Barbaro's story sweeps 2006 NTRA Moment of the Year

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner BARBARO (Dynaformer) dominated the National

Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Moment of the Year balloting, sweeping the three

most popular moments as voted by the fans.

Taking the most votes (29 percent) was the scene surrounding the New Bolton

Center as Barbaro recovered from a shattered right hind leg suffered during

the early running of the May 20 Preakness S. (G1). The four-year-old dark bay's

connections, along with the staff of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, will be honored with the "NTRA

Moment of the Year" Award at the

Eclipse Awards Dinner on Monday.

"The NTRA Moment of the Year award is a great way for the fans to play an

active role in the Eclipse Awards ceremony," said Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior

vice president of communications. "The voting affirms that, in the eyes of horse

racing fans, 2006 was the year of Barbaro."

The second most popular moment, with 27 percent of the votes, was Barbaro's easy 6 1/2-length Kentucky Derby

score. Taking third, garnering 22 percent of the votes, was Barbaro's breakdown

in the Preakness and Bernardini's romping by 5 1/4 lengths. Russell Baze's

record-breaking 9,531st

career victory to pass Laffit Pincay Jr. as the all-time winningest jockey

earned 7 percent of the votes to come in fourth.

Voting took place at www.ntra.com and offered fans 10 different images

illustrating a wide range of events and emotions, both human and equine.