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Barbaro: A Nation's Love Story
This up-to-minute book follows the story of Barbaro, the Triple Crown contender whose unlikely fight back from almost certain death from a shattered leg and ensuing complications captured the hearts of a nation who responded with a stunning display of love.
In 132 years of derby races, only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown, the last in 1978. Barbaro was a favorite to be the twelfth until May 20, 2006, at the Preakness Stakes, when his jockey, Edgar Prado pulled him up a couple of hundred yards from the starting gate. Subsequent examination revealed that he had virtually exploded bones in his right rear leg so badly that under normal conditions he would have been euthanized right on the track. But his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, chose another path, one filled with anxiety and tears—but also courageous determination to save his life.
This touching, soaring book—filled with insights from Barbaro's trainers, breeders, caretakers, and owners—follows Barbaro from foal to colt to champion to perfect patient. But In the end it is not just a story of a down-but-not-out champion, but of human beings at their very best.
In 132 years of derby races, only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown, the last in 1978. Barbaro was a favorite to be the twelfth until May 20, 2006, at the Preakness Stakes, when his jockey, Edgar Prado pulled him up a couple of hundred yards from the starting gate. Subsequent examination revealed that he had virtually exploded bones in his right rear leg so badly that under normal conditions he would have been euthanized right on the track. But his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, chose another path, one filled with anxiety and tears—but also courageous determination to save his life.
This touching, soaring book—filled with insights from Barbaro's trainers, breeders, caretakers, and owners—follows Barbaro from foal to colt to champion to perfect patient. But In the end it is not just a story of a down-but-not-out champion, but of human beings at their very best.
187 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
4 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Tom Philbin
68 books26 followersTom Philbin is a writer of numerous books and has also written articles for a variety of magazines, including Parade, Woman's Day, and Reader's Digest. He lives in Centerport, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 19, 2020
I read this entire book in a few hours yesterday evening and I finished it just after midnight. I found this book much easier to read than the one I just read about American Pharaoh a few days ago. This one is written in a more conversation style and not filled with tons of "extra facts" like the other book was (because sometimes authors can go overboard with that sort of thing - and if you're just the average horse lover and not really into breeding race horses I'm sure the extra facts and intensive backgrounds are not really necessary as it just slows down the main story). There's still plenty of information in here but just whats needed to tell the story about Barbaro and because of that the reading is very smooth.
I was worried at first that this book would be really sad and make me cry but it didn't. In case you didn't know this book is about a famous race horse that breaks his rear leg. The bone just shatters. It happens on the track during the Preakness in front of a huge crowd. Instead of killing Barbaro, the horse's owners decided to go the medical route to save him.. he'd never race again but he could live out his life on a ranch. That was the plan.
The first half of the book is about the unusual training method that was used on Barbaro (plus how he was born, etc) and the second half is about his time at the animal hospital and the medical procedures. Everything is explained clearly but simply. There are even a black and white drawing / photo of how the bolts (screws?) went into his leg.
Foundering also plays a part of his story. If you're even a little familiar with horses you probably know what this medical condition is. I've heard of it before but I didn't know it could get as extreme as what happened to Barbaro.
The book also contains lots of charts with information, like races won and there's also a parentage chart too. Then there's numerous black and white photos throughout the book. Something about the look and layout of the book with the placement of the photos just reminds me of a book from the 70s or 80s...it reminds me of the nonfiction books I would read from the school library.
The book also has a glossary of horse terms. And a many page section with all the letters that people sent to Barbaro. Well, not all of them obviously because he received thousands! He was also the only horse to have his own email address. People loved him so much they sent him endless cards, gifts, bags of carrots and numerous other things.
The epilogue is hidden way at the back of the book, after the glossary. At first I thought this was odd but then I realized it was done on purpose...it depends on what kind of ending the reader wants. You could end the story with him in the hospital as he was getting better....or you could read the bitter end of what happened much later. It's up to you.. so you want a happy ending you can have that by simply not reading the epilogue.
I actually liked this book better than the other one on American Pharaoh. And I must say some of the stuff in here actually surprised me, like some of the details about what happened to Barbaro at the hospital. I mean it actually seemed he could walk with the cast on (which is like the opposite of what happens to a human with a cast on their leg)?? I'm still trying to understand this. And I liked that they explained foundering in more detail than just saying it's a swollen hoof. It gives me a better understanding of it and what can happen. In fact I'll go as far as to say the foundering sounds worse than the broken leg! And that is shocking.
This book has also made me ponder on how he broke his leg because no one really knows. It just happened. And his jockey actually realized it before Barbaro did - which is amazing! He must have really been connected to Barbaro...to notice something like that during a big race with all the noise and pounding hooves and concentrating on the race.
Poor Barbaro... before his accident he was on the road to win the Triple Crown.
I was worried at first that this book would be really sad and make me cry but it didn't. In case you didn't know this book is about a famous race horse that breaks his rear leg. The bone just shatters. It happens on the track during the Preakness in front of a huge crowd. Instead of killing Barbaro, the horse's owners decided to go the medical route to save him.. he'd never race again but he could live out his life on a ranch. That was the plan.
The first half of the book is about the unusual training method that was used on Barbaro (plus how he was born, etc) and the second half is about his time at the animal hospital and the medical procedures. Everything is explained clearly but simply. There are even a black and white drawing / photo of how the bolts (screws?) went into his leg.
Foundering also plays a part of his story. If you're even a little familiar with horses you probably know what this medical condition is. I've heard of it before but I didn't know it could get as extreme as what happened to Barbaro.
The book also contains lots of charts with information, like races won and there's also a parentage chart too. Then there's numerous black and white photos throughout the book. Something about the look and layout of the book with the placement of the photos just reminds me of a book from the 70s or 80s...it reminds me of the nonfiction books I would read from the school library.
The book also has a glossary of horse terms. And a many page section with all the letters that people sent to Barbaro. Well, not all of them obviously because he received thousands! He was also the only horse to have his own email address. People loved him so much they sent him endless cards, gifts, bags of carrots and numerous other things.
The epilogue is hidden way at the back of the book, after the glossary. At first I thought this was odd but then I realized it was done on purpose...it depends on what kind of ending the reader wants. You could end the story with him in the hospital as he was getting better....or you could read the bitter end of what happened much later. It's up to you.. so you want a happy ending you can have that by simply not reading the epilogue.
I actually liked this book better than the other one on American Pharaoh. And I must say some of the stuff in here actually surprised me, like some of the details about what happened to Barbaro at the hospital. I mean it actually seemed he could walk with the cast on (which is like the opposite of what happens to a human with a cast on their leg)?? I'm still trying to understand this. And I liked that they explained foundering in more detail than just saying it's a swollen hoof. It gives me a better understanding of it and what can happen. In fact I'll go as far as to say the foundering sounds worse than the broken leg! And that is shocking.
This book has also made me ponder on how he broke his leg because no one really knows. It just happened. And his jockey actually realized it before Barbaro did - which is amazing! He must have really been connected to Barbaro...to notice something like that during a big race with all the noise and pounding hooves and concentrating on the race.
Poor Barbaro... before his accident he was on the road to win the Triple Crown.
February 9, 2018
I am definitely not an “animal person” but I do have a fascination with the Kentucky Derby, and the Triple Crown. I watched Barbaro win the Derby, and I watched in horror as he broke down during the Preakness. I’ve read other books about great thoroughbreds and was expecting a great read, but I was sorely disappointed.
It seemed that some of this must have been written for a contemporary magazine or journal piece, and perhaps the other author came in to expand it to book length. The whole things felt choppy and quickly written to take advantage of the public’s interest in the story. One chapter would be in present tense, and another in past tense. There is some repetition, which a good editor might have corrected. And there are pages of statistics (i.e. names of Triple Crown winners). And then there are pages … and pages … and pages … of the letters and messages sent by Barbaro’s adoring fans during the months when veterinarians tried – in vain – to save him from his horrific, leg-shattering injury.
The book seems to end when Barbaro is still recuperating. Then there are pages of glossary of terms used in horse racing, followed by a plea to help stop horse slaughter in the United States, followed by facts on horse slaughter, followed by photo credits, and then finally an epilogue that explains how Barbaro was ultimately humanely euthanized.
I just found the whole thing boring. And now, if I think of this horse at all, I’ll think not of his stupendous Derby win, but of this terrible book.
It seemed that some of this must have been written for a contemporary magazine or journal piece, and perhaps the other author came in to expand it to book length. The whole things felt choppy and quickly written to take advantage of the public’s interest in the story. One chapter would be in present tense, and another in past tense. There is some repetition, which a good editor might have corrected. And there are pages of statistics (i.e. names of Triple Crown winners). And then there are pages … and pages … and pages … of the letters and messages sent by Barbaro’s adoring fans during the months when veterinarians tried – in vain – to save him from his horrific, leg-shattering injury.
The book seems to end when Barbaro is still recuperating. Then there are pages of glossary of terms used in horse racing, followed by a plea to help stop horse slaughter in the United States, followed by facts on horse slaughter, followed by photo credits, and then finally an epilogue that explains how Barbaro was ultimately humanely euthanized.
I just found the whole thing boring. And now, if I think of this horse at all, I’ll think not of his stupendous Derby win, but of this terrible book.
November 21, 2015
These two cannot write books without typos and factual errors! I swear, they are not capable of it!
*sigh*
Still, with that aside, this is a pretty good book. They certainly share and understand everyone's love for Barbaro. Just double-check the facts you come across in it, as they may or may not be correct.
*sigh*
Still, with that aside, this is a pretty good book. They certainly share and understand everyone's love for Barbaro. Just double-check the facts you come across in it, as they may or may not be correct.
November 20, 2009
Dang, I loved this horse.
December 19, 2010
I was already familiar with Barbaro's story, and this book didn't add anything new. To me, it read like a collection of newspaper articles.
November 23, 2022
Excellent book-I am not a cryer but this is a heartbreaker. Keep the Kleenex nearby! I really knew very little about horses and horse racing but following a trip to Kentucky, including Churchill Downs and a stud farm, picked this up. It’s a great and easy read, other than the emotional heartbreak. My only knock is the the book takes you through the entire journey of the story, but ends prior to the complications that eventually took Barbaro’s life. I am guess int author(s) had a reason for this, but as a reader I am not aware of it which felt like a huge void.
May 22, 2017
Suitable for racing fans, horses lovers, and those new to racing. The authors wisely included lots of racing history so dedicated horse people will be engaged, and enough explanations and a glossary of terms to make it appropriate for newbies too.
The sad ending was handled adeptly as well.
The sad ending was handled adeptly as well.
September 8, 2016
This is a very good story until the end, you may cry or not. This thoroughbred horse, loved racing and when he was in the Triple Grand Prix race he fell and hurt his left hind hoof. He was never able to race again.(Before his fall, he won every other race). His hind hoof, and now quarter had to get surgery multiple times, then eventually they had to cut just about all of his hind quarters, later he wasn't doing so well with laminitis (a disease). They had to put Barbaro down, his ashes lay in his pasture next to the beautiful lake next to him.
July 30, 2015
Sprinkled with errors--both spelling and factual, needs more detail: like the DATE poor Barbaro had his accident (page 87). I had to look it up: May 20, 2006. I watched that race, and saw him suffer this incident. It was truly shocking and unforgettable.
Unfortunately, Barbaro did not impact the nation like Seabiscuit, Man o' War or Secretariat, so to title this book with A Nation's Love Story is wishful thinking.
Unfortunately, Barbaro did not impact the nation like Seabiscuit, Man o' War or Secretariat, so to title this book with A Nation's Love Story is wishful thinking.
May 31, 2009
A heartwarming biography of the life of Barbaro, the tragedy-ridden 2006 Kentucky Derby winner.
Read
January 13, 2012testing .....
July 6, 2016
Simply written. Should be classified as YA.
January 28, 2009
This was a wonderful book & it made me cry!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews