Preakness Time

AP photo

The upcoming Preakness in Maryland has to remind any racing fan of that horrible moment when Barbaro's leg broke. As we all experienced over the following months, breaking a leg for a horse is often fatal.

The racing horse of our day is bred for speed, not for durability. His/her spindly legs break often. Usually the result is putting the horse down, sometimes right there on the track.

Although gains have been made, and equine medicine improved, by the intensive and expensive treatment given to Barbaro, the breeding and the conformation of our racehorses should be improved. A horse should be bred for strength and durability as well as just speed.

A year ago, Barbaro broke from the gate before the bell, and had to be brought back and reloaded. If that had been used as the reason for pulling him out, declaring he was off his stride, and the race forfeited, the racing world would be a better place.

Today his rider of that day writes about his experience of the broken leg and the battling racehorse, but he doesn't deal with the underlying mistakes.

I have a stray cat, he adopted me and he's ruptured a ligament, the surgery will be expensive, and friends are helping me. Barry from Alaska, ql from ny, woody, and others have chipped in. We take care of our friends and I will be posting pics of Fluffy when he's back on Tuesday. Thanks.

We need to be responsible in breeding as well. Our companions should be able to count on us to care about their lives, and about their health. The animals we don't breed for a reason should also be spayed or neutered.