RIP, Barbaro.

Secretariat and Barbaro comparisons do not hold up. Secretariat, unlike Barbaro won the Triple Crown and set new track and world records. In 1973, he set new speed records for each race in the Crown, something no other horse has done. One reason why the triple crown is so difficult to achieve is b/c the Belmont Stakes course is a longer race than all others, nevertheless Secretariat won by 31 lengths, far more than any horse ever. Secretariat's records for the Derby and Belmont Stakes remain unbroken. Secretariat also could run on both dirt and grass tracks.

So far there's no horse in Secretariat's company, not even his offspring. Like Barbaro, laminitis was the end of Secretariat in 1989 when he was 19 years old. Please stop comparing Barbaro to Secretariat.

Come on, it's a horse, and I suspect most of the initial shock was more prompted by people who lost money betting on Barbaro than any concern for his well-being. Just shoot the blasted thing and be done with it.

I am a Philadelphia(Pa)-area musician/songwriter who has composed an original song (entitled “Wear Your Crown”) in tribute to Barbaro, his fight for survival, and to the doctors/medical staff/volunteers that helped in treating him throughout his courageous battle.

For all of us who cheered him on, both on and (especially!) off the race track, his battle was/IS truly inspiring.

Written/recorded just days after his passing. The song can be heard at my band’s profile page: http://www.myspace.com/thetellalls

May his memory live on forever...

Ken Buono-The Tell Alls

go to the website www.truevine.net/~sec@truevine.net/Legends and and read the paper on Secretariat and ManOWar....that will get you going.