Barbaro suffers Preakness injury

There is littlle chance that Barbaro will race again

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was pulled up with a fractured ankle in Saturday's Preakness in Baltimore, overshadowing Bernardini's victory.

The unbeaten horse had to return to the entry area after crashed through the entrance gate before the race began.

"This is very life threatening. Under the best circumstances, we will try to save him as a stallion. His career is over," said course vet Larry Bramlage.

Sweetnorthernsaint finished second with Hemingway's Key in third place.

Barbaro entered the race as favourite, hoping for a win to keep alive hopes of winning the Triple Crown at Belmont in three weeks' time.

The pre-race incident at the start gate is not thought to have contributed to the injury.

"When he went to the gate, he was feeling super and I felt like he was in the best condition for this race," said Barbaro's jockey Edgar Prado.

"During the race, he took a bad step and I can't really tell you what happened.

"I heard a noise about 100 yards into the race and pulled him right up."