TheDOCTORdre
05-20-2006, 05:29 PM
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro failed to finish at the Preakness as Bernardini — ridden by jockey Javier Castellano — won at Pimlico and another year will go by without a Triple Crown winner.
Moments before the Preakness was set to begin, Barbaro busted through the gates prematurely. Soon after the race began, Barbaro was pulled out of the race with a leg injury.
Barbaro was aiming to attempt what 10 horses have tried and failed to do since Affirmed in 1978 - become a Triple Crown champion.
There have been many Triple Crown close calls in the past decade, with six horses winning the first two legs in the last nine years. The closest came in 1998, when Real Quiet was nosed out at the wire in the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel in thoroughbred racing's crowning achievement. The most recent bid was a heartbreaker, too, when Smarty Jones was caught in the final 70 yards.
Moments before the Preakness was set to begin, Barbaro busted through the gates prematurely. Soon after the race began, Barbaro was pulled out of the race with a leg injury.
Barbaro was aiming to attempt what 10 horses have tried and failed to do since Affirmed in 1978 - become a Triple Crown champion.
There have been many Triple Crown close calls in the past decade, with six horses winning the first two legs in the last nine years. The closest came in 1998, when Real Quiet was nosed out at the wire in the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel in thoroughbred racing's crowning achievement. The most recent bid was a heartbreaker, too, when Smarty Jones was caught in the final 70 yards.