In the spring of 2006, the world watched in dismay as Barbaro, a promising young Thoroughbred racehorse, shattered his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. After multiple operations on the fractured leg, Barbaro's many fractures eventually healed; however, along the way he developed laminitis, first in his left hindfoot and later in both front feet. This disease ultimately contributed to the loss of the 2006 Kentucky Derby champion because of the chronic pain and the poor prognosis for any reasonable quality of life. The silver lining in this sad tale is that more research funds are now being directed toward the prevention and treatment of laminitis than ever before.