Happy Valentine's Day!!

From the gang up here at Heaven's Gate Farm, we wish everyone a Happy Earthly Valentine's Day!!!

From the Equine Heaven vault, February 14, 2007...

Another fantastic night last night in Heaven for Barbaro and all his equine friends.  This morning, at Heaven's Gate Farm, there was a "flurry" of activity, as everyone exchanged Valentine's Day cards. Slew had chocolate all over his mouth as he read his cards from his secret admirers.  Barbaro collected thousands of
wonderfully designed cards expressing "true love", he was amazed at the candy coated hearts with special messsages on them-they were delicious!!

As Barbaro quietly read his cards, a "special delivery" mysteriously arrived...........it was grass, but not just any kind of grass, Barbaro knew this smell like the back of his hoof, ...it was Lael grass-it had finally arrived, like he knew it would..............

Barbaro slowly walked out into the Heavenly meadows to privately convey his message to the Jacksons.....

"I realize that today is the day that you show one another how much you love each other, so I thought this would be the perfect time to speak to you from my heart.......Where does one begin?  So many thoughts are racing through my head.....I know it's only been two weeks since I left you, but I miss your tiny fingers tickling my nose, your courageous words of support, your strong strokes on my neck and mane-your daily presence.  Thank you for everything you have done for me, both on and off the track. I just want you to know a little secret of mine.......while racing, the reason I always took the outside on the fourth turn, was so that I could see you both when I came down the stretch, and so that you could both see me, and be proud of me, that's all I ever wanted you to be......., proud of me and love me, and now that I am here, I know the true meaning of love-you both showed me that. I loved to race, that was my life, I loved my life......
Be proud of yourselves and know that I am with you every day.

Grief may be the price you pay for love, but I am thankfull that you both loved me and lost me..... than never having loved me at all....Your love and dedication......, has now created, an everlasting, Barbaro Nation....
-Love Barbaro."