Do you think that people should be making a Barbaro movie so soon after his death?

Question

What about Man O' War, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed? Has everybody forgotten about them? I mean, they were all WAY better than Barbaro and they have not gotten any recognition! I think Barbaro doesn't deserve his movie YET!

Answer 1

Thanks, hoyo2 99- you said better than I ever could. I, too, am sick to death of hearing people say that the Jacksons tried to save Barbaro only for the stud fees he might have made- THAT is so wrong it makes me physically sick. The Jacksons tried to save that horse because THEY LOVED HIM, and for no other reason !!! They don't need the money- they are independently wealthy, and own a beautiful farm about an hour's drive from where I live. Before I got my current job, in fact, I even considered interviewing with them for a position they had open as a manager on their farm. ( This was last year, in August, after Barbaro had been hurt.) Do you know that they advertised in the Equimax registry for someone to fill that position for 3 solid months- but that they got almost NO responses? I have to wonder why that happened- and the only thing I can think of is that not everyone was sharp enough to realize who the ad was from. If I had interviewed with them and taken the job- do you think I would have had reason to worry about my job security? I think NOT !!! MONEY IS, and WAS, of NO CONCERN to this couple- that's what made them so special in the eyes of so many in this business.  That's also why they chose Michael Matz to be Barbaro's trainer- and why he is continuing to train horses for them today. Michael's philosophy is much like their own- and he too is unmotivated by money.  ( It sure as h**l wasn't money that made Michael risk his life after that plane crash in 1989- he was just an ordinary person who did what had to be done because it was the RIGHT THING TO DO.) When are people in this business ever going to get over the idea that everything has to revolve around money, and that everything has to have a price tag? Life isn't a commodity that you can buy or sell- you have to LIVE IT. As to whether or not Barbaro deserves his own movie, I would say that it's not likely that we will be able to avoid seeing it. There were too many people who loved the horse and were drawn to the stories behind his connections for that. The other horses mentioned have not been forgotten- but their stories didn't hold the kind of human interest that Barbaro's story did. I myself am a long time fan of Michael Matz, his trainer- I have been watching Michael and following his career for over 30 years now. ( In fact, I nearly came close to meeting him a little over a decade ago, at a show jumping clinic he was giving in Southern Pines, NC.)  I think that they should go ahead with the movie- and I look forward to seeing it.

Answer 2

Why not, was he the best ever, no, would Bernardini have beat him in the Preakness if he didn't break down, yes.  But I would rather watch a movie about Barbaro then another dance off movie or 90% of the other c**p that gets produced these days.  

Also, if I read on this site again that the Jacksons only kept him alive to syndicate him at Stud I'm going to jump off one of my barns.  Even if he recovered he would have been physically unable to mount and breed a mare.  Before people start saying the Jacksons kept him alive for the money they should look at his leg, then stop by my farm and watch one of our stallions cover a mare, if you still think it's possible then there's a mental home down the road you can check yourself into, they serve a very nice breakfast.

Answer 3

the 4 champions you mention above, would make barbaro choke on his bridle at the top of the stretch....maybe lifetime can make a movie for him in about 10 years....he he he....what about

"cougar 2nd" the black cat from the early "70's

Answer 4

Barbaro was a beautiful boy and a champion and I cried when he finally lost his fight, but - neither he nor any other horse compares to Secretariat. He was the greatest racehorse ever. His 1973 Belmont -an unheard-of win of 31 lengths that I saw as a kid and will never forget if I live to be 100 - is part of American sports history. I hadn't heard about a Barbaro movie, but it's just an attempt to cash in before the stupid public forgets him. I won't be watching. If Disney does a halfway decent job about Secretariat, I'll be there.

Answer 5

Just to clarify the above response, Barbaro did not win by the biggest margin in 60 years.  Secretariat won by such a big lead that the rest of the field wasn't in the shot.  He is considered by most racing fans to be the best horse ever.  The most interesting fact about Barbaro was the advances in vet. medicine as a result of his treatment.  He didn't have enough of a career to be considered with horses like Man-O-War, Ruffian, Sea Biscuit, or the others already named.

Answer 6

I haven't heard anything about a Barbaro movie.  It doesn't seem likely since there is already so much out on him and most of it has been covered.  The Ruffian movie will be on

ABC the same day as the Belmont.  A movie about Secretariat has been approved by Disney and the script is now being written.  Still can't see how they will get a horse that is close to Secretariat but who knows.

Answer 7

I really dont know why there would be a Barbaro movie at all. I heard that there was suppose to have been a movie about Ruffian made, but I have yet to see that. Also why not a movie about Go For Wand, she broke down giving her all in an all out stretch battle, not because she took a bad step 5 seconds into a race. Sadly I have seen great horses that have broken down many times over the years without a movie being made about them. I really dont know what was so special about Barbaro. Yes he won the Derby, hip hip hooray, do his owners feel any more pain that the owner of a $5000 claimer feels if his horse breaks down in a race. Leave him alone, let him rest in peace. They probably gave him more grief trying to save him than if they had euthanized him to start with. And all because of the love of money because you can be d**n sure they didnt try to save Barbaro just because they wanted to look at him on the farm. They were after one thing only and that was syndication and stud fees, so pity the horse, not the owners and let him rest.

Answer 8

First of all they were not better then Barbaro. All them horses were good. The reason that Barbaro is so famous is because he is the only horse that had to put up with a fight so long and not live, plus he was undefeated and predicted to win the Triple Crown. Now does that not sound important to you?

I know I see that you liked Barbaro, but the reason they would make a movie is because he just captured the hearts of so many people. I know that them other horses did too, but they didn't win the Derby by the biggest lead in 60 years, or bust out of the gate in the Preakness, later to get pulled up and fight for his life.

I think that Barbaro deserves a movie the most out of them horses. But them horses also should have a movie too.

They were all important and we have not, and will not ever forget about them.

-mel

RIP Barbaro

Answer 9

There should not be one to begin with.  The horse wins one big race and people freak out that he broke down in the next.  I will never see it.