I will never forget the image of jockey Edgar Prado desperately trying to rein in Barbaro as his horse refused to stop chasing the Preakness field despite a badly broken leg.

Barbaro's leg is actually broken in two places*.  The first fracture occurred when he stumbled a few hundred yards into the race.  The second happened afterwards, when he refused to quit running despite the protestations of his rider.  According to Dr. Larry Bramlage, the veterinarian on-hand at the track, the injuries are life-threatening.

Dr. Bramlage explained that the biggest concern right now is blood flow to the damaged limbs.  Horses have only two small arteries that push blood down that far and an injury like this can easily cause significant damage to both.

It's no coincidence that modern warfare reached it's most brutal apex right as the cavalry was reaching the end of its useful life as a military branch.  Only a sadist could witness these beautiful, loyal animals dying by the dozens in a hail of bullets and not find him himself sickened in the process.** 

Barbaro was sent to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for treatment.  If he has a chance anywhere, this will be the place. 

Barbaro's racing days are over, but he's earned his time in the meadow.  Let us dearly hope he receives it.

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*In a pre-surgical evaluation, a third fracture was found.  The surgeon who is to perform the operation said of the injury, "It's about as bad as it could be."  Here's a good post that has much more information about the unfortunate side of horse racing.

**The reader might believe this paragraph existed without the context needed for it to make sense.  The reader would be right.  At the time of the composition of this piece, the context seemed entirely self-evident.  In hindsight, this is further evidence that the detachment needed for good writing deserts me when the subject matter is this affecting.