Sir Barton- Triple Crown Winner

I was never really seized by the Barbaro phenomenon. The casual race fan was swept away by the drama of victory and disaster. Maybe we veterans of the Philadelphia Park front stretch, weaned on puzzling out $8000 claimers non-winners of two lifetime, know that horses break down- and that sort of tragedy is part and parcel of the turf.

Let’s dispense with the easy stuff. Barbaro was a fine thoroughbred- worthy winner of America’s greatest turf prize: the Kentucky Derby. He entered and exited the 2006 Derby undefeated- and romped home with charisma and style. His accident at the Preakness deprived the sport of a good horse and better story.

But Barbaro's next best win was the Florida Derby (good win), after that the Laurel (now we’re rapidly moving into Saturday afternoon feature class wins).

It is okay. He is not the first athlete to move ahead more on charisma and drama- maybe just a little weirder in a horse. But I can do without this sort of thing- renaming the Sir Barton Stakes after Barbaro. Barbaro might have turned out to be a better horse- but as their resumes read right now, Barbaro ain’t in Sir Barton’s league. After all, Sir Barton heads the list of one of America's great rosters: Triple Crown Winners. And Sir Barton was in the Army too.

Take a moment to read about Sir Barton here.