Three weeks ago, very few people knew who Barbaro was.  Those who did, knew him as one of the top five or so contenders for the Kentucky Derby, nothing more.  Now Barbaro is on the minds of millions of Americans and has easily become the most popular thoroughbred in the world.

Why is it that people are so concerned with this horse?  People act as if their family member has this broken ankle.  After going through surgery, Barbaro is being helped through his recovery by fans around the country. Barbaro has been receiving flowers and fruit baskets on a daily basis. There is even a website where fans can post messages of encouragement for this horse.  Many of these messages are from people saying that they will keep Barbaro in their thoughts and prayers.

Why all of this attention for a racehorse you ask?  It is because these horses are the only athletes that we can find these days that everyone can cheer for.  Barbaro, like other thoroughbreds, isn’t hung up in controversy and scandal.  That is not to say that horseracing is completely clean, but these horses certainly are.

Name a professional sports star, and there is always going to be people who dislike that player for some reason or another.  There is no team that is liked by everyone.  There is simply never a time in sports where everyone is united in cheering for one player or team…except for horseracing.  Everyone wants to see another Triple Crown winner.

Whoever wins the Kentucky Derby is an instant fan favorite.  For the majority of people, it isn’t until that victory that we actually get to
learn about the horse.  Once Barbaro blasted the field for a six and one half length win in the Derby, people became interested in him.  Once this happened, everyone fell in love with him.  Everyone, and I mean everyone was cheering for Barbaro to win the Triple Crown.  It is so easy to cheer for a horse because they are the purest athletes in sports today.

A good horse is something that the entire country can get behind.  After the Depression, Seabiscuit was something that Americans could band together and cheer for.  After Vietnam, Secretariat captured America with his amazing Triple Crown performance.  When people go through tough times, they need something positive to catch their attention, even for just a little while.  People are finding it harder and harder to find what they are looking for in today’s athletes.  Horses like Barbaro however, are exactly what we need.

After the Kentucky Derby, Barbaro was the only thing in sports that had the ability to unite a country.  Unlike the majority of athletes, there is absolutely no reason for someone to dislike a winning horse.  Everyone wants to see a Triple Crown winner, and that is why everyone was a fan of Barbaro.  This is why people are reacting the way they are.

Everyone’s dream of watching a Triple Crown winner was shattered on May 20th, along with Barbaro’s right rear ankle.  This attachment that people form with the Kentucky Derby winner is why people are so concerned with this horse, and so hopeful that he survives this tragic incident.  This is also why Barbaro will remain the most popular horse in America.  Until next year of course.

What do you think? Let John Addler know at john.addler@atomicsportsmedia.com