Maryland honors Barbaro

Maryland intends to recognize the popularity of Barbaro by naming a stakes in his honor. The Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico, on the Preakness undercard, will be renamed the Barbaro Stakes, the Maryland Jockey Club announced on Wednesday.

Barbaro - winner of the Laurel Futurity in 2005 - had his career ended when he shattered his right hind leg just after the start of the 2006 Preakness.

"We thought it was the right thing to do," said Lou Raffetto, president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club.

The Sir Barton Stakes, named after the first horse to capture the Triple Crown in 1919, has been run since 1993.