Kentucky Derby Barbarowas euthanized today, following ongoing attempts to save his life after his breakdown in the Preakness Stakes. His owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, made the decision on the advice of veterinary surgeon Dean Richardson and were with the stallion this morning at the New Bolton Center of Veterinary Medicine.

Roy Jackson said that it would be difficult for Barbaro to go on without pain and that euthanization was the “right thing to do.”

Barbaro shattered his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness on May 20 and was rushed to the New Bolton Center, where he underwent extensive surgery. While the fractured leg began to mend, he developed laminitis in his weight-bearing left hind leg, which eventually required surgery.

Last week, an abscess developed in the right leg and more surgery was required on Saturday to insert two more steel pins to eliminate all weight bearing on the leg.