I still feel a profound sadness today, as I hug my Barbaro beenie, wear my Barbaro shirt, and look at his picture on my desktop. He's been a part of my life for a long time, since his debut race and I first saw him. Some people say to me, what is wrong with you, he's just a horse you never even met. He was not just a horse to me. I have followed racing since I can first remember. I was too young and "missed" the greats of the 70s. Barbaro was my Secretariat. His fight these last months has given me inspiration through some of the hardest times I have gone through. I had unwavering faith that he would be okay. For him to suddenly go downhill and be in a position where they finally had to help him cross was a real blow. A lot of people don't and won't understand, but for some of us, his passing has left us feeling hollow and hurt. His owners loved him, his vet loved him, they all cried yesterday during the press conference. For anyone who ever judges that they did what they did to try to save him for money, you are wrong.

Run free sweet Barbaro, you've earned it. Thank you for the good times, and the bad, you didn't owe us anything, but you gave it all.