Tragedy strikes the Preakness
May 21, 2006
| By Dennis Bakay
| 
Discuss
In one split-second an event became a tragedy.
The riders claimed they could hear the crack above the pounding of the hoofs and the roar of the crowd.
It was that loud.
Anyone who saw the Preakness yesterday saw the horrific side of sports. It’s that moment that occurs every so often when we forget about the event; it’s about life. We saw this when Dennis Byrd and Mike Utley were paralyzed during NFL games. We saw this when Hank Gathers died on the court. It’s happened at countless practices in high school, college, and professional levels. Moments like this transcend sports.
We realize just how miniscule sports are in comparison
to life, to humanity. This is part of the human condition. When tragedy
strikes it hits us in our faces like a bucket of ice water and we’re
broken down to one of our most powerful human emotions; compassion.
After the race we could feel the pain Barbaro was going through. I felt
for the horse as it writhed in pain and couldn’t put any pressure
on it’s broken leg. This is the most catastrophic bodily injury that
can happen to a horse as they simply cannot lie down for 6 weeks in order
to allow a bone to heal.
The doctors will try and repair the broken leg in an emergency surgery. 20 years ago, they had a tarp on the track to shield the horse from the public as it was euthanized. That’s how catastrophic a leg injury is. Now, there are major advances in veterinary procedures. The major problem with horses is that their legs are rail thin and hold up an immense body. Added to that, it’s impossible to keep a horse immobilized for a long period of time in order to allow the bones to heal. When there are many broken bones it’s nearly impossible to treat because of infections that occur. In Barbaro’s case he has a break above and below the ankle and there is a chance they can fix it. The doctors won’t know for another 2 months whether the horse can survive.
That’s the danger and beauty of sports. There’s such a fine line between triumph and tragedy and it can occur within a split second at any moment.
Yesterday we saw how a festive event like a triple crown race becomes secondary to what’s really important; the survival of a living creature.
Contact Dennis Bakay at phillysports@earthlink.net
