Watching a stellar and gifted racehorse break down is a sight one never forgets. It stays seared and forever etched in your memory banks. Once there, it can't be shaken.

Like a diabolical villain from a childhood nightmare, it haunts and torments you. There's simply no escaping it.

You had to be made of stone not have been moved when budding superstar Barbaro came up lame in the Preakness Stakes.

Watching such a horrific incident cuts you to the core. It brings a lump to your throat. It numbs you into silence. You stand there in utter disbelief, trying to convince yourself that what you're witnessing isn't really happening.

You hope it's nothing more than your eyes playing tricks on you. Perhaps it's merely some kind of warped mirage.

But realization soon takes hold. The reality of the situation strikes you like a whip to the back. It stings. It hurts. It crushes your spirit.

Fortunately for all of us, Barbaro's spirit and will aren't as easily dashed.

Whenever a thoroughbred suffers a catastrophic injury it's cause for genuine sadness. In so many ways, they're gallant warriors who give totally of themselves in the heat of battle. Their heart is pure when it comes to offering their best and running with all that's in them. If only their human counterparts competed with the same earnestness of effort.

And when calamity befalls a revered colt like Barbaro, it only magnifies the anguish.

Here was a dynamic horse just starting to scratch the surface of his potential greatness. A magnificent animal primed to make a run for glory and into the record books.

His scintillating win in the Kentucky Derby had created quite a stir on a number of accounts.

To begin with, the dark bay colt had run the fastest Derby in 16 years. Moreover, his massive 6 1/2-length victory was the largest differential dating back to 1940.

Barbaro was also just the second undefeated winner of the race since the esteemed Seattle Slew in 1977.

Adding to his mystique was the fact that Barbaro came to Churchill Downs having been lightly raced. He was bucking all conventional wisdom. No horse in 50 years had won the Derby on the heels of five-weeks rest.

But Barbaro did win and in smashing style. Suddenly, he had become a trendsetter. He worked less work but nonetheless got great results.

Barbaro's widespread popularity was certainly based on the fact that he won but his looks also gained him admirers.

Standing at nearly 17 hands high, the three-year old was a towering figure. He was big, he was long and he was rangy.

His musculature was just as impressive. Barbaro was ripped like a young Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was a equine Adonis. He was undeniably a striking sight to behold.

And did he ever possess an ample supply of athleticism. Despite his size, Barbaro was fast and nimble. He also exhibited a balance and strength that belied his age. To those in the know, he seemed a horse mature beyond his years.

So with the Derby already locked up, Barbaro headed to Baltimore ready to win more hardware and add to his legend. And to inch ever so closer to that elusive Triple Crown.

As we all know now, it wasn't to be. When he prematurely broke through the starting gate, it was almost as if it was a foreshadowing of things to come. The vibe seemed strange. Things didn't appear right.

Moments later and with the race barely underway, he was pulled up short. His distraught jockey Edgar Prado quickly dismounted. Holding the reins and resting his hand on Barbaro's flank, Prado waited anxiously for help to arrive.

The sight of Barbaro's right hind leg suspended high in the air more than told the story. The damage was major. In a split second, a vibrant and bright career was snuffed out. Barbaro would never grace a racetrack again.

Soon it was reported that Barbaro has suffered significant breaks both above and below the ankle. His leg had broken into pieces like shards from a glass.

His lost career was now an afterthought. With those who examined him calling his situation life-threatening, Barbaro's very survival became the focus. A sense of foreboding hung over the sport of horseracing.

Later the next day, the crippled colt underwent six hours of exhaustive surgery. A sizeable plate and 27 screws were inserted into the damaged leg.

One only need look at a post-operative X-Ray to appreciate the magnitude of the injury. Extensive, sophisticated and precise work was required to repair the breaks.

The inside of Barbaro's leg resembled the cross ties of a railroad track. It was as almost as if a crazed spider had spun a metallic web within.

And then to the waiting. How would Barbaro respond? How would he react once out from the effects of the anesthesia? At that stage, it was anyone's guess.

It's now a full week later. For those who ever doubted the fight of this gritty colt, you might feel a bit ashamed. The indomitable horse who raced with such zest and flair has a matching resolve and spirit.

His will to live and survive is immense. It's not in his makeup to go quietly or pack it in. He's here for the long haul.

Thus far, the prognosis is truly encouraging. Though still in intensive care, Barbaro's vital signs are good. He's alert, he looks great and that his feisty demeanor is clearly in evidence.

What's more, he's showing a healthy appetite as he gobbles down all the carrots and apples the veterinarians will allow. It's even been reported that he's showing signs of interest in the opposite sex. Could anything be more encouraging?

But though the indicators are positive, the big bay's surgeons caution that he still isn't out of the woods. The chance for infection is real and the prospects of complications can't be ignored.

They also add that the road to recovery will take time. There's no quick fix when it comes to injuries of this type. Barbaro still faces an uphill road.

Yet, he appears to be winning the battle. He's faced death and didn't blink. He's had the thing he was born to do taken from him but still he marches on. The innate spirit that made him so brilliant on the track is fully intact.

His racing days are over but it could've been worse. He might have perished on that fateful day in Pimlico. Thankfully, he endures.

He also lives to serve as reminder of what he achieved and what fate stole from him. A bittersweet mixture of happy memories and gnawing heartbreak.

But most importantly, he's still around. We still have him to admire and adore. Though he won his share of races, the battle he now wages is his sternest test.