The memory of that event is not something Prado particularly likes talking about, which is understandable. So it was with some trepidation that he enlisted former Baltimore Sun sports columnist John Eisenberg to help him put his days of riding Barbaro into words. The result -- My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse ($26, HarperCollins) -- is a moving testament to the power a sport can have on both its fans and its participants. Prado gives us just some of the highlights.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: I saw Barbaro working out at Churchill Downs the Wednesday before the Derby. It was incredible to see him. It was like a painting, a work of art. He was loving every single minute of it. I called my family and said, "Pack it up; you're coming to the Derby." I was confident he would win the race.

A RIDE LIKE A LAMBORGHINI: He had so much power. When he accelerated, it seemed he went from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds. He was a very muscular and strong horse. He left all the competition behind effortlessly. I knew I was riding a champion.

THE MOMENT OF TRAGEDY: It was 100 meters after coming out of the gate. He had always been a horse that responded when asked. He always came running out of the gate. But that day, he didn't come out fast. I felt his back leg was very weak. I decided to pull him up right away, without hesitation. I wasn't thinking about the Preakness or the Triple Crown or the money. I was thinking about Barbaro. He was my partner, my friend.