Jockey Reunited With Recovering Barbaro

May 31, 2006 — -- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is recovering from a broken leg suffered at the Preakness Stakes beyond all expectations, including those of relieved jockey Edgar Prado.

Prado said he had to restrain Barbaro from running free during their reunion Monday. It's an amazing recovery so far for a horse that shattered three bones in his right hind leg a week and a half ago.

The devastating injury, Prado said, left him feeling "empty."

"There was like nothing around," said Prado, in broken English, of the incident at the Preakness. "I didn't even hear the crowd. I don't [sic] hear nothing. I just couldn't believe it. It was very hard shock."

Struggling to keep Barbaro still during the reunion, Prado said his horse was no quitter. Neither is Prado, who was literally back in the saddle racing the day after Barbaro's injury and has raced every day since.

"Because I was real, real hurt emotionally," Prado said. "Real hurt. And if I stay home and watching the pictures or watching the video, I'd be more -- I'd hurt myself more."

Prado's affection for Barbaro is shared by the horse's doctors.

"If you're trying to actually examine him with a stethoscope or something like that, he's nuzzling at your shoulder, trying to get your attention," said Liberty Getman, a second-year surgery resident at the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.

Barbaro has received an enormous outpouring of sympathy that human athletes do not normally get when they are hurt. Getman has a theory as to why so many people feel for the Kentucky Derby winner.

"I think it has to do with the human-animal bond, which is very strong," Getman said. "I mean, people spend thousands of dollars on their dogs, cats, horses every day."

Barbaro's owner, Gretchen Jackson, has a different theory.

"America is really looking for a hero," she said.

However, while Barbaro is showing doctors that he wants out of his stall, he is still not out of the woods. He still faces potential complications such as infections.