Barbaro: The Horse Who Captured America's Heart

By Sean Clancy

Book Overview

With his breathtaking victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro immediately captured racing fans' hearts and excited hopes of finally seeing a Triple Crown winner. His story was that much more captivating for the real-life heroics of his trainer, former Olympic show jumper Michael Matz. The Pennsylvania-born horseman had survived a horrific plane crash in 1989 and saved the lives of three young children who were reunited with Matz to witness Barbaro's Derby. But moments after the start of the Preakness, any Triple Crown hopes were dashed when jockey Edgar Prado desperately pulled Barbaro up, the colt having taken a bad step and shattering his left hind leg. In the days and weeks that followed, a concerned public anxiously watched as the talented veterinarians worked to save Barbaro's life. Despite a grave prognosis and several setbacks, Barbaro continues to defy the odds, proving his courage and heart off the track is perhaps even greater than it was on the track.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581501595
• ISBN13: 9781581501599
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Blood-Horse, Incorporated, The
• Length: 187 Pages
• Weight: 1.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 10.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

The Ecstasy and the Agony

If there is anything more beautiful than a horse at leisure in a pasture, playing and kicking and just being a horse, it must be a horse at the top of the Churchill Downs stretch on the first Saturday in May, straightening out from the turn, swapping leads, sailing free and heading home for glory. Barbaro gave us that, and Sean Clancy found a way to honor Barbaro's memory in words and in pictures, a way to celebrate his life rather than just remembering that horrific scene at Pimlico. Barbaro's racing legacy will stand forever as a Kentucky Derby winner, unerasable by all who saw him, but his greater legacy may be the things the vets learned from him that may save other horses down the road. A difficult legacy, and one nobody wanted, but a champion's legacy nonetheless. Thanks, Mr. Clancy, for giving us back Barbaro!

Worthy of Barbaro!

Sean Clancy's book is well written, well-researched, beautifully planned, and a joy to read. The reader is taken on a journey through the training of Barbaro, from just learning to walk with leads, to learning about starting gates, to the training leading up to his racing career! Behind the story of Barbaro is the story of his "connections" and the reader learns more than sound-bites about them all. There is heart and soul in the book, and every word seems carefully chosen. The full color photographs are artfully placed, and the centerfold of the Kentucky Derby win is amazing. While we all know the sad outcome for Barbaro, the way in which Sean Clancy wrote about it is a tribute to Barbaro and all who knew him, and a joy for those who loved him! Billed as a "coffee table book," this book is a must for your library and a thoughtful gift for any animal lover you may know. Worth every penny and then some!

BEAUTIFUL, SUPERB BARBARO Bio & Pictures

I also received my order early and was amazed at the beauty contained in this book! I haven't had an opportunity to read much of the contents, but immediately looked at the wonderful pictures. Just seeing some of the close-ups of Barbaro brought tears to my eyes; he was such a magnificent animal and like so many others, I followed his journey to the end, so I'm very thankful to have this wonderful book! Thank you, Sean Clancy, for writing about and showing us the beloved horse who did, indeed, capture our hearts.

A Wonderful Tribute To The Greatest Of Champions

This could be the most anticipated book ever that covers Thoroughbred racing, and it is a most perfect trip from gate-to-wire. Author Sean Clancy tells the triumphant and tragic story of Barbaro as it happens, with the reader feeling the euphoria of victory, heartfelt pain of uncertainty and anger seconds after the start of the Preakness Stakes & the optimism that - through the surgeries and setbacks - this champion was going to beat the long odds, because we were urging him to make that great drive to the finish line to defeat death by a nose. As Clancy explained in a recent column in The Blood-Horse magazine, he was confronted with a deadline as Barbaro's health began to teeter precariously for what was the final time. Those final words to close the book really aren't the end, though, as Barbaro's death won't be in vain if research avenues open up that will save the lives of racers in years to come and each runner who gives it all for us on the track is treated with respect & dignity when that inevitable final home stretch in life is being run. The wealth of pictures alone tells the story and shows the time & thought that went into the planning for the book. Barbaro captured America's heart in a way that is rarely seen in today's sports media. But it was his trust in caretakers and will to live that ultimately showed that Barbaro had the biggest heart of all.

Amazing! A true tribute to the amazing Barbaro! Quite possibly the best book I have ever seen in t

First of all, I received this book a bit early for some reason. But I am not complaining! THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC! I am blown away by every single page! THIS is THE book the FOBs (Fans of Barbaro) have been waiting for, truly! It is beautiful, and the photographs are nothing short of spectactular! If you haven't ordered this book ... please do! It should be something EVERY FOB has on their desk. It is quite possibly the most gorgeous book I have ever seen! The hundred pictures or so are all of extremely high quality, and though I haven't had a chance to read it all yet, what I did skim through so far is touching and eloquent! The eulogy at the end, especially the "author's note," is extremely heartfelt and moving. Most fans have already learned that there are some online chapters, but what a lot of you don't know is how gorgeous the pictures are ... and I have to say that a lot of the pictures are brand new to my eyes! Several of the photos from Barbaro's early races are rare, to be sure ... and there are a lot of stunning pictures of Barbaro and his jockey Edgar Prado that are awe-inspiring! The love, hope and pain that Barbaro's story evoked just bleeds through every single page of this book! It is 190 pages of pure love! There are copies of Barbaro's race charts, his pedigree, credits for more than 100 breathtaking photos, and just about everything a Barbaro fan could want in a book! Mr. Clancy put every effort forth one could possibly make to create this superb tribute to America's most loved horse. This book is truly worthy of being on your coffee table! Bless Sean Clancy for writing this truly inspiring masterpiece! Order it, I promise if you loved Barbaro - you won't be disappointed!