In only four year's time, Barbara, the amazing horse who won the Kentucky Derby in 2006, ran, won and lost his life due to injuries suffered at the Preakness Stakes.

Although Barbaro was heavily favored to win the Preakness with the same gusto he ran the Kentucky Derby. Barbara crashed through the starting gate prematurely and after he was reloaded in the gate and began the race, he fractured three bones in and around the ankle of his right hind leg shortly after the start of the race. The injury squelched any possibility of Barbara winning the triple crown and effectively ended his racing career. It is still unknown if he broke the bones during that initial crash into the starting gate or later in the race.

The day after his break at the Preakness, he underwent surgery to repair his injuries but he developed the complication of laminitis in his left rear leg. Laminitis is a potentially life-threatening affliction that is common in horses who shift weight to one foot for extended periods of time to keep pressure off an injured foot Barbara suffered through an additional five surgeries including the removal of 80% of his hoof and his prognosis varied as he remained for an extraordinarily long period of time in the equine Intensive Care Unit. Although his right leg eventually healed, a final risky surgery on it proved futile because the colt soon developed further laminitis in both front legs. Unlike many other animals, it is difficult for a horse to heal when he has a broken leg as his other three legs will have difficulty bearing the weight of the horse in many cases.

Seeing that Barbaro's quality of life was suffering, he was euthanized on January 29, 2007.