2879 : 4

The Barbaro symbolism is intriguing. It really could go either way - as of yet I don't have any inclinations.

One key point I sense: the fact that millions have seen the x-ray photos of the plate and screws in his foot.
(I could even venture to say billions have seen the injury, either as it happened or after the fact. Billions?)

It seems a bit more likely that such a photo becomes more useful in the event of a "miracle". People have
seen how bad his sitation was/is, and they would be even more "believing" if he "fully" healed and walked.

On the other hand, such a photo could be conditioning for the "brutal" truth that sometimes our pets die.
A race horse is still a "pet" - but one that can pay its own room and board. Billions of people have pet(s)...

Another thing that seems very pronounced, at least since the movie "Die Hard", is that feet are important.
So are shoes. Barbaro's troubles will hammer that point home for many. One bad leg can mean death. :-(

[edit] Well, here's the latest good news - http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=2518953