When it comes down to surprising moments in any sport, it puts everyone on the edge of the seat waiting to see what happens next. And yes, that includes horse racing.

Why? Because when the odds-on favorite for any major horse racing event runs into trouble, the situation can easily break down into some intense nailbiting moments. And no, not even Triple Crown hopefuls are immune.

We saw one example of this play out over the last eight months or so. After winning the Kentuky Derby by a landslide, the most recent Triple Crown prospect, Barbaro, looked like he was ready to do it again in the Preakness Stakes just weeks later.

But then it happened. Right out of the starting gate, Barbaro hit a major bump in the road - one which, tragically enough, would ultimately become his downfall. Taking a misstep in just the wrong place - and at just the wrong time - one of Barbaro's legs touched down at an awkward angle and broke apart. In front of everyone... and on national telvised broadcast, to boot. And it only continued on dowhill from there.

Oh sure, there was a time when it looked like there would be a good possibility that Barbaro would recover from his mishap, although not as an active racehorse due to the nature of the injury. Yet the writing was on the wall by the time the first case of laminitis cropped up in one of Barbaro's other legs. Still, the majestic horse continued to amaze millions who were more than willing to provide support for Barbaro and the people who were providing his medical treatment with the small, but powerful hope that perhaps Barbaro could still pull through.

Alas, it was not to be. Just this past weekend an abcess was discovered on yet another one of Barbaro's legs, forcing immediate surgery to corect the problem. But the pain and discomfort continued well into Monday morning. And that was the last straw. After much discussion about the situation and Barbaro's chances, it was realized that all involved had done everything they could. Within hours afterward, Barbaro was euthanized out of his misery.

There are other well-known examples of Triple Crown upsets, to be sure - including the defeats of Smarty Jones and other horses that nearly made it all the way to a Triple Crown victory. But no recent cases have been so tragic - and yet so captivating - as that of Barbaro, and for that our magnificient racehorse that almost could will be remembered the most of all.

Godspeed, Barbaro. You will surely be missed by all.

Learn more about this author, Jeffrey Davis.
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