BALTIMORE — When Gretchen and Roy Jackson settled into their seats to watch the Preakness Stakes on May 20, 2006, they expected to see Barbaro, the brilliant Kentucky Derby champion they bred and owned, take another step toward a Triple Crown that many fans thought was inevitable.
Barbaro had dominated the Derby by six-and-a-half lengths, the largest margin since Assault’s eight-length romp in 1946. A 3-year-old colt with seemingly boundless ability, he appeared to be peaking at the ideal time.
Barbaro was so eager to roll in the Preakness that he broke through the starting gate at Pimlico Race Course.