So Barbaro’s chances of pulling through are slim, even though Seabuiscuit proved that a horse can come back and win after a bad injury. What I am wondering is what this has done to the price of Barbaro’s, um, seed. We all know that every sperm is sacred, but part of the big money with race horses is the stud fees a winner collects after they retire. Does an injury like Barbaro’s cause prospective buyers to think his genetics are deficient, or would it just be considered a fluke?
Given the advanced in artificial insemination, even if a live mounting is preferred, means a horse not able to perform his stud duties manually could still sire an extensive line. If the injury did not effectively alter the demand for the sperm, you have to figure his owners have been milking him like a rented cow.