The tears for Barbaro have all been shed, and now people around the world anxiously await each daily report on the colt’s condition. It’s been more than a week since Barbaro’s horrific injury in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), which set off an outpouring of emotion on a national scale never before seen in Thoroughbred racing.

Although the horse has had an “incredibly good week,” according to Dean W. Richardson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, head of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, he still has much to overcome.

There have been numerous theories on why the injury occurred, but it is all speculation. The latest theory comes from Pimlico Race Course officials who watched the race frame by frame and strongly believe Barbaro’s right hind leg was struck by Brother Derek just before the colt’s misstep.

The injury occurred shortly after the start of the May 20 Preakness, when jockey Edgar Prado heard a noise and felt the horse take a bad step. He abruptly pulled him up and dismounted, as a medical team rushed to the stricken horse. Subsequently, X-rays revealed three fractures above and below the ankle