by KYW's Karin Phillips
Why the fascination with Barbaro? Why the cards, letters, e-mails, news conferences, and daily updates about what is -- no matter how famous, after all -- a horse?
A local sports psychologist says our fascination with racehorse Barbaro has to do with our human fascination with sports, courage, and heroes.
Dr. Eric Zillmer, director of sports at Drexel University and professor of sports psychology, says Barbaro, through his tragic injury and fight to recover, has become more than a horse in the eyes of the American public:
"We collectively have embraced this horse as a hero, and we want to make sure that he survives. It is really a fairy tale, and we want fairy tales with happy endings."
Dr. Zillmer adds that if Barbaro recovers, we humans will ultimately feel better about who we are.
VIDEO: Barbaro's Chances of Recovery are "Poor"
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