Life-sized statue sits in front of Churchill Downs, a magnificent bronzed Barbaro in full step, all four hooves off the ground and headed towards his greatest victory.
Muscular and athletic, their presence raises the quiet image of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner in the peak of his power and his death eight months later, following the horrific injury.
Some holiday red roses, others snap photos.
Trainer Michael Matz is hoping another 3-year-old horse, Union Rags, can fill a hole in his barn and in his soul.
He sees the same promising signs from rags Union, which has the same delay as Barbaro and early second choice for the 138th Derby on Saturday.
"They are both big and good-looking, fast and athletic. Union Rags still create what Barbaro did," Matz said.
Matz and owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson rode all the roller coaster of emotions in the eight months Barbaro struggle that had the public that they have their roots from the hoof infection that developed after he broke his leg in the opening step of the Preakness two weeks after the Derby. Just when horse appeared on the improvement would need another surgery, and their hopes would Sag again.
Late in 2006, the trio won a $ 2 million Classic breeders 'Cup Ladies' Round the Pond, but their luck ran out two months later when Barbaro was euthanized.
"He won a lot of people's hearts," Matz said. "He was not doing much wrong. He was undefeated horse. Each time we ran it, it worked, but when he got hurt. The racing community, I think he did a lot of people together. I think that even when get hurt, he brought even more together. "
Matz plowed stoically ahead, with Jackson giving him more horses to train, including a baby brother to Barbaro and Nicanor Lentenor.
That changed abruptly in July, with a pair firing Matz after more than 10 years working together. The Jackson told him it was a business decision, going Matz mystified and convinced he had said or done something to make them lose confidence in him.
Matz has said he will be forever grateful to them for giving him a Derby winner, even though they no longer keep in touch.
He has never been one to let a tragedy or setback slow him down. In 1989, he and future wife, D.D. Alexander, were passengers on United Airlines flight that crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 111 people on board. The couple lived and Matz heroic ally pulled four children, three siblings and 11-month old baby - from the wreckage.
Older children reunited with Matz and his wife in the 2006 Derby to watch Barbaro will be the sixth undefeated horse to win. The good feelings were dashed two weeks later with a stunning breakdown of Barbaro that had fans crying in the stands in the Preakness.
"It probably changed us all in some way," said Peter Brette, Matz's assistant. "One minute you think you got probably the best horse in the world and the next minute, he went away. You spend six months of hoping he can live, and it was a bit of a shock really."
If Matz sorry, he did it privately, according to his cool demeanor around the racetrack.
"If it happened that some of us, it probably would have been a little hard, but he handles it well," Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "He's not going to get too high or too low, which is pretty good in our profession if you can do it. When you are confident in what you are doing and your talent, you see all that effort."
Matz was known as a coach outside the Middle Atlantic region for Barbaro romped in 6 1-2-length win in the Derby. Three-time Olympic equestrian, go to the U.S. flag in closing ceremony at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He turned to training thoroughbreds full time after failing to make the 2000 Olympics.
Now Matz has brought back, train Union rags for Phyllis Wyeth, a 71-year-old former steeplechase rider and assistant to President John F. Kennedy. She is married to Jamie Wyeth, the famous painter and son of artist Andrew Wyeth.
"I think when he moved on from the Jacksons and Barbaro, suddenly rags Union won his first start," Jamie Wyeth said. "It's kind of interesting how that seems to be in the air. He just moves right on to other things. He is such a wonderful man."
Jamie Wyeth Matz described as "a perfect fit for us."
Matz is on a mission to win another Derby with the best of his horse Barbaro, a return to Churchill Downs in 2008 with a low profile Vision Aire, who finished 12th.
Union Rags is the early 9-2 second choice for the race Saturday.
"Barbaro was undefeated. This horse is long and a half from being undefeated," Matz said, referring to the complete FAQ rags money third in Florida Derby in March.
He plays down his influence on the Colt. "Who could train him," he said. "He does what he is doing. He received the behavior, abilities, and I think they call that class."
Muscular and athletic, their presence raises the quiet image of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner in the peak of his power and his death eight months later, following the horrific injury.
Some holiday red roses, others snap photos.
Trainer Michael Matz is hoping another 3-year-old horse, Union Rags, can fill a hole in his barn and in his soul.
He sees the same promising signs from rags Union, which has the same delay as Barbaro and early second choice for the 138th Derby on Saturday.
"They are both big and good-looking, fast and athletic. Union Rags still create what Barbaro did," Matz said.
Matz and owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson rode all the roller coaster of emotions in the eight months Barbaro struggle that had the public that they have their roots from the hoof infection that developed after he broke his leg in the opening step of the Preakness two weeks after the Derby. Just when horse appeared on the improvement would need another surgery, and their hopes would Sag again.
Late in 2006, the trio won a $ 2 million Classic breeders 'Cup Ladies' Round the Pond, but their luck ran out two months later when Barbaro was euthanized.
"He won a lot of people's hearts," Matz said. "He was not doing much wrong. He was undefeated horse. Each time we ran it, it worked, but when he got hurt. The racing community, I think he did a lot of people together. I think that even when get hurt, he brought even more together. "
Matz plowed stoically ahead, with Jackson giving him more horses to train, including a baby brother to Barbaro and Nicanor Lentenor.
That changed abruptly in July, with a pair firing Matz after more than 10 years working together. The Jackson told him it was a business decision, going Matz mystified and convinced he had said or done something to make them lose confidence in him.
Matz has said he will be forever grateful to them for giving him a Derby winner, even though they no longer keep in touch.
He has never been one to let a tragedy or setback slow him down. In 1989, he and future wife, D.D. Alexander, were passengers on United Airlines flight that crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 111 people on board. The couple lived and Matz heroic ally pulled four children, three siblings and 11-month old baby - from the wreckage.
Older children reunited with Matz and his wife in the 2006 Derby to watch Barbaro will be the sixth undefeated horse to win. The good feelings were dashed two weeks later with a stunning breakdown of Barbaro that had fans crying in the stands in the Preakness.
"It probably changed us all in some way," said Peter Brette, Matz's assistant. "One minute you think you got probably the best horse in the world and the next minute, he went away. You spend six months of hoping he can live, and it was a bit of a shock really."
If Matz sorry, he did it privately, according to his cool demeanor around the racetrack.
"If it happened that some of us, it probably would have been a little hard, but he handles it well," Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "He's not going to get too high or too low, which is pretty good in our profession if you can do it. When you are confident in what you are doing and your talent, you see all that effort."
Matz was known as a coach outside the Middle Atlantic region for Barbaro romped in 6 1-2-length win in the Derby. Three-time Olympic equestrian, go to the U.S. flag in closing ceremony at the 1996 Atlanta Games. He turned to training thoroughbreds full time after failing to make the 2000 Olympics.
Now Matz has brought back, train Union rags for Phyllis Wyeth, a 71-year-old former steeplechase rider and assistant to President John F. Kennedy. She is married to Jamie Wyeth, the famous painter and son of artist Andrew Wyeth.
"I think when he moved on from the Jacksons and Barbaro, suddenly rags Union won his first start," Jamie Wyeth said. "It's kind of interesting how that seems to be in the air. He just moves right on to other things. He is such a wonderful man."
Jamie Wyeth Matz described as "a perfect fit for us."
Matz is on a mission to win another Derby with the best of his horse Barbaro, a return to Churchill Downs in 2008 with a low profile Vision Aire, who finished 12th.
Union Rags is the early 9-2 second choice for the race Saturday.
"Barbaro was undefeated. This horse is long and a half from being undefeated," Matz said, referring to the complete FAQ rags money third in Florida Derby in March.
He plays down his influence on the Colt. "Who could train him," he said. "He does what he is doing. He received the behavior, abilities, and I think they call that class."
