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41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brings it all back..., May 5, 2007
This review is from: Barbaro - A Nation's Horse (DVD)
This is the first of two documentaries (the second is to air on HBO in June) that tells the bittersweet story of a horse that captured the heart of a nation last year. Even the casual "once or twice a year" horseracing fan has to admit that the story surrounding the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner tugs at the heartstrings.
We were astounded by his brilliant Derby, devastated by his subsequent Preakness nightmare, amazed by his sheer will to live, and lastly, heartbroken by the news of his death. The world rallied behind this champion the entire summer and fall and into the winter, and this is the story of those events.
It starts at the end, really - beginning with the day owners Roy & Gretchen Jackson and Barbaro's surgeon, Dr. Dean Richardson, explained why they couldn't go on, and the decision to euthanize was made. The story then goes into detail about the events that came together - the trainer's brush with death in a plane crash and the heroics surrounding it, his Olympic glory, the owners and the story behind Barbaro's name, the birth of Barbaro and his astounding feats on both turf and dirt leading up to the Ky Derby, and his unfortunate mistep in the Preakness Stakes.
It then switches gears to the story of his gallant battle to beat the odds - his lifesaving surgery and healing, the table-turning laminitis, and his deceiving progress which in turn ended up meaning the loss of one of the best horses the world has seen in nearly 30 years.
It brings back all the emotions of joy and fear, hope and sadness - that horseracing is so full of. Barbaro's courage and will to live captivated the world, and not just the horseracing community. It serves to remind us that fame is fleeting, horseracing is full of the highest highs and the lowest lows, and as Gretchen Jackson so rightly said- with love comes grief. But when you have a horse so beloved as Barbaro, it is worth it. So is this DVD.
If you are an avid horseracing fanatic, it will bring tears to your eyes, again. If you are just a casual follower or fan, it still will. Trust me.
[...]
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Sweet Story, May 23, 2007
This review is from: Barbaro - A Nation's Horse (DVD)
I had to watch this first by myself so I could get all the tears out of the way and then I watched it with my 8 year old daughter and STILL cried, as did she. The documentary begins at the end, the day Barbaro died, at the press conference with the Jacksons and Dr. Richardson, explaining exactly what went wrong and why it was felt that it was just time. Then Barbaro's story is told, by a host of people from those who were at the farm where he was born to his trainer, Michael Matz, his jockey Edgar Prado, other racing afficianados, and of course the Jacksons and Dr Richardson. It also rips to shreds the rumors, spread by those who had no clue, that the motive for Barbaro's extrordinary care was strictly financial. It shows the incredible love that his owners had for him. A love that was not only shared by his owners, trainers, jockeys and those in the racing world but a deep love that eventually was shared by people all over the world. This film gives you a sense of what Barbaro not only could have but in my opinion would had achieved had fate not interviened. This is also shown in the bonus features of all five of Barbaro's races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. There is also footage of the Jacksons discussing the lithograph of the foxhounds in their living room that gave them Barbaro's name, plus a short snippet of his full brother, Nicanor, a yearling colt who will begin his career in 2008. The only disappointment is that they did not tack on the footage of his new full brother, born April 20th on the DVD. This was shown at the end of the version that ran on NBC May 5th after the Kentucky Derby.
This is a MUST have for all Barbaro fans as well as anyone w/a love for horseracing and even those who aren't racing fans.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forever's Champion, July 21, 2008
This review is from: Barbaro - A Nation's Horse (DVD)
In 2007, a pair of television documentaries aired concerning the brilliant career and courageous battle for life by Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
This production by NBC Sports is narrated by Bob Costas. The documentary is split into seven sections and has bonus footage. It features full coverage of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes & Barbaro's five races that sparked his run for Triple Crown immortality.
The interviews are with the individuals who are most associated with the champion; trainer Michael Matz, jockey Edgar Prado, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson and veterinarian Dr. Dean Richardson.
The nearly 13 minutes that closes the documentary - The Recovery and Barbaro's Legacy - clearly demonstrates why this story will continue to resonate amongst people who hardly follow Thoroughbred racing. The inclusion of letters to Barbaro is especially touching.
This is a wonderful tribute. Barbaro will remain forever's champion due to his will to live and the trust he placed in others, on and off the track.
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