthanized at 10:30 this morning. He had undergone surgery on Saturday to attach an "external skeletal fixation device," designed to keep weight off the leg he hurt in the Preakness last year. Although those of us not in the know felt good about his chances after he pulled through initial surgery in May, Barbaro's recovery was far from over. Over the summer he developed laminitis in his left hind foot, leading to vets removing 80% of his hoof; for his chances to be considered good the hoof would have had to grow back, which it did not. Vets attached a cast, which led to an abscess, which led to the surgery Saturday. This morning everyone agreed it was best not to let the poor beast suffer anymore.

The saga of Barbaro, both the really good (winning the Derby and the prospect of a Triple Crown) and the really bad (see this weekend) drew people not usually overly-interested in horse racing into the fray. Signs were hung on overpasses along the horse's initial route to New Bolton, people sent get well cards, people talked about the finer points of horse physiology over the water cooler. It would have been great to have a Philly boy win the Triple Crown; when that became impossible, people wanted him to pull through, use that Philly indestructible spirit to beat the odds and live to retire to a nice stud farm somewhere.

Alas, poor Barbaro. You were a good horse. May you rest in peace in that great stud farm in the sky.

Photo of Barbaro walking to the winner's circle by Flickr user RNHurt