Ah perspective. Don't forget all those people who likely drove past food banks to bring plenty of apples and carrots to a horse instead of feeding their fellow man.

I dont have a problem with the coverage. What is the saying... any publicity is good publicity? Hopefully that will be the case. Anyway, another factor that I am sure is playing in the amount of coverage that the sun gives this is that it happenend in baltimore. If this had happenend a few weeks back in kentuky I doubt there would be this much coverage from the sun.

T.F. -- Did it occur to you that it is possible to do both? Having only one cause does not make your dedication to it better than that of someone who chooses to spread their good fortune around. As a life-long horse racing fan, I am quite happy to drop off carrots which are going to be shared among many animals (some experimental, not necessarily those owned by the wealthy) on my way home from Goodwill with my latest clothing donation.

If you feel people are starving in the US, you might try agitating for governmental change rather than relying on charity.

I can tell you why we little folks care so much about a horse. I was recalling Secretariat. In a spring when there was nothing but Watergate and criminal activity in the news, a horse that loved to run and ran well was the most honest thing there was. He appeared on the cover of every major news magazine that spring. It was amazing . . . for awhile we all forgot the mess the country was in. I think it is the same with Barbaro. He is like an injured pet. He doesn't have his own agenda. He was doing what he loved and he can't do it again. I agree that the center doesn't need the money but I think an honest animal always touches the heartstrings. You can't help but hope he survives and has a pain free and happy future.

Personally, I would much rather see news on Barbaro than on George Bush. Lest we forget, without animals, mankind CANNOT exist, and they WERE here before us. Another thing, this is America, the citizens of this country can choose to donate to whatever they want and good for the person who donated a large sum of money to create the Barbaro Fund; maybe this will help other horses from needlessly being euthanized. Maybe the government should take the money that is spent supporting millions of Illegal Immigrants and put it to helping the unfortunate, homeless, and hungry citizens of this country.

As a spectator at the Preakness on Saturday I don't think there has at all been too much coverage on this event. It was devestating to all who love the sport of racing and horses alone. Coverage on Barbaro and his progress is GOOD NEWS that should be reported on! 'Just a horse' as if humans are superior to all other creatures on earth - my ass...tell that to the millions who know this animal like the back of their hand.

Horses are hard-coded into my DNA, so my anguish over Barbaro's injury was completely expected, but I am blown away by the overwhelming response from the public! It's gratifying, and I wish him well.

I also wish that the people who are sending flowers, apples, cards, and donations would think about the horses and humans who try to eke out a living at the smaller bush league tracks scattered all over the US. Many of these horses are forced to run in poor condition, ignoring injuries, poor nutrition, foot problems, etc. in hopes that a small payoff will help pay the bills. Horses that are too slow, too old, or too sore to run are bought by killer buyers for $350 - $500. They are slaughtered and exported to Europe and Asia where it sells for $17 a pound.

Last fall I bought a Thouroughbred who was destined for the slaughterhouse. For $500 I bought a malnourished horse with bad feet. The vet said he had poor conformation, meaning he should never have been put into training. He's recovered well and is fat and sassy, enjoying his life of leisure. I looked up his pedigree and discovered that he is a distant relative of Barbaro...does anyone want to send me money to help with his upkeep?

I think the coverage we've experienced so far speaks volumes about our society...in a positive way. If you're looking for a way to justify the financial support that has been sent to the facility at New Bolton, then perhaps you should consider the fact that medical advances made in veterinary medicine are frequently transferrable to the treatment of humans. As for me, I'd rather think that there are members of our society who were just plain moved by what we all saw on the track that day. Donations to food banks in our part of the US frequently contain items for pets. What about yours?

I attened the Preakness saturday with a friend from Washigton, yes, I left feeling sick and a strange longing for something I couldn't reach out for, there is a strong bond between man and horse, here is a magnificent creature out there for our pleasure and he is almost destroyed, gives me a heavy heart to say the least..

It all depends on if you are a horse person or not. I have watched the news everyday wanting more information on Barbaro.. Is he ok, will he live, will his leg heal, and if it does will he live a pain free life, thank God the owner has the means to help him through his crisis or he would have been put down. That said-- the facility that I have been looking at in all the stories I have read looks like it has plenty of funding, and if you feel the need to donate funds to help animals, send it to New Orleans to help the Horses, dogs, cats, cows etc. that have been homeless since Katrina. I am sure they will appreciate it... As for Barbaro I wish him well and sincerely hope that he can recover. Maybe he can help produce the next Secretariet Who Knows....

It all depends on if you are a horse person or not. I have watched the news everyday wanting more information on Barbaro.. Is he ok, will he live, will his leg heal, and if it does will he live a pain free life, thank God the owner has the means to help him through his crisis or he would have been put down. That said-- the facility that I have been looking at in all the stories I have read looks like it has plenty of funding, and if you feel the need to donate funds to help animals, send it to New Orleans to help the Horses, dogs, cats, cows etc. that have been homeless since Katrina. I am sure they will appreciate it... As for Barbaro I wish him well and sincerely hope that he can recover. Maybe he can help produce the next Secretariet Who Knows....

While it’s likely true that the Barbaro story will delay Mr. Steele’s playoff coverage for a day, it’s also true that no amount of grousing about the passion Americans have for animals is going to stop it. The great stallion limping to an ambulance triggered an outpouring of generosity and support that some argue should be going to humans. But you can’t dictate people’s charitable urges, and you can’t dictate who their heroes are. With so few uncorrupt human heroes left it’s no surprise people rally around a fallen animal champion. Barbaro’s long walk to the breeder’s shed is also breeding compassion and generosity. What on earth could be wrong with that?

I’ve visited the Penn vet hospital too. It's a teaching hospital. If a few people giving a few bucks means a few more animals get a chance to see the good vets there, and their people get to keep them around, I say let’s celebrate the generosity of the American spirit, and the animals who inspire it. While we're at it, we might want to let go of the notion that generosity is finite.

This horse does not pay taxes, but his very existense provides gainful employment for many; furthermore, his performance creates tax dollars. What is your problem--just that he is an animal?

So which is it? Should the sport do more to help injured animals like Barbaro, or should they put the animals down because money is allegedly needed at food banks in a society where human obesity is a much larger real problem than hunger.

There's some real perspective.

We are interested both from a science standpoint and from a humane standpoint about the progress Barbaro makes, though we don't need more rehash of the accident and what everybody was thinking/doing when it happened. I would say I have learned more about horses in the past week than in the previous 10 years.

I feel that the coverage has gone a bit overboard, and I say that as a person that owns 3 ex-racehorses and understands and empathizes with everyone involved with Barbaro.

Your comments about the donations to New Bolton however, were way off base. The fund being set up is designed to help save animals that otherwise would have less of a chance of living. Not everyone who owns horses is wealthy. There are many many older horses in use giving riding lessons to children or providing therapeautic rides at a handicapped riding center than there are being owned by rich elitests. These horses are too old to qualify for insurance that would pay the hefty vet bills should something happen to them. Shame on you for putting down such a fund. The great thing about America is that you can choose where to donate your money, and whether you would rather feed a horse or a homeless person.

Yes, T.F., because people who have compassion for animals NEVER have a drop to spare for humans. *rolls eyes* Having worked in many charity events for both humans and animals, I've found that most people who love animals also love their fellow man. I've also found that those who complain about charity for animals almost never give any money or time to ANY causes.

Every cause has its champions. Homeless people, homeless pets, kids here in the US, kids overseas. You name it, someone cares about it. If all those someones cared about the same thing, the level of misery in this world would skyrocket due to all of the other unattended needs.

The causes an individual supports are individual choice. One shouldn't compare one against another, or worse, impugn a person for supporting one over the other.
It's perfectly OK if someone would rather write a check to restore a wetland, versus feed a kid. Someone somewhere else is making the opposite decision. Charity in all of its forms is noble and shouldn't be judged.

David,
You've completely and utterly missed the point. The reason people are making donations to that fund -- or to the equine medical center -- is because of the pleasure they've received from Barbaro, whether it is through watching him compete, betting on him, etc, etc. It's completely understandable for them to give something back to the horse for the joy he has provided them. It is absolutely no different from hundreds of other charities in this country -- some of which you might consider silly or unworthy.

Can anyone tell me where I can find the current condition of the horse.I'm not a race fan and don't care to debate the who or what deserves most, junk.Every living creature is very special and should be helped when needed.With the outstanding odds against this animals survival we all can learn from him.If we will work for our own causes with the strength and class this animal has shown to survive then there will be plenty of help for all needy,human or animal,rich or poor