My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse

My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse Horseracing is a sport in which the horses are too often regarded by their connections as nothing more than commodities. Not so with Barbaro. Edgar Prado's love of this great champion was tangible in his moving account of their relationship, especially as he wrote of the months that followed Barbaro's ultimately fatal injury. If we thought the only time he visited Barbaro was when the cameras were rolling, we were wrong. It is especially gratifying to learn that Barbaro's tragedy has led Prado to become a vocal advocate for the welfare of thoroughbred horses. In addition to raising money for veterinary research, Prado works with groups that rescue unwanted thoroughbreds who would otherwise end up dying under appalling conditions in foreign slaughterhouses. His efforts to improve conditions for Barbaro's breed does honor to Barbaro's memory.

It was hard for me to read this book, knowing the sad ending. I'm nuts about animals, and stories about the death of one invariably makes me tear up. I read the ending of Good Dog. Stay., for example, with tears streaming down my face, although it was the story of an old dog that had lived a long and pampered life. Barbaro, on the other hand, dies in pain at the peak of his life. Author Edgar Prado, Barbaro's jockey, tells this heartbreaking story with skill and compassion. From the moment Prado first sees Barbaro, he is impressed. "He wasn't a sleek and slender classic beauty. He was all jock." Prado successfully petitions the owners to let him ride the big colt. After a thrilling win in the Kentucky Derby -- with the largest margin of victory since 1946 -- Barbaro is the favorite for the Preakness. But in this second leg of the Triple Crown, the horse sustains an injury, a terrible fracture. By quickly stopping Barbaro, Prado prevents the racehorse from damaging his leg further. Although at first it seems to go well, the recovery effort does not work. At the end Barbaro is suffering and losing weight. The big horse is put down. Prado includes 33 color photographs, most of them of Barbaro in his glory days, racing around a track. He seems to be flying, with his feet barely touching the ground. A shot of him the day before the Preakness shows Barbaro in his stall, reaching out his long neck and nuzzling the horse next door. That one got to me. I cried.

I just loved this book. It's incredibly moving without being overly sentimental. I read it for Barbaro's story, which didn't disappoint, but I was as fascinated by the details about a jockey's life. I recommend this book for horse racing fans but also for anyone who likes a good human (and animal) interest story.

I thought I knew the whole story of Barbaro's short life. I had read every book, watched every news story, and seen every posting online. I ordered this book in August. over 7 months before it was released, based on a letter I heard read from Edgar Prado at a Delaware Park function. It was extremely articulate and full of emotion. By the time the book arrived 2 days ago, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it - it was an emotional story and I knew how badly it ended - but after the first chapter I couldn't put it down. It's extremely well written. I learned a lot about racing in general, but most of all, it told a side of the story I don't think any of us knew. Yes, it opened up old wounds, but it also made me remember what a truly remarkable animal Barbaro was - and this is a truly remarkable book. Thank you, Mr. Prado, for sharing your story with us. If I could give it 100 stars, I would - it's that good!

This is a wonderful tribute to the life and death of a great champion from the jockey who guided him to tremendous victories and saved his life on that fateful day in May 2006. Edgar Prado tells his story on how he got the opportunity to be the jockey of Barbaro and how the champion emerged as something very special in his life. Prado is especially candid on his personal feelings on the Preakness and covers every aspect of what was supposed to be another race on the track to immortality, but became - in a few seconds - a trek of life and death. There are excerpts of letters sent to Prado from fans, which chronicle the outpouring of concern and grief for Barbaro. A powerful section is what was Prado's last visit with Barbaro at the The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center and how he was notified that the Thoroughbred lost his battle to defeat the long odds caused by mounting health problems. This is a powerful recollection and is an absolute must for anyone who was touched by any aspect of Barbaro's story.