Philadelphia Area Horse, Barbaro, Wins Kentucky Derby

The Philadelphia area has once again become synonomous with success in Triple Crown Races. Following on the heels of Smarty Jones' victory in 2004 and Afleet Alex's third place finish in 2005 (followed by wins in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes), Barbaro, under the reins of jockey Edgar Prado, crushed a field of twenty 3-year-olds to win the Kentucky Derby by almost 7 lengths. Barbaro becomes the sixth undefeated winner, following Smarty Jones in 2004.

Barbaro is owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson of West Grove, Chester County, PA. He is trained by Michael Matz of Collegeville, PA. Matz's own story is one of which books and movies are made.

Matz is a three time Olympian including being the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies in Atlanta in 1996. He is the all time leading money winning rider and member of the Show Jumping Millionaire's Club with over $1,700,000 earned in prize money. He was also one of the survivors of one of the most famous plane crashes in history,

Matz and his fiancee, King Ranch heiress D.D. Alexander, were aboard United Airlines Flight 232 which crashed in an Iowa cornfield on July 19, 1989 with 285 passangers and crew. The plane was enroute from Denver to Chicago when it developed engine trouble. In attempting an emergency landing at Sioux City Gateway Airport the plane crashed into a cornfield appearing to somersault and roll as it crashed. The crash was caught on tape and aired across the world.

Matz and his finacee survived the crash along with 183 others. Matz was credited with saving the lives of three children on that day and is widely recognized as one of the heroes of Flight 232. Those three children, now adults, were in the stands to cheer for Barbaro today at Churchill Downs.

For more information on Barbaro and the 2006 Kentucky Derby check out a great photo essay on 2006 Kentucky Derby Day by our Guide to Horseracing, Cindy Pierson Dulay.

Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Cindy Pierson Dulay and Used With Permission