Barbaro ~ America's Horse

[VirginiaBred]

He does need our thought and prayers. For so long recently here on COTH, I have felt I was the one man band for him. We are TEAM BARBARO, and we ALL need to continue prayers, jingles, candles and the like. He is so much better............but not there...........YET.

WE BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 827: Just spoke to Peter Brette (6:10 pm) who had spoken to Michael who had visited Barbaro today. Barbaro remains comfortable, another good day.
Update 826: Rachel from Kennett Florist just left this message in the comments (timestamp: 9:24 pm):

Just back from NBC. They are definitely in Friday mode. Everyone's spirits seem very good, and when I asked about the big guy, they said he was in a really good mood today. We had some carrots to bring him today along with something for Dr Dean. I also had printed out a very nice letter from the forum that was addressed to him and left that. He was not there when I stopped up today, but I know he will get them later. It is the most perfect fall day here. We had a really nice visit from a few FOB's at the shop today. We love getting a chance to meet some of the folks we've gotten to know through this site! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
WE BELIEVE!!

The letter to which Rachel refers is here: Open letter to Dr. Richardson (http://forums.delphiforums.com/timwoolley/messages?msg=1841).

Awesome! Thanks, Alex.

[VirginiaBred]

Saturday Morning~

Update 828: The Barbaro update may be delayed this morning to after training hours (10:30 am) unless I can find a few minutes to get to the clocker's stand at Fair Hill (where there is a computer). I think I have a full morning of horses to ride, and a couple of visitors coming. So if it is delayed, that is the reason. It also seems like it will be chilly again this morning!

Another nice Barbaro article: Barbaro still year's top feel-good story (http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_4484475), which includes the following excerpt:

What we can enjoy, however, is the slow, meticulous recovery of Barbaro. No, we never saw Bernardini and Barbaro charge down the stretch in tandem, and that's a shame. But we can appreciate that the same courage that made Barbaro a champion on the race track is still prevalent as the son of Dynaformer battles for his life every single day.


Thanks to Alex & Tim!

[msj]

He does need our thought and prayers. For so long recently here on COTH, I have felt I was the one man band for him. We are TEAM BARBARO, and we ALL need to continue prayers, jingles, candles and the like. He is so much better............but not there...........YET.

WE BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!


Believe me VB, you are far from a one man band as there are so many around the world that are still pulling for the big guy! :) BUT you are the most important person to me on this BB as you keep us updated with progress reports, boringly 'comfortable' as they are (and I hope they continue as such for the next year +). This is the first place I check when I get on my 'puter in the AM after I feed my horses but even before I clean stalls, and the last place I check about 11 PM, after doing the last check on my guys.

Thank you ever so much for keeping us updated. :) :) :) :) :)

[Spoilsport]

He does need our thought and prayers. For so long recently here on COTH, I have felt I was the one man band for him. We are TEAM BARBARO, and we ALL need to continue prayers, jingles, candles and the like. He is so much better............but not there...........YET.

WE BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!


I'm sorry, VB. You are not the only one jingling for Barbaro, but I know I, for one, have been very lax about posting lately.

I BELIEVE! WE BELIEVE!!

[Fancy]

Believe me VB, you are far from a one man band as there are so many around the world that are still pulling for the big guy! :) BUT you are the most important person to me on this BB as you keep us updated with progress reports, boringly 'comfortable' as they are (and I hope they continue as such for the next year +). This is the first place I check when I get on my 'puter in the AM after I feed my horses but even before I clean stalls, and the last place I check about 11 PM, after doing the last check on my guys.

Thank you ever so much for keeping us updated. :) :) :) :) :)

What she said. Doubled. In spades. Thank you a million times for keeping this thread going. Most of us don't post every day, but perhaps we should. This is the first place I look every morning, and the last place I look every night. I believe that the candles and jingles will keep Bobby fighting, and he will win this last, big race. And you are the one that set this up and keeps it going.

Thank you. :yes: :yes: :yes:

Thank you. :D :yes: :D

Thank you! :D :D :D

[merrygoround]

Believe me VB, you are far from a one man band as there are so many around the world that are still pulling for the big guy! :) BUT you are the most important person to me on this BB as you keep us updated with progress reports, boringly 'comfortable' as they are (and I hope they continue as such for the next year +). This is the first place I check when I get on my 'puter in the AM after I feed my horses but even before I clean stalls, and the last place I check about 11 PM, after doing the last check on my guys.

Thank you ever so much for keeping us updated. :) :) :) :) :)

Ditto

Another Daily Lurker ;)

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex:
Update 829: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (friday night). I saw Michael Matz on my second set when he gave me the news, I was on Chappy. It was a chilly beginning to the morning, but it now looks like a beautiful day. We had three visitors and Kennett Florist also stopped by to drop off two baskets of gifts for Eduardo.
update, 11:00 am, saturday, october 14

[msj]

Ok folks, we need candles lite for the big guy!!! We're below 1000.

VB, besides what I posted this AM about a lot of us pulling for the big guy, I must say that this particular thread got me back to doing this bb. :) I'm retired and no longer NEED to sit in front of a friggin' 'puter all day so I pretty much dropped all bb's. Right after the accident at the Preakness, I immediately came to this board and this forum and have stayed ever since. I do go over on occasion to Off Course and Horse Care but don't care if I miss those forums for days at a time, but I do get here at least 3 times a day. Thanks again for keeping us informed. :) :)

[VirginiaBred]

Thank you msj. I miss your posts when I don't see them often. You are a faithful one, I will say.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 831: Rachel, from Kennett Florist, just left this note (timestamp: 7:33 pm):

Afternoon Barbaro Family!
All is quiet at NBC, our usual Saturday report. As Alex mentioned we made an early morning run to Fair Hill. We had two big baskets to deliver to Eduardo, thanks to a lovely group that got together to honor him for his love and dedication to Barbaro. One basket was filled with all sorts of Mexican goodies. The other basket included two beautiful pictures of Barbaro, one from Sabina and another gorgeous shot of Eduardo giving B a bath; A beautiful statue of St. Francis, jewlry for Senora Hernandez; the brush with the engraved plaque; the Breyer Barbaro model has not come in yet, but we will bring it down as soon as it comes. I'm sure that he will be very touched. Thank you to everyone involved, you are such an amazing group! Thank you Alex for taking good care of this for us! Have a wonderful weekend!
WE BELIEVE!!

[VirginiaBred]

We will have a 7 pm (east coast) vigil for Barbaro, and do the same each saturday. There are two things we know currently about Barbaro's condition, he is doing well BUT it remains serious and day-to-day.

[msj]

Thank you msj. I miss your posts when I don't see them often. You are a faithful one, I will say.

Believe me, I'm far from the only faith one! ;) ;)

I just don't always post. :)

[irishannie]

VB, I check this board daily (sometimes twice) for news on Barbaro. Thank you so much for all of the info you provide. I always go to your posts first, to get the news. There are soooo.... many people who are invested in this horse. I am a TB owner and lover. I have owned five OTTB's and they have all been wonderful horses. Barbaro is special. I can just tell!

[captain]

please don't feel so alone out there VB, i am nobody but i in check here and light candles at least twice a day. ever greatful to you and all that keep me informed. thank you : )

roll on, Barbaro!

[VirginiaBred]

I love hearing from Team Barbaro. Thank you all for loving and supporting big B. I can't wait for the day I go see him and tell him how much he is loved by COTH. I will definitely go see him, too. I made a promise to myself back in May, and that's one I won't dare not keep.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 837: Another comfortable day for Barbaro.
Alex spoke to Peter Brette earlier this evening (6:15 pm) who had heard from Michael, who had visited Barbaro.

[VirginiaBred]

Sunday Morning~

The update may be a bit later this morning.

Update 838: A nice article: Barbaro's Journey (http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17330301&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6) that includes an interview with Mrs. Jackson. The following is an excerpt:

Cures cropped up from all points across the globe. Barbaro was given a sacred silk cloth that was hung near him in his stall. Someone sent the colt holy water from Lourdes. One sheik involved in racing shipped holy water from the River Jordan.
When the medical staff was changing the bandages on the colt's leg, Jackson knelt down and sprinkled on the holy waters.
"I'm sure they (the staff) probably think I'm a little bit nuts," she said with a laugh.
The massive outpouring of public support and love continues.

One of the times I went over to New Bolton Center with Peter, he was taking over some of the holy water from the River Jordan.

Thanks, Tim/Alex.

[Fancy]

Cures cropped up from all points across the globe. Barbaro was given a sacred silk cloth that was hung near him in his stall. Someone sent the colt holy water from Lourdes. One sheik involved in racing shipped holy water from the River Jordan.
When the medical staff was changing the bandages on the colt's leg, Jackson knelt down and sprinkled on the holy waters.
"I'm sure they (the staff) probably think I'm a little bit nuts," she said with a laugh.
The massive outpouring of public support and love continues.

Well, *I* don't. If somebody sitting at an office desk jingling a curb chain can help a horse heal, then holy water from the River Jordan ought to help too. If we could get enough of it, we could bathe the Big Horse in the stuff. And something's working--he's still alive, and he was supposed to be dead months ago. EVERYthing helps--off to light more candles........

[I'm EBO]

I check in every day, too; and light candles on a regular basis. And my vehicles wear their bumper stickers.

Hoof grows slowly, that's just the way it is.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 840: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). I saw Michael Matz in his barn sunday morning, he had heard from Dr. Richardson. He also showed me some print outs he had about Barbaro, this was the most amusing: Indian Charlie: October 14 (http://www.indiancharlie.com/newsletter101406.html).
update 8:00 am, sunday, october 15Thanks Alex!

[ivy62]

Does anyone have the address of NBC? I would like to send something and am not sure which address to use... Candles were getting up there again....Thanks. Still jingling in NY!

As always VB thanks for your daily updates, I do not know where I would be without them....
This is a long and hard road for Barbaro and time is on his side.....I am sure he will perservere and come thru like the champion we know he is....

[msj]

Under Indian Charlie is a funny note about Dean Richardson on the next Dancing with the Stars! Loved it, but he really needs to bring Barbaro if he's going to go dancing!!! :lol:

Glad the big guy is comfy. :) So am I but that's cause I stayed inside today considering it's pretty chilly right now for mid October. Gotta cut grass tomorrow and do some serious gardening though tomorrow. Gotta also remember my farrier is coming to trim both horses in the morning so I can't let the kids out early. They'll just have to wait.

Off to check and light some more candles.

Thanks again VB! :) :)

[Boston Chicken]

Still here...still cheering for Barbaro :yes:

[Equinetech]

Cool. It said in the article that his dance partner would be Diane Sawyer. Isn't she married to Arabian breeder Mike Nichols?

[VirginiaBred]

Diane is married to Mike Nichols, the Producer.

New Bolton's address:

New Bolton Center:
George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals
New Bolton Center
382 West Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, friend Alex:

Update 841: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. Peter just called (6:30 pm), and had heard from Michael.

[Kenike]

Still here, still jingling, and still lighting candles.

Thanks for the updates...it's such a relief each day when they come in positive! The news of founder back when was just a bad thing, and each day I say a little prayer and hold my breath before reading the updates.... :)

[VirginiaBred]

Monday Morning~
Update 842: The Daily Pennsylvanian has a story about Barbaro and you 'Colt' of personality surrounds star horse (http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2006/10/16/News/colt-Of.Personality.Surrounds.Star.Horse-2351812.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailypennsylvanian. com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com). Some really good quotes, the following is an excerpt:

While the Barbaro Maniacs - people of all ages with widely varying levels of experience with horses - initially frequented the Tim Woolley Web site primarily for Barbaro, they have since turned the site into an activist page for horse-related issues. Among their many initiatives: They recently planned and financed a surprise birthday party for a horse trainer named Mike Rea, who incurred severe brain damage in a horse-riding accident, sent gift baskets to a horse - Lost in the Fog - who was battling cancer in California and "adopted" horses that had survived a tragic trailer accident in Missouri and had been bound for a slaughter house.

[Fancy]

:D :D :D :D
Here's another Barbaro Maniac, still here, still lighting candles, still hoping to change the world one step at a time.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 843: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). I saw Michael Matz on my first set, he had heard from Dr. Richardson. While it is another chilly morning at Fair Hill, it was a gorgeous sunrise and looks like it will be a lovely day. So far I have ridden two horses (a Carson City 2yo gelding and Chappy), probably three to four more to go. Nice easy morning for the beginning of the week.
update 7:40 am, monday, october 16Thanks Alex.

[eggbutt]

Thank you for all the great news VB!

[eggbutt]

He does need our thought and prayers. For so long recently here on COTH, I have felt I was the one man band for him. We are TEAM BARBARO, and we ALL need to continue prayers, jingles, candles and the like. He is so much better............but not there...........YET.

WE BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!

Oh VB, please don't feel abandoned.....please don't feel we are taking you for granted! Every weekday I light candles after checking to see if you've posted an update. I can't thank you enough for all you've done to keep us informed. Weekends are harder for me to check in so I am chomping at the bit Monday mornings to see if everything is still going well. We've got a long haul ahead of us still and I want you to know many of us are here till the end with you! THANK YOU!

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks Alex:
Update 847: Peter Brette just called, Barbaro remains well. He had heard from Michael who had visited today.
Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 9:17 pm):

Just got back from NBC. We had carrots and treats for Barbaro and the research horses today, to get the week started off right.

Also, please, please if you have not done so already, please sign Mike Rea's petition for the Extreme Home Makeover. Now more than ever they need to make this happen and soon! Thank you everyone for all your love and concern for all beings great and small (2 or 4 legged)!!
WE BELIEVE!!

[Fancy]

Thank you, Egg. Well said!
:D :yes: :D :yes: :D

[VirginiaBred]

Tuesday~

Update 850: Barbaro continues to be popular in main stream media (more so than in racing media these days I think). This time it is the turn of the Washington Post: Diminished Body, Persevering Spirit (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601188.html). A must read, here are a few excerpts highlighting some of the staff at New Bolton:

DeFazio, 27, works the midnight to 5 a.m. shift at New Bolton every other week. She was scheduled to work that night. After the race ended, DeFazio took a nap -- missing further coverage of the tragedy on the evening newscasts -- then got ready for work. When she arrived at New Bolton at 10 p.m., she learned that the horse in her care would be Barbaro.
"When I got in and saw him, I was just awestruck," she said. "He looked like an athlete in his prime. I half wanted to cry and half was excited. You didn't know how to explain it: He's a horse -- one of our patients -- but he's Barbaro, and he won the Derby, and he's all over the news, and he's right in front of me, and I need to make sure he makes it through the night."

and

"It's kind of odd because we've gotten used to it now, but it's very surreal," said Liberty Getman, a third-year resident physician who fills in for Richardson when he is elsewhere. "You can't go anywhere wearing a New Bolton shirt. You can't go to the grocery store or anywhere without being stopped and asked how he is. When you leave here, it becomes more obvious."

and

Sweeney said. "No one wanted this tragedy to occur, but once it did occur an awful lot of good things happened."
And they continue to happen to Barbaro, the odds-defying patient who happens to be a star.
"I will be able to look back," McCafferty said, "and say to my children and grandchildren, 'I worked with Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner.' "

Update 849: Another comfortable night for Barbaro (monday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was heading up the horsepath on my second set on Rocky. Rocky was supposed to breeze this morning but the track was sealed in anticipation of a bucketload of rain. So, we jogged a mile and galloped a mile instead. I am just pulling Chappy out now for my third set.
Updated 7:40am tuesday morning
Update 848: Another great Barbaro article: His crowning success (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/horse_racing/15766248.htm). It includes the following excerpts:

But it was Barbaro's attitude, his will to survive, that inspired them all to continue with treatment and with efforts to save him, Matz said. If Barbaro was still fighting, they would.
It was never about saving him to be a stallion, never about money. It was only about saving life, about saving what Richardson described as a "magnificent" creature.

and

The goal and hope, Jackson said, is to allow Barbaro to be a healthy normal horse again, so that he can survive without pain or discomfort. If he's ever able to be a stallion, "that would just be a bonus," he said.
And if not, well, he's already accomplished much, even without racing. Because of Barbaro, Jackson said, people are more sensitive to equine safety, more aware of the need for research into laminitis and other conditions. And because of Barbaro, thousands and thousands of people who never followed the sport suddenly found themselves investing their emotions in a racehorse's wellbeing.

Thanks Tim & Alex.

[msj]

Good heavens, it's 2 PM and I finally got on this danged board, and not for lack of trying either (like from 8 AM :mad:). :rolleyes:

Anyway, I loved the following quote from the above article about Dminished body, Persevering spirit where they are talking about Dr. Richardson taking Barbaro out for his walks.....

"Like many top-class racehorses, Barbaro is alert and inquisitive. On a recent afternoon, he flirted with a cow penned at the hospital. Barbaro only backed away when his new playmate attempted to administer a slobbering bovine lick to his face."

[VirginiaBred]

Update 852: New Bolton's Barbaro update for today: Barbaro remains comfortable, continues to improve (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update10-17.htm):

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro continues to improve a week after his right hind leg cast change. "Barbaro is wearing his new cast comfortably and his vital signs and appetite remain excellent," said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital.
Barbaro's left hind foot, which had a large portion of the hoof wall and sole removed because of severe laminitis, is gradually improving. "The hoof is growing slowly, but he has a long way to go, especially along the front of the hoof," said Dr. Richardson. "We still have many months of healing ahead of us. The foot will require meticulous care for a long time."
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, October 24, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro's condition.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 853: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. Alex just spoke to Peter Brette, who had heard from Michael who had visited Barbaro earlier this afternoon.

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

VB, I am always here, always checking in, always lighting candles. Please do not feel abandoned. I don't post everyday, but I am very grateful for your updates. I love this Barbaro boy and am so glad that the story has been good thus far and cross my fingers that it remains that way. He is is an inspiration!

[ASB Stars]

VB:

Yours is a lonely vigil, but one of the best of intentions and goodness of spirit. You toil at this task so that the rest of us can, moment by moment, feel each emotion with you.

You are our standard bearer. You have been our constant light into the darkness of the downturns, and the glory of hope.

Blessings be upon you!

[VirginiaBred]

:) Many thanks to you, my friend. :)

[BasqueMom]

ViriginiaBred,

Another rarely poster, but everyday reader. And lighter of candles.

Thank you both for your updates and your stories of your days at Fair Hill.

[ivy62]

VB you are the day light of my day. It does not start without checking on our boy. This story is close my heart now, not only for the love of the "race"horse but I too have been invloved for over 3 years trying to keep a horse alive and well with "feet" issues when everyone around me said to put him down, he too perservered and has won his battle! So can Barbaro...I have faith......

Keep up the good work. Please do not ever feel abandoned, we are here...

[VirginiaBred]

Wednesday Morning~
Thanks, Tim/Alex:
Update 856: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was heading to the track on my second set. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. It is a very foggy, and somewhat humid, morning this morning. The track is sealed after all the rain we had yesterday. A quiet day for me this morning, only three - four to ride.
update 7:50 am, wednesday, october 18
Update 854: A nice article from the Thoroughbredtimes: Jacksons still wonder about Barbaro versus Bernardini (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=67249&subsec=2) which notes the rivalry that never was. The following are excerpts:

The second jewel of the Triple Crown could have been quite a battle between the two talented colts, and would have likely determined the Eclipse Award for the three-year-old division.
"It would have been great; I would have loved to have seen that," Jackson said. "It would have been interesting, and who knows? Obviously, both camps feel like they have the best horse.
"I think Barbaro had a tough race in the Kentucky Derby … and the fact that he won by 6 1/2 lengths and the fact that he galloped out ahead like 15 lengths--he put on a performance. That was one race, and all of the races Bernardini has compiled, gosh, it's amazing what he's done."

and

Jackson said she and her husband have not thought about winning an Eclipse Award so much as just wishing Barbaro had the opportunity to compete against Bernardini, and hoping he is able to continue to overcome a dire set of circumstances.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex:
Update 858: ESPN (Jeannine Edwards) was at Fair Hill this morning, with Michael Matz's crew. They are doing an in-depth piece on Barbaro that will air right before the BC on "Outside The Lines". They will also be intervewing others connected to Barbaro. Very cool. I saw a couple of Matz's riders at breakfast and was asking about the shoot. Michelle (Matz) apparently did some broadcasting of her own last week, covering the Maryland Million for Fox. I have Michelle on "special assignment" for this site, she speaks fluent spanish.

[flshgordon]

Thank you VB for your tireless efforts!!! I still check in on our Bobby every day. Couldn't keep up without you! :D

[Long Shadow Farm]

Please keep us up on updates. I love hearing how Bobby is doing everyday. It is one of my ritual things I do as soon as I get to work. I check email, aol, then COTH for a Bobby update.

Thanks
Bobbi

[VirginiaBred]

His crowning success

Barbaro didn't win a Triple Crown, but he might have achieved something greater

By GARY WEST

Star-Telegram Staff Writer /www.dfw.com

Roy Jackson hasn't tried to assign blame for what happened. Why waste the time, he said, when Barbaro's injury was the result of a random and catastrophic lightning bolt? Nor has Jackson dwelt on the what-might-have-beens.
Yes, Barbaro might have swept the Triple Crown; his image could have adorned Wheaties boxes, magazine covers and stamps. He could be going into the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships having already clinched Horse of the Year, and soon the world's leading breeders would be tossing out their multimillion-dollar megabids for his future stallion services.
But why think about such things, Jackson said, since he's convinced it all worked out for the good, maybe for the best?
"So many positives have come out of all this," said Jackson, who owns Barbaro in partnership with his wife, Gretchen. "If Barbaro had gone on to win the Triple Crown, would there have been more positives? I don't know, but I don't think so."
On May 20, before an expectant throng at Pimlico in Baltimore, Md., and with an eager nation watching on television to see the next superhorse, Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in the early stages of the Preakness Stakes, the second event in the Triple Crown. He had won the Kentucky Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, the largest winning margin in 60 years, and in doing so, he had run the final quarter-mile in 24.34 seconds, the fastest stretch run in the Derby since Secretariat in 1973.
He had entered the Preakness with an unblemished record. Dirt or turf, sloppy track or fast track, nothing bothered him; Barbaro won all his races, often spectacularly. And since then, he has been no less spectacular -- in fighting for his own recovery and by inspiring others.
Some severely injured horses will give up, explained Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where Barbaro has been in the intensive care unit of the George D. Widener Hospital since the Preakness. Some horses will surrender to their injuries. But Barbaro never did, never came close.
Even when his condition was most dire, Barbaro would playfully push around people who entered his 12-by-13-foot stall, and he would eagerly go for the hand-picked grass or the carrots his owners brought him daily, Jackson said.
In late June, Barbaro's right hind leg, held together by more than 20 screws, seemed to be healing. He was in his third cast. Each change required a general anesthetic, and afterward Barbaro was taken by monorail to a recovery pool, where he wouldn't re-injure himself if he awakened disoriented.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell visited Barbaro. Flowers, cards and well-wishing poured in. In his weekly update, Richardson described Barbaro as a "lively, bright happy horse."
But then in July, in his left hind leg, he developed laminitis, a devastating and painful foot condition that's often fatal. Laminitis is basically the failure of the laminae tissue to connect the hoof to the pedal bone. Barbaro lost 80 percent of the hoof.
In a teleconference, Richardson said the laminitis was "as bad as it gets." He described Barbaro's prognosis as "poor" and his condition as "very guarded." The horse's chances for survival, Jackson said, were about 10 percent.
When Barbaro quite suddenly developed laminitis, Richardson met with the Jacksons and Michael Matz, the horse's trainer, to discuss whether to proceed or "put him down," meaning euthanize him.
They all passionately desired whatever was best for the horse. With equal passion, they wanted to see him walk out of the hospital someday. But were those two desires suddenly in conflict, and could anybody distinguish the one from the other?
Such were the questions they considered, Jackson said, at that somber meeting in July. Richardson was confident they could manage, or mollify, Barbaro's pain.
But it was Barbaro's attitude, his will to survive, that inspired them all to continue with treatment and with efforts to save him, Matz said. If Barbaro was still fighting, they would.
It was never about saving him to be a stallion, never about money. It was only about saving life, about saving what Richardson described as a "magnificent" creature.
"If you look at this horse," Richardson said in July, "it'd be hard to put him down."
Some horses have survived multiple fractures as severe as Barbaro's. And horses have survived laminitis. But Larry Bramlage, a Kentucky-based equine surgeon and the former president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said he knows of no horse that has survived both.
Because Barbaro had broken through the starting gate before the Preakness and had to be reloaded, Bramlage had his binoculars focused on the horse even before the race began. Barbaro probably first injured himself, Bramlage said, about 100 yards into the race, when he moved closer to the inside.
"But he's so big and so tough and so determined," Bramlage said, "the jockey [Edgar Prado] couldn't get him pulled up." As Barbaro continued to try to run, he broke his leg further until finally he was struggling, still struggling, to run on three legs.
Ironically, the same determination that may have exacerbated his injuries may contribute to his surviving them.
"It's remarkable that we've gotten to this point," Jackson said, as if putting all the surgery, bone grafts, infections, cast changes, medication and frightening vicissitudes momentarily behind him to focus instead on the horse's stunning resoluteness. "He exhibited such determination on the racetrack. And his determination and intelligence might help him to get through this."
This past Monday, veterinarians again changed the cast on Barbaro's right leg. Richardson said he was pleased "with the continued progression of healing and the overall condition of the leg."
The left hind foot, which essentially must be regrown, continues to improve. Richardson said there's "good growth, but there will need to be much more." And that will require several months. He remains in the intensive care unit but is able to graze daily.
The goal and hope, Jackson said, is to allow Barbaro to be a healthy normal horse again, so that he can survive without pain or discomfort. If he's ever able to be a stallion, "that would just be a bonus," he said.
And if not, well, he's already accomplished much, even without racing. Because of Barbaro, Jackson said, people are more sensitive to equine safety, more aware of the need for research into laminitis and other conditions. And because of Barbaro, thousands and thousands of people who never followed the sport suddenly found themselves investing their emotions in a racehorse's wellbeing.
The Kennett Florist in Kennett Square, Pa., is headquarters for Fans of Barbaro, a loosely organized group of more than 300 or so folks who every day take Barbaro and the New Bolton staff something -- donuts, carrots, breakfast, apples, flowers, various kindnesses.
From all over the country, people telephone or e-mail to ask about Barbaro, said Alie Berstler, who runs the florist and serves as sort of an ad hoc director of the fan club that started with people sending flowers. Many of the members aren't necessarily racing fans, just concerned Barbaro fans.
But why have so many people persisted in following a racehorse that will never race again and may or may not become a sire? How has Barbaro's appeal transcended the sport and his injuries to the point that he continues to affect people profoundly?
"They see in him what they want to see in themselves," Berstler said and then, for emphasis, added, "He's a fighter."

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Tim/Alex:
Update 860: No update tonight, which is not unusual. I did think this comment from Brandi was amusing (timestamp: 4:45 pm):

Last week, while on a cruise in the Caribbean, I was making my way to the ship's computer area to check on Barbaro when I happened to pick up the ship's single page "newspaper". There, to my pleasant surprise, was the news of Barbaro's cast change and the update from New Bolton Center. I was thrilled to see that his story continues to make headlines and capture the hearts of an international audience - even onboard a ship!

[msj]

His crowning success

Barbaro didn't win a Triple Crown, but he might have achieved something greater

By GARY WEST

Star-Telegram Staff Writer /www.dfw.com

Roy Jackson hasn't tried to assign blame for what happened. Why waste the time, he said, when Barbaro's injury was the result of a random and catastrophic lightning bolt? Nor has Jackson dwelt on the what-might-have-beens.
Yes, Barbaro might have swept the Triple Crown; his image could have adorned Wheaties boxes, magazine covers and stamps. He could be going into the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships having already clinched Horse of the Year, and soon the world's leading breeders would be tossing out their multimillion-dollar megabids for his future stallion services.
But why think about such things, Jackson said, since he's convinced it all worked out for the good, maybe for the best?
"So many positives have come out of all this," said Jackson, who owns Barbaro in partnership with his wife, Gretchen. "If Barbaro had gone on to win the Triple Crown, would there have been more positives? I don't know, but I don't think so."
On May 20, before an expectant throng at Pimlico in Baltimore, Md., and with an eager nation watching on television to see the next superhorse, Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in the early stages of the Preakness Stakes, the second event in the Triple Crown. He had won the Kentucky Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, the largest winning margin in 60 years, and in doing so, he had run the final quarter-mile in 24.34 seconds, the fastest stretch run in the Derby since Secretariat in 1973.
He had entered the Preakness with an unblemished record. Dirt or turf, sloppy track or fast track, nothing bothered him; Barbaro won all his races, often spectacularly. And since then, he has been no less spectacular -- in fighting for his own recovery and by inspiring others.
Some severely injured horses will give up, explained Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where Barbaro has been in the intensive care unit of the George D. Widener Hospital since the Preakness. Some horses will surrender to their injuries. But Barbaro never did, never came close.
Even when his condition was most dire, Barbaro would playfully push around people who entered his 12-by-13-foot stall, and he would eagerly go for the hand-picked grass or the carrots his owners brought him daily, Jackson said.
In late June, Barbaro's right hind leg, held together by more than 20 screws, seemed to be healing. He was in his third cast. Each change required a general anesthetic, and afterward Barbaro was taken by monorail to a recovery pool, where he wouldn't re-injure himself if he awakened disoriented.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell visited Barbaro. Flowers, cards and well-wishing poured in. In his weekly update, Richardson described Barbaro as a "lively, bright happy horse."
But then in July, in his left hind leg, he developed laminitis, a devastating and painful foot condition that's often fatal. Laminitis is basically the failure of the laminae tissue to connect the hoof to the pedal bone. Barbaro lost 80 percent of the hoof.
In a teleconference, Richardson said the laminitis was "as bad as it gets." He described Barbaro's prognosis as "poor" and his condition as "very guarded." The horse's chances for survival, Jackson said, were about 10 percent.
When Barbaro quite suddenly developed laminitis, Richardson met with the Jacksons and Michael Matz, the horse's trainer, to discuss whether to proceed or "put him down," meaning euthanize him.
They all passionately desired whatever was best for the horse. With equal passion, they wanted to see him walk out of the hospital someday. But were those two desires suddenly in conflict, and could anybody distinguish the one from the other?
Such were the questions they considered, Jackson said, at that somber meeting in July. Richardson was confident they could manage, or mollify, Barbaro's pain.
But it was Barbaro's attitude, his will to survive, that inspired them all to continue with treatment and with efforts to save him, Matz said. If Barbaro was still fighting, they would.
It was never about saving him to be a stallion, never about money. It was only about saving life, about saving what Richardson described as a "magnificent" creature.
"If you look at this horse," Richardson said in July, "it'd be hard to put him down."
Some horses have survived multiple fractures as severe as Barbaro's. And horses have survived laminitis. But Larry Bramlage, a Kentucky-based equine surgeon and the former president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said he knows of no horse that has survived both.
Because Barbaro had broken through the starting gate before the Preakness and had to be reloaded, Bramlage had his binoculars focused on the horse even before the race began. Barbaro probably first injured himself, Bramlage said, about 100 yards into the race, when he moved closer to the inside.
"But he's so big and so tough and so determined," Bramlage said, "the jockey [Edgar Prado] couldn't get him pulled up." As Barbaro continued to try to run, he broke his leg further until finally he was struggling, still struggling, to run on three legs.
Ironically, the same determination that may have exacerbated his injuries may contribute to his surviving them.
"It's remarkable that we've gotten to this point," Jackson said, as if putting all the surgery, bone grafts, infections, cast changes, medication and frightening vicissitudes momentarily behind him to focus instead on the horse's stunning resoluteness. "He exhibited such determination on the racetrack. And his determination and intelligence might help him to get through this."
This past Monday, veterinarians again changed the cast on Barbaro's right leg. Richardson said he was pleased "with the continued progression of healing and the overall condition of the leg."
The left hind foot, which essentially must be regrown, continues to improve. Richardson said there's "good growth, but there will need to be much more." And that will require several months. He remains in the intensive care unit but is able to graze daily.
The goal and hope, Jackson said, is to allow Barbaro to be a healthy normal horse again, so that he can survive without pain or discomfort. If he's ever able to be a stallion, "that would just be a bonus," he said.
And if not, well, he's already accomplished much, even without racing. Because of Barbaro, Jackson said, people are more sensitive to equine safety, more aware of the need for research into laminitis and other conditions. And because of Barbaro, thousands and thousands of people who never followed the sport suddenly found themselves investing their emotions in a racehorse's wellbeing.
The Kennett Florist in Kennett Square, Pa., is headquarters for Fans of Barbaro, a loosely organized group of more than 300 or so folks who every day take Barbaro and the New Bolton staff something -- donuts, carrots, breakfast, apples, flowers, various kindnesses.
From all over the country, people telephone or e-mail to ask about Barbaro, said Alie Berstler, who runs the florist and serves as sort of an ad hoc director of the fan club that started with people sending flowers. Many of the members aren't necessarily racing fans, just concerned Barbaro fans.
But why have so many people persisted in following a racehorse that will never race again and may or may not become a sire? How has Barbaro's appeal transcended the sport and his injuries to the point that he continues to affect people profoundly?
"They see in him what they want to see in themselves," Berstler said and then, for emphasis, added, "He's a fighter."

Great article - thanks for sharing VB. :)

The candles are getting low, so everyone please go light a few. :) :)

[VirginiaBred]

Thursday Morning~

Update 862: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (wednesday night). I walked back from the track with Michael Matz, coming back from my second set. Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael also mentioned Barbaro seems to have gained some weight (about 1100 lbs, I think he is weighed very regularly) and might have actually grown a little during his recovery. He was never actually measured while in training, but Michael thinks he might be about 17 hands now.
This morning it was dark, dark going to the track on my first set, and dark coming back from the track. The clocks need to change, and hopefully soon.
Update 861: Lost in the Fog's cancer appears to have been more extensive than first thought: Fog's Cancer Extensive, Necropsy Reveals (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35873). The following is an excerpt:

"What absolutely amazed me was how tough this guy was and how well he tolerated everything," Wilson said. "It just floors me; the extent of this cancer and how he handled it with a minimum of discomfort. He had to have had it for at least several months."

What a wonderfully gifted, and incredibly tough, racehorse.
The Thoroughbred Racing Association is hosting a simulcast conference in Philadelphia to discuss racing issues, of which racehorse safety is obviously a big concern: Equine safety essential to ensuring fan confidence (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=67248&subsec=1). The following is an excerpt:

"Barbaro was a wake-up call," said trainer Michael Dickinson, who invented Tapeta Footings, which Golden Gate Fields will install for use next year. "The industry had taken a blind eye to safety issues but no longer. If it had moved any slower on [safety issues], then it would have moved backwards."
Turfway President Bob Elliston said that racing benefited from having a ready-made answer to the question, "What is racing doing about safety in the wake of Barbaro and breakdowns at racetracks?"
"We needed to show that we were taking steps to improve the situation," Elliston said. "If we don't make an effort, then we risk alienating our fan base, and we need new fans to support the economics of the game: owning horses and betting on them."

Sorry, I think the fan base is pretty alienated already. Aside from the very big race days (triple crown, breeders' cup etc.) you see few fans. Belmont Park had five grade one stakes a couple of weeks ago, the crowd was very thin. Go to your local racetrack on a regular race day, if you do it twice they will know you by your first name. Racing has huge problems, and things need to happen very differently I think in order to build a new fan base. OK, off my soap box ...
I was talking to Andy Durnin, who is an exercise rider in California, and currently at Hollywood Park. He loves the cushion track they have recently installed. He said there has been nothing but positive feedback from everybody at the track. Horses get a great footing on the surface, no slipping, its very consistent. Their meet will open in a few weeks I think, it will be interesting to see how it fairs during the races.

[ivy62]

As far as the fan base goes. there are fans but not at the track how much of betting is done at OTB and not on the track?

[vineyridge]

VB, thank you for keeping on with the updates.

Every morning I wake with my heart in my throat, worried that there will be information that laminitis has hit again. Things have gone so well for so long, that it seems too good to be true. Last time, New Bolton waited almost a week before announcing the first laminitis and the surgery. So the daily updates are invaluable, since they come from Matz, who has no reason to lie.

As to the fan base, real race fans don't care one way or the other about betting. It's the beauty and heart that the horses display that keeps us around. With all the women who love horses, it's a shame that racing's image and audience is horseplayers, all male and slightly disreputable. If racing targeted females and made them feel welcome in the stands, even if they didn't bet, I would sincerely believe that the actual bottoms in the seats might increase surprisingly.

[caffeinated]

VB, thank you for keeping on with the updates.

With all the women who love horses, it's a shame that racing's image and audience is horseplayers, all male and slightly disreputable.

I'm an odd duck, but that's a big part of the reason I like the track and used to skip class to go to Pimlico on quiet days... Everybody there reminded me of my Gramps, LOL

[Skip's Rider]

VB, thank you for the continued updates and info on Barbaro. Even though I don't post on this thread, I do read it every day. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 865: Just spoke to Peter (6:10 pm), and Barbaro had a comfortable day. He had heard from Michael who visited Barbaro this afternoon.
Thanks, Alex.

[Shay Darra]

VB-

We so appreciate your dedication in keeping us updated on this most marvelous horse and the amazing people involved with his recovery! Some pages back, there was a link to a pix of Bobby and Dr. R. when they went out to graze. Bobby's head was up and majestic, Dr. R's was somewhat bowed and humble. Two most amazing men!! I have that posted on my wall at work and look at it each day and say my prayers for this wonderful horse and those who love him.

Thanks for all you do.

Shay

[showmom07]

With all the women who love horses, it's a shame that racing's image and audience is horseplayers, all male and slightly disreputable. If racing targeted females and made them feel welcome in the stands, even if they didn't bet, I would sincerely believe that the actual bottoms in the seats might increase surprisingly.

I think there is a different audience for horse racing at different tracks. Our local track is pretty much a family affair. Lots of people there with their little kids. They have picnic tables where whole extended famililies camp out with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and lots of strollers. Lots of single dads have their kids in tow, as well. I always dressed mine in real bright colors when they were little so they could run up and down near the fence and I could easily keep track of them.

The really hard-core betters seem to stay pretty glued to the indoor tables near all the various monitors showing racing all across the country and near the betting windows.

[VirginiaBred]

Friday Morning~
From Alex:

Update 867: This morning's Barbaro update may well be delayed to mid morning. Its raining pretty hard which will impact training. I'll likely stop by Michael Matz's barn after training.

[msj]

Rain here Friday morning in western NY as well. :sigh:

We're a bit low on candles so if everyone checking Bobby's status could just light a few, we'd be back above 1000 easily. Thanks. :) :)

I'll check back in after I clean stalls. Right now I'm waiting for the dog to eat her breakfast. I need the cat to come in, then the dog goes after her breakfast really well (as if the cat's gonna go eat it). :rolleyes:

Hey, could I have an extra jingle for my cat. He used to be a barn cat but I brought him into the house a couple of yrs ago when he and all his stray buddies plus Ricky Raccoon were going thru 6 cups of cat food a day.

I took him to the vet as he suddenly became bloated and wasn't eating. The vet aspirated 500 ml (2 cups) of amber fluid from his abdomen and put him on steriods. He is 17 so I don't expect a lot, but I'll sure miss him curled up next to me in bed at night. :cry: When he becomes bloating again, I'll take him back for more to be aspirated. :( :(

[VirginiaBred]

Update 868: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (thursday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was driving out of Fair Hill after a pretty unproductive freelance morning (no worries about that though, its nice to have a break). Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. It looks like the rain is easing off, although the dirt track was closed this morning. With the woodchip track finished, there were no racetracks available to train. Likely a few horses trained outback, but the ground has got to be getting pretty soft. I hope this weather does not seriously impact the Fair Hill three day event (http://www.fairhillinternational.com/news-press-release-2006-10-18.html), which is just getting underway.
update 8:25 am, friday, october 20

Thanks, Tim/Alex.

[VirginiaBred]

msj, so sorry about your kitty. Will be keeping positive thoughts for you.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 869: I just spoke to Mrs. Jackson. I wanted to see if she would sign some Barbaro prints that would then be auctioned for Freedom Hills (http://www.freedomhills.org/). More importantly, she had visited Barbaro this morning and all remains well. She is also very grateful for everyone's work and commitment for the anti-slaughter legislation. Please keep up the great work.

Excellent! Thanks Alex!

[I'm EBO]

Does B still have use of his sling?

I was just thinking that it would be neat if there was some sort of sensor with printouts (like a seismograph) that would measure the amount of weight bearing a particular leg was providing.

There could be a mat covering the stall floor that would register pressure (like the special pads they use to gauge saddle pressure points under a rider) that could be connected to a TV monitor to show which leg was where. Then, at the close of some arbitrary period of time, they could interpret the printout to find which leg, if any, was bearing more weight than the other legs.

And if they found that one leg WAS in danger, could they modify the sling, add more external support, put on a boot?

Any engineers here to figure how to do something like this?

In the meantime, I'll go light some more candles.

Candle update: 1045!!

[msj]

Thanks VB :) :) :)

[Texarkana]

Does B still have use of his sling?

I was just thinking that it would be neat if there was some sort of sensor with printouts (like a seismograph) that would measure the amount of weight bearing a particular leg was providing.

There could be a mat covering the stall floor that would register pressure (like the special pads they use to gauge saddle pressure points under a rider) that could be connected to a TV monitor to show which leg was where. Then, at the close of some arbitrary period of time, they could interpret the printout to find which leg, if any, was bearing more weight than the other legs.

And if they found that one leg WAS in danger, could they modify the sling, add more external support, put on a boot?

Any engineers here to figure how to do something like this?

In the meantime, I'll go light some more candles.

Candle update: 1045!!


To answer your first question-- no. Barbaro hasn't used the sling in months, except when he had his cast changed he used it to be lowered into the raft for recovery.

I like your idea... that would be a high tech piece of equipment, though!

One of the laminitis experts at work (well, now former work seeing as how today was my last day!) was telling me it's not always the weight distribution that causes the laminitis. There was a study oversees where they would actually tie a horse's leg up and somehow "induce" laminitis. Apparently in that study the horses were just as likely to develop laminitis in the tied up leg as they were in the weight bearing leg. I wish I had the references to the actual study and more details... (And I'm not saying weight distribution doesn't play a part in laminitis, I'm just throwing that out there as food for thought! I'm not a doctor nor have I spent a lifetime studying laminitis!)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 872: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who had visited.

Update 871: Rachel, from Kennett Florist left this comment about their visit to New Bolton today (timestamp: 8:36 pm):

What a day we've had here. The wind and rain have been crazy here... thankfully we still have power, not so much down the road.
But even with the horrible weather, in came Martita... our lovely little dancer from NY. She had quite a trip but I will let her post about that later. She had us bring apple cider donuts and hot apple cider for all the folks up at NBC. She even did a bit of dancing for Dr Sweeney, Dr Richardson and some of the staff as they snacked. What a lovely treat for us all. What a doll Martita is and I'm sure that she brought everyone at NBC a bit of joy to their day.
And of course, Big Boss Horse couldn't be excluded, we brought him a couple of baskets of his favorites so that he could enjoy... he didn't get to see the dancing, but I think maybe he and Dr Dean do a little two stepping when no one's looking! Have a great weekend!!

WE BELIEVE!!
Rachel at Kennett Florist

[hoofcare]

The dream mat you describe already exists, and is in use for equine research at Dr. Hilary Clayton's McPhail Center for Equine Performance at Michigan State vet school and also at the Hoof Project in College Station, Texas (where Dr. David Hood does his research). It is available for patients at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, and has been featured in our magazine, Hoofcare & Lameness, several times.

Here's a link directly to it:

http://www.tekscan.com/medical/specs_hoof.html
and
http://www.tekscan.com/medical/system_hoof.html

Actually, they can now go one better than the mats. They have film sensors that can fit right inside a boot. I've seen them used with Old Macs boots.

The study with the tied-up legs was performed by Dr Verschooten at the vet school in Belgium (either Ghent or Liege, I can't remember which). He presented the research at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium about 10 years ago. His goal was to measure the difference in hoof growth between weightbearing and nonweightbearing hooves. As I recall, none of the horses developed laminitis.

I dug the paper out this summer after Barbaro's episode because Dr. Don Walsh of the Animal Health Foundation (which funds a great deal of the laminitis research, including a lot of Pollitt's work and Katy Watts' grass research) was trying to remember the results. When he spoke at our "Hoofcare@ Saratoga" seminar in August he went over Verschooten again in relation to support limb laminitis. Maybe someone else was there and remembers what he said?

It is a pretty obscure bit of research, but no one who heard Verschooten present it ever forgot it.

Fran

[I'm EBO]

Thank you, hoofcare, for that very informative reply.

I'm surprised that New Bolton doesn't have the system (and I'm assuming they know about it); in fact, I'm surprised that so few vet hospitals do. Is its worth debatable? Is it prohibitive in cost?

Texarkana, is anyone is taking any wild guesses about the reason for the tied up foot sometimes developing laminitis? Was there something going on with diet or circulation (or lack thereof)?

[VirginiaBred]

Saturday Morning~


Update 873: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (friday night). I saw Michael as I was walking to the track for my third set. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael also noted that when he visited yesterday he took Barbaro out to graze, within five minutes had to bring him back in. I guess the wind was getting him a little excited (Barbaro, not Michael).
It is looking like a beautiful day at Fair Hill. First set was a little lighter than yesterday morning given the clear sky, but only a little lighter! For the first set I opened galloped a 2yo, in company, for three eighths of a mile. His first open gallop at Fair Hill. They went well together, and picked it up nicely down the lane. No one clocked us, and even if someone wanted to, they would not really have seen the work. The second set was a quarter mile breeze, Rocky (Holy Bull 2yo) with Grandma (one of Tim's 2yos). They went a very nice 26 and change together. Rocky has not yet learned how to carry me through the breeze. I need to hussle him a little to get him to cruise, but then when I just sit on him, he eases himself back. He's just learning. He does share some of the same characteristics as Giacomo, who is also by Holy Bull. I was talking to Steve Willard (Giacomo's exercise rider) to get a report the other day and he noted that unless you really get hold of him to gallop, he tends to hop up and down a little galloping. Well, that's Rocky too! Would be nice if he shared more characteristics with him down the road!

Thanks Alex

[Spoilsport]

Michael also noted that when he visited yesterday he took Barbaro out to graze, within five minutes had to bring him back in. I guess the wind was getting him a little excited (Barbaro, not Michael).

:D :D :D :D

VB - Huge thanks, as always, for the reports.

[msj]

Saturday Morning~


Michael also noted that when he visited yesterday he took Barbaro out to graze, within five minutes had to bring him back in. I guess the wind was getting him a little excited (Barbaro, not Michael).


:lol: :lol: :lol:

At least you're getting wind to dry the ground from the rain! :D :D :D

Good update! Glad the big guy's feeling good! :)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 875: A quick reminder, there is a 7 pm vigil tonight for Barbaro. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, spare some time for Barbaro.

Another good day for Barbaro this Saturday.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 876: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. I just spoke to Peter (6:00 pm) who had spoken to Michael, who had visited.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex.
Update 877: Today's update will be delayed. Michael is on his way to Keeneland (Round Pond is there preparing for the Breeders' Cup). I will call Peter later today to get an update. Its likely coming up to the Breeders' Cup updates will be later in the day.

While we are waiting I thought you might enjoy this quick conversation Michelle Matz had with Eduardo Hernandez, Barbaro's groom. I had asked Michelle if she could ask Eduardo a few questions for us as Michelle speaks great spanish.
Here is the brief conversation:

Michelle: When did you start taking care of Barbaro, and what were your initial impressions?
Eduardo: I started taking care of him last year in December. He was a very happy horse.
Michelle: When did you realize Barbaro was "special" ?
Eduardo: I realized he was a great horse after he won the Tropical Park Derby at Calder.
Michelle: What were your thoughts when you won the Kentucky Derby?
Eduardo: I was very happy, and I wanted to keep on winning.
Michelle: What are your thoughts now as Barbaro continues his recovery?
Eduardo: I am very happy he is recovering well. I really just want him to keep getting better.

[VirginiaBred]

Today marks the five month period since Barbaro's tragedy at the Peakness.

It's hard to believe it's been five months.

Five months of worry and fear; five months of small miracles as he inches toward his new finish line.

Five months of prayers and jingles; five months we've come together as Team Barbaro.

Barbaro, bring on the next five months!

WE BELIEVE!!!

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

GO BOBBY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fancy]

Five Months!!!!
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Five months of (usually) boring "another comfortable day/night!
:D :lol: :D :lol: :D
Bring on the next five. I vote for even MORE boring reports.
:lol: :D :lol: :D :lol:

[VirginiaBred]

Update 879: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who had heard from Dr. Richardson.
update sunday, october 22, 11:00 am - Thanks Tim & Alex.

[enigma99]

FIVE MONTHS; GO BARBARO!!!

I am so excited because I will be getting the opportunity to meet Dr. Richardson on Wednesday. He is doing a lecture for us on advances in equine surgery. I can't wait to hear what he has to say about Barbaro. I will let you know all of the details of course.

[msj]

FIVE MONTHS; GO BARBARO!!!

I am so excited because I will be getting the opportunity to meet Dr. Richardson on Wednesday. He is doing a lecture for us on advances in equine surgery. I can't wait to hear what he has to say about Barbaro. I will let you know all of the details of course.


LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Please let him know that he and Barbaro have a wonderful fan club here on COTH, with all the credit going to Virginia Bred!

Tell him about the candles we all light for Bobby and I've seen several for a Dr. R, which I'd bet on a stack of bibles stood for Dr. Dean Richardson. :yes:

Let's hope the next 5 months brings ALL 'comfortable' days and nights for the big guy, a big spurt growth in his left hind hoof wall, a big growth to his tail (or would someone buy him a false tail :yes:), all of his other minor sores (cast and from the sling etc)healed, and a wonderful right hind fusion. :)

OK, I'm off to light some more candles. They were looking pretty good earlier. I hope they've, at least, stayed the same. :)

[msj]

OH, I forgot to mention - NBC (National Broadcasting Co) is having a peice on Barbaro this week so tune in. I'm not sure if it's during their National Nightly news (6:30 EDST) or later. I don't normaly watch NBC but am taping it so I can zoom thru it later. :)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 881: No update for Barbaro this evening. I just spoke to Peter who had no further information since this morning. It is likely that as we approach the Breeders' Cup updates will likely be once a day now that Michael is in Keeneland.Thanks, Alex

[RNB]

Thanks for the continued updates VirginiaBred. I, for one, had awaited each and every one!!! :)

[Rowdijax]

Hey so I understand there was a Update this morning on the Today Show ?
Did anyone see it or know of it . Come on Va.Bred. I know you have the review.. LOL.. you are the best at keeping us updated...

[Boston Chicken]

I saw it. Barbaro looks good considering. It was a very upbeat piece.

[VirginiaBred]

Monday Morning~


Update 884: Barbaro "mania" continues as Barbaro is on the Today Show, the front page of the Wilmington News Journal (update 883) and Channel 4 news in New York (I think from an e-mail I received). Five months!
A lovely morning at Fair Hill, and certainly crisp. For me work has quietened down considerably (phew). First set I galloped a 2yo in company a mile and a quarter. Both went very nice and evenly. This was after a day off after their first "work", so it could have been anything but relaxing. For the second set I just shedrowed a horse. She will do this for a couple of days before going to the track. The third set, well I could not wait for this. He was going to the gate. The gate crew are big Eagles fans. I wear my Brett Favre shirt with pride everyday day from fall to spring. Well all I can say is after yesterday's football the banter at Fair Hill this morning is quite fun! (and the horse was good in the gate, then worked a half).
As I was behind the gate I got to talking to Fen, who gallops for Graham Motion (and gallops Film Maker). Film Maker and Better Talk Now both worked yesterday on the turf (steeplechase track) and went well. They are due to ship to Keeneland tomorrow (fly) and will likely have one more work this weekend as they prepare for the respective Breeders' Cup races.
No Barbaro update yet, will know more about when that will happen when I get back from Fair Hill after my last set.
Update 883: A nice article on Barbaro and New Bolton Center in general: Kentucky Derby winner's spirit wins over medical staff (http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/SPORTS09/61022036). The following is an excerpt:

"He definitely has a personality," said Kasey McCafferty, the charge nurse in the intensive care unit and natal intensive care unit at the hospital. "He has bit me and kicked me. He can be feisty. He's not nasty and he's not trying to hurt anybody, but he's a stinker. He can get full of himself.
"Every time you see him, you have to pay attention because he's always messing with you. He makes you prove that you know what you're doing. Once you do that, he's fine."
McCafferty was laughing when she said that, as she looks forward to seeing him every day.
She watches him bend his ears back and scrunch up his face like a kid trying to avoid eating spinach when he doesn't like something. She said he breaks out in a sort of smile when he decides he wants to have some fun with the staff.

A quick reminder that today's update will be later today now that Michael is in Keeneland preparing Round Pond for the Breeders' Cup.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 885: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). I caught up with Peter after the last set, he had heard from Michael.
update 10:20 am, monday october 23Many thanks, Tim.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 886: Here is the Today Show clip: Barbaro is beating the odds (http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=E09E259E-485E-4CF0-9ECA-D3851D358C7B). The New Bolton footage was filmed October 12.

[eggbutt]

VC, you're the greatest!:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

[VirginiaBred]

Update 890: Jeannine Edwards just called (4:45 pm). She was leaving New Bolton after interviewing Dr. Richardson for the "Outside the Lines" piece ESPN is putting together. While she did not visit Barbaro she noted Barbaro remains comfortable (thus our latest update).

Excellent! Thank you Alex!

[msj]

VC, you're the greatest!:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

Yep, that's for certain!!! Thanks for bringing us all the updates, the video clip from NBC and everything else you do! Words can't express how much we all appreciate it! Now, off to light some candles. :)

Actually that should be VB, not VC! :eek:

Candles are low again...

[VirginiaBred]

Update 892: Peter Brette just called. He visited Barbaro today, took him outside and gave him a good grooming. A positive report.

Update 891: Rachel from Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 9:16 pm):

We had a nice trip to NBC today. A wonderful FOB came for a visit and supplied lunch and dessert to the very grateful (and hungry) staff at New Bolton. They were treated to pizza, salad, cake and various chocolates. Needless to say they were thrilled... they always are when food is involved!!
Big Boss was of course not left out of the festivities. Lots of green tops and stud muffins for him to enjoy... he's always thrilled with his treats as well.

It's turning cold here again, as we get ready for our annual Halloween parade in town... Kennett goes over the top for Halloween, all the area businesses put up scarecrows to decorate main street. Then they close the streets and have a big parade with all the bands in costume, of course. After which all the stores in town stay open and the kids get to go trick-or-trating. So instead of just having a scarecrow, we created a venus fly trap EATING a scarecrow... come on we are a flower shop, not just Barbaro's cafe!!

WE BELIEVE!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Tuesday Morning~

Update 893: Much like yesterday, and for the near future, the Barbaro update will be later this morning at the earliest. There is of course also a New Bolton update for Barbaro scheduled today.

[eggbutt]

The Today Show piece was really good I thought. My daughter TiVo'd it for me and after my tears cleared from watching it several times, I watched it several more times in slo-mo.....boy have they done a great job on his legs and feet! He barely has a hitch in his giddy-up. This ordeal is totally incredible in how much Barbaro has been able to teach the medical team on how to deal with injuries and the dreaded laminitis.

BUT, everyone keeps speaking of the blistered left shoulder. In all the videos and photos of Barbaro after surgery I've never seen his left side showing a blister on his shoulder. What are they talking about and how big is the blister? I would have thought a simple blister would have healed by now but I'm sure this must be something I've never heard of or seen before.

I also noticed some cream/ointment at the base of his tail. What was that for? Just curious to see if they are treating him for things my horses might actually have too and I can learn from their treatment!

Thanks VB & Company!!

[msj]

[ So instead of just having a scarecrow, we created a venus fly trap EATING a scarecrow... come on we are a flower shop, not just Barbaro's cafe!!

WE BELIEVE!!!




I spit coffee all over my monitor when I read that!!! I was beginning to wonder if they had any business OTHER THAN Barbaro!!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Tim/Alex:
Update 894: No Barbaro update yet. I saw Peter on my third set, he had not yet heard from Michael. This morning not only was it dark, it was cold! I have galloped a couple and shedrowed one. I am now getting ready to breeze one "over the road" on the turf track. It will be his first time breezing on the turf, and the trainer really hopes he likes it! We shall see.

[I'm EBO]

WHEN was the Barbaro story on TODAY? Is it today that it's on TODAY? My search turned up nothing recent.

[The Pie]

It was on yesterday morning. It brought tears to my eyes

[Gracious]

It was on yesterday morning. It brought tears to my eyes

Is there anywhere to watch it online?

[eggbutt]

Update 886: Here is the Today Show clip: Barbaro is beating the odds (http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=E09E259E-485E-4CF0-9ECA-D3851D358C7B). The New Bolton footage was filmed October 12.


Here's the Today Show on-line video. Totally wonderful! Get your Klennex ready.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 896: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who had heard from Dr. Richardson. Peter is also planning to visit later today, so I will try to catch up again later.
update, tuesday, 12:00 pm
Thanks, Alex.

[VirginiaBred]

pdate 897: New Bolton's Barbaro update for the day: Barbaro had another good week (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update10-24.htm):

It has been a little over five months since Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was brought to the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. "I am happy to report that Barbaro had another good week, and his appetite and vital signs remain excellent," said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital.

Barbaro's right hind leg remains in a fiberglass cast. "We are being very conservative with the right hind (fractured) limb in order to help protect the foundered left hind foot." said Dr. Richardson. "The hoof is growing slowly and not uniformly so it has a long way to go before it is acceptably strong and functional," said Dr. Richardson. "The foot will require meticulous care for a long time and setbacks here and there are probable."

Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.

Due to Barbaro's continued improvement, the University will now be posting updates biweekly. The next update will be posted on Tuesday, November 7, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro's condition.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Tim/Alex:
Update 898: Fred Stone may be the most famous equine artist, its certainly the only name I would recall without prompting (although that does not mean a lot). This Thoroughbred Times article: Barbaro's spirit provides latest inspiration to equine artist Stone (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/thisweek/weekview.asp?recno=67388&subsec=) discusses the struggles Mr. Stone went through before determining to paint Barbaro. The following is an excerpt:

"Emotionally, I was so hurt by what happened that I said to my wife [Norma] that I'm never going to paint another horse again, and I meant it," Stone said. "I painted a little dog on a surfboard, and I started painting other things."
Gradually, Stone's stance began to soften as he watched the courageous three-year-old Dynaformer colt battle for his life while his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and the staff at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center did everything in their power to save Barbaro.

Here is his work (http://equinart.adnetsol.com/2005/whatsnew/barbaro.asp).

[Gunnar]

Go Bobby go!
Candles are lit and chains are a jingling!!:sadsmile:

I could not get the Today video to work but I am sure I would have cried!:sadsmile:

Thanks VB!

[I'm EBO]

Thanks for the link. It worked for me, gunnar, and I got a little misty. He's such a GOOD boy!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 899: Alex just spoke to Peter Brette. He visited Barbaro earlier this afternoon and all remains well. He groomed Barbaro and took him outside.

[ivy62]

Thank you again VB for all the info and updates...I almost cried seeing the Today show clip..... the longest part of Bobby's journey is ahead of him and we must stand together with him to help in anyway possible. Laminitis is a killer even with the financial suport behind him. Does any one know if there have been any break throughs since Secreteriat contracted the problem?
Keep lighting candles and jingling.........

[VirginiaBred]

Wednesday Morning~

Update 900: Today's Barbaro update will again be later this morning.

[I'm EBO]

Ivy62, during Secretariat's days, I believe that the insulin resistance-caused laminitis hadn't been documented/discovered, so they were probably feeding him according to the practices of the time. That could have been the problem that sealed his fate. From personal experience (the horse's experience), I know that it's possible to be in a laminitic state and still show norrmal blood values.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex:
Update 901: Still no Barbaro update (as expected). I saw Peter on the track (he was on Chelokee) and he had not heard anything yet. It is another chilly morning at Fair Hill, yet quite pleasant. A couple of the two year olds I ride went to the gate for a little schooling. We seem to have plenty of Canadian geese around, I assume they are in transit.

[ElonGrad1997]

OMG, has anyone seen the Barbaro painting by Fred Stone?

Here's a link: Barbaro (http://www.gallerydirectart.com/440050.html)

[VirginiaBred]

Yes, it's amazing. I posted the link above, Update #898.

[ElonGrad1997]

Thanks, VB!!!

[summerhorse]

Ivy62, during Secretariat's days, I believe that the insulin resistance-caused laminitis hadn't been documented/discovered, so they were probably feeding him according to the practices of the time. That could have been the problem that sealed his fate. From personal experience (the horse's experience), I know that it's possible to be in a laminitic state and still show norrmal blood values.

True they didn't have a word for it but everybody knew that fat cresty horses were particularly prone to laminitis. And apparently no lessons have been learned from Secretariat's death at some of these stud farms.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 902: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). I saw Peter after work. He had heard from Michael. Its likely Peter will again be visiting Barbaro today so I will try to follow up later.

Thanks, Alex

[merrygoround]

OMG, has anyone seen the Barbaro painting by Fred Stone?

Here's a link: Barbaro (http://www.gallerydirectart.com/440050.html)

Has anyone here bought from them?

[msj]

Candles needed ASAP. The count is under 900 and this AM it was over 1100!!:eek:

Thanks for the update VB! :)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 904: Alie from Kennett Florist left the following comment (timestamp: 9:19 pm):

Hope everyone is after the senators today. So just a quick upate, Beautiful but cool day here in Kennett Square. I Delivered treats for the big boss horse around 1:30. All was good at NBC. I felt a happy mood while visiting. Everyone in town is getting ready for the parade tonight. It is going to be cold. Our Christmas celebration parade is for Kennett square is Nov 24th. For a little town we have lots going on. That's all, for now. Good night & God Bless.
We Believe!!!
Alie

[ivy62]

I tried to get to the link to light candles and I cannot!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Click on the link in my post!

[ivy62]

Thanks, I went to light my candles and 35 of them went away while I was there...start that fire burning guys, the BIG guy needs us! Jingles too......

[VirginiaBred]

Update 905: Alex spoke to Peter Brette, who visited Barbaro this afternoon. Barbaro remains comfortable. Peter groomed him, took him out to graze and changed his bandages. His usually routine when Peter visits.

[VirginiaBred]

Thursday Morning~

Update 906: Once again the Barbaro update will be later in the morning.

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

That "Today" video made me cry again. What a wonderful horse. :sadsmile:

GO BOBBY GO!!!!!!!

[VirginiaBred]

The following: Barbaro: We Believe in Miracles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBPJJUJ-rfI) is a new, up to date, video. It is very nice, but there are a couple of shots from the Preakness.

The following article: Barbaro still the focus of much support, well-wishers (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15848447.htm) is another that highlights Barbaro's persistant support through his long recover.
The following are excerpts:

"He has a nice hair coat and he looks good," says Richardson. "Since he started grazing in August he has put on over 50 pounds. But he doesn't look like a racehorse. He has been on the equivalent of bed rest other than to go outside and get walked once a day."
The right hind foot remains encased in a fiberglass cast, primarily to help protect his left. "We're pretty sure that he could be out of the cast in his right hind, except that we don't want to take any risks of overloading his left hind," Richardson explains. "In some parts of the left hoof he has good growth but other parts are slower.
"He's bright and inquisitive. He seems to have a real desire to go on."

and

"This summer Barbaro received a beautiful wedding invitation with an RSVP and everything," relates Rench. "Dr. Richardson wrote a little note to the couple saying: 'Thank you very much for the invitation and best of luck. At this point Barbaro does not have any interest in remaining monogamous.'"
In Richardson's opinion, if Barbaro makes an optimum recovery he will be able to be used as a stallion. Given his pedigree and brilliant record in his brief racing career, he probably would become a multi-million dollar stud.
But the Jacksons' primary concern isn't for Barbaro to someday have a love life. Like countless others across America, they just want him to have a long and happy life.

[Gunnar]

The WE believe video make me smile and cry in a split second. Bobby seems like such a character and the spot with the cat and the cow are priceless. Off to light more candles!

We Believe in you Bobby!:sadsmile:

[Davignport]

That video is soooo heartwarming. The look in Barbaro's eye in the shot at the end says it all - "I am going to fight with EVERYTHING I have". This horse has touched so many people he IS the Horse of the Year without a doubt. Keep getting stronger Bobby, we are all pulling for you.

[eggbutt]

I just watched the "WE BELIEVE" video.....without sound cause my work PC doesn't have speakers. But I don't think I missed anything by not being able to hear the commentary. The love that shows in each and every frame, including the Preakness footage, is amazing and says so much without words. I particularly love the frame of B looking Dr R square in the eye almost nose to nose....that shot is open to so many interpretations! LOL! Wonder what B was thinking?! And, the ending brought me to tears. 5 months and counting. Yep...praying and counting alright. Grow Hoof Grow!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 908: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (wednesday night). Alex just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael. Peter again plans to visit later today so hopefully we will catch up and get another later report too.

[ivy62]

I finally watched the video and it is VERY clear he is not in any way ready to give up.... He is a fighter and that is for sure love the pic with the cow.....
Keep jingling in NY and lighting candles

[VirginiaBred]

pdate 911: Rachel, from Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 8:33 pm):

All is quiet at NBC today... I think they are recovering from the Halloween parade last night! They entered the parade (it's a judged event) as they have in the past. They have a miniature pony that in the past has been Smarty Jones, etc. He was dressed in a blue drape with fake casts on his hind legs... yep a Barbaro stand in! It was so cute. They had a little boy dressed in scrubs that had "Richardson" across the front and "but cuter and nicer" across the back! There was a little girl dressed as Edgar in the jockey outfit. They had adults carrying picket fences with get well posters all over them (representing the main entrance of NBC). They were also pulling a cart of flowers and carrots that had our logo on it! What a hoot! I hope someone got pictures for NBC, because mine came out really dark. It was a great night, even as cold as it was. Love, love, love this town! We brought the big guy all his favs today!

WE BELIEVE!!!


Update 910: Peter Brette visited Barbaro again today, which is looking like the routine while Michael Matz is overseeing Round Pond's training at Keeneland. Peter took Barbaro out for a pick of grass, groomed him and changed his bandages. All remains comfortable.

[Kenike]

Great updates, beautiful video! I just lit a few candles and got them back to 988....more need to be lit!

[VirginiaBred]

Friday Morning~

Update 912: A quick reminder, the Barbaro update will likely be late morning again. Fair Hill will likely be quite busy this morning in anticipation of some wet weather coming through tonight, which will leave the dirt track either closed or in grim shape tomorrow.

Thanks, Alex

[Fancy]

Lit enough candles to get us to 1,000. We need more!

Thanks, VB!

[msj]

What a hoot about the halloween parade! :D

I think several of us were just in lighting candles. As I'd light one, the number would go up 2 or 3. How neat!!!! Just a bit over 1000 but not bad. :)

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex:

Update 913: No Barbaro update yet. It was another chilly morning this morning at Fair Hill, although there was more cloud cover. A lovely sunrise, just a shame it was appearing coming back from the second set (ok, clocks really do need to change). As suspected, a pretty busy morning. Quite a few breezers, one loose horse and just plenty of things going on.


It is nice to see New Zealand continue its Barbaro coverage: Barbaro has a good week (http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0610/063.shtml).

[VirginiaBred]

Update 914: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (thursday night). Alex just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael. Peter is again planning to visit Barbaro this afternoon, so Alex will try to get another update later.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 916: I just spoke to Peter Brette, who visited Barbaro this afternoon. Peter took Barbaro out for a pick of grass before the rain started. He groomed him, changed his bandages and fed Barbaro a couple of apples. Another good report.

Thanks, Alex

[VirginiaBred]

Saturday Morning~

Thanks Alex:
Update 917: Rain, rain, rain, rain, as predicted. I assume training will be a washout this morning at Fair Hill. Likely I will have a couple to shedrow, but that will be about it. The Barbaro update will again be later this morning at its earliest. I'll stop by Michael Matz's barn to see Peter after training hours.

[enigma99]

Well, as I promised I am posting to let you all know about my experience with having the opportunity to meet Dr. Richardson. For those of you who didn't see my previous post he came to speak at a meeting I was at for work. First of all he was so down to earth & a very dynamic speaker. We watched videos of Barbaro both winning the Derby & breaking down in the Preakness. The second of which left not one dry eye in the house including Dr. R. I'm sure he's seen those clips hundreds of times & to see the emotion that it still caused was pretty amazing. I mean that is what vets are supposed to get into the industry for...because they truly care about the horse. Anyway, I feel truly lucky for having the opportunity to have that experience!

[ShowMeTheGlory]

I met Mrs. Jackson this week at the barn I work at. She seems like a very nice woman. She was touring the barn because I guess she is building one somewhere and wanted to see examples of what King construction has built.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 918: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (friday night). Alex went over to Michael Matz's barn and caught up with Peter Brette, he had heard from Michael.

[Kenike]

LOL, candles are going up by 4's...we're almost to 1,100 :D

Thanks, again, for the updates, VB

[merrygoround]

Hey VB these late postings make us worry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I command you to be more timely.

[VirginiaBred]

Sunday Morning~

With Michael away, all posts are delayed.....................

No update yet for Barbaro since yesterday morning, but Alex will endevour to get an update later this morning.

[msj]

I'm just thrilled for the updates you do provide. I figure if we don't hear anything really early that 'no news is good news'. But I still check in before I start cleaning stalls and make sure I light candles. Thanks a bunch for all you do do! :) :) :)

[Green Acres]

VB - I aslo want to thank you for your updates!!! I check this thread daily even though I have never posted on this thread.

[I'm EBO]

I am very sloppy about posting my thanks to VB for the consistency and dedication this sort of project takes.

What would we do without you? How would we find out about Bobby?

So, a big tardy Thank You to VB, Alex, Tim, and all the other reporters on his condition.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks Alex:
Update 927: No update yet this morning for Barbaro, but all was well yesterday. I saw Peter this morning and he is planning on visiting Barbaro after work, so I will try to catch up with him later to get today's update.

[RunForIt]

:) :) :) First of all, I'm joining the HUUUUGE group of people who thank you for all of your updates on "our" horse! :winkgrin:

I'm sure if I had the time and energy to read all of this thread I could find the answer to my question - but I dont, and I do want to know what the colt does all day, and night. Does he get to go out to graze at least once, hopefully more? Is he groomed? Thanks so much.

Lynda :cool:

[merrygoround]

He goes out to graze daily. He gets groomed and fussed over daily. He gets lots of attention.

I'm sure others more knowlegeable can fill you in minute by minute.

[Fancy]

His vital signs are checked four times a day. The bandages on his laminatic left leg are changed daily. Mrs. Jackson hand picks green grass at Lael Farm and brings it to him--she WAS doing this twice a day. He gets walked once a day by somebody who can handle him--usually Dr. Richardson. Somebody comes in and grooms him once a day, and of course he gets his gourmet carrots with the little green tops and his special peppermints off and on through the day. He gets bathed once a week (he loves that) and he is xrayed and the cast on his right hind is changed about once every 3-4 weeks.

How's that? And he gets cards and letters, and phone calls, still. Dr. Richardson wrote a polite refusal of his one wedding invitation, saying that monogamy was not in his future plans! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[VirginiaBred]

Update 928: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (saturday night). I just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael. Peter had not yet visited Barbaro, so I will try to get another update later.
Thanks, Tim/Alex.....

[VirginiaBred]

A Barbaro Typical Day............

Handwalking, grazing, grooming, bandage changing, vitals checked frequently, Jackson visits (still twice a day), Michael Matz visits everyday unless he is away at a race or auction, six day a week visits from Kennett Florist bringing him goodies and treats from folks around the country, etc.

Dr. Richardson, Michael Matz and Peter Brette are the only three that are allowed to take Barbaro outside.

[BlueRidgeEventer]

I want to add my thanks to VB, Alex, and Tim for starting and continuing the updates and information on Barbaro and his condition. This is my first post on this thread, but I've been a regular reader since the beginning.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 932: Just spoke to Peter, who visited Barbaro earlier today. Barbaro was actually sleeping when Peter visited, so he left him alone. All was well.
update, sunday october 29, 8:00 pm
Thanks, Alex!

[CSSporthorses]

Sorry I've been non-existant in posting on the thread lately ... I've been checking in on him @ least once a day, sorry I haven't posted ... Glad to hear the big boy is still doing well ... I pray for him every day :)

[VirginiaBred]

Monday Morning~

Update 933: Again, today's Barbaro update will be likely to come late this morning

[Boston Chicken]

Ditto to CSS Sporthorses. I check in a lot (when I can get on) but haven't posted. Still thinking warm thoughts for Barbaro :yes:

[VirginiaBred]

Update 934: No update yet this morning for Barbaro. Well its almost like someone turned on the lights this morning. First set it was bright, which was nice (although first set will now be pushed to 6 am rather than 6:30 am starting tomorrow). Thanks, Alex!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 935: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). Alex recently spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael. Peter is planning to visit later today so perhaps another update later.

[msj]

Glad to hear the big guy is doing well. Always happy to hear that.

I wish I could say the same for my kitty. :( I think kitty (Joey) is like Lost In The Fog. He's full of cancer (pretty much confirmed thru ultrasound and X-Rays) but still not showing he's really sick. His abdomen bloats full of fluid which we've drained twice now, with 500 ml and 600 ml respectively, and eats very little, but still acts pretty normal. He's dropped several pounds too. I've started him an appetite stimulant in hopes that it helps and taken him to the vet's for IV fluids. As long as he's still comfortable and bright-eyed, I'll keep him going. Gotta call a friend though to come dig a small hole under the big pine out front so he can RIP with the other cat's and dogs there when the time comes. :sadsmile:

[VirginiaBred]

I had to put one of my kitties to sleep Thursday, msj. Same situation.

So sorry for your kitty.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 938: Just spoke to Peter (6 pm) and he visited Barbaro today. He took Barbaro out for a pick of grass, groomed him and changed his bandages. An upbeat report.

Excellent! Thanks Alex!

[msj]

Upbeat is ALWAYS good!

Very sorry about your kitty as well VB. :cry:

[VirginiaBred]

Tuesday Morning~

Update 939: Again, this morning's Barbaro update will be much later, due to Michael Matz being in Keeneland preparing Round Pond for the Breeders' Cup.
Update could be as late as later this afternoon.

Thanks, Alex!

[Fancy]

Sorry about your kitten, VB. It's silly that we love them so much. My animals are like my children.....

Thank you for your faithfulness with Barbaro updates. We couldn't do this without you.

:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

[I'm EBO]

Sorry about the kitties, VB and msj. Lola, LaToya and Smarty J. Cat send their condolences, too.

Happy to hear BB is still winning.

Happy Halloween.

[LOVEtheHUNTERS]

I've been checking in each day. So glad that all is still well and ''upbeat''

[baywithchrome2]

Ditto :D. The morning just isn't complete without a Bobby update. Thanks VB (and the Barbaro team for being so open with us)!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 948: Peter did call, did visit Barbaro and Barbaro remains well. Peter took him out for a pick of grass, groomed him and changed his bandages. Another upbeat report.

Update 947: It looks like no update tonight for Barbaro, likely due to Halloween (Peter is probably tricking and treating).
A nice AP story: Matz Back at Scene of Barbaro's Triumph (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-rac-breeders-cup-barbaro,1,1430649.story?page=1&coll=sns-ap-sports-headlines) that includes the following excerpts:

One moment, Matz's voice breaks and tears well in his blue eyes as he talks about Barbaro, whose career ended with a devastating misstep in the Preakness. The Derby winner was supposed to be taking on Bernardini in the $5 million Classic on Saturday, with Horse of the Year honors at stake.
The next, Matz is composed and focused on saddling 4-year-old filly Round Pond in the $2 million Distaff.
"It's nice to be back having such fond memories from before," Matz said Tuesday, ducking inside the barn to escape rain drops. "I just hope we have the same results."

and

Barbaro will reunite his human handlers -- Matz, the Jacksons, Richardson and jockey Edgar Prado -- on Wednesday night when they're honored at the National Turf Writers Association awards dinner.
The Jacksons plan to attend, then return home and watch the Breeders' Cup on television.
"Coming back, it'll bring nothing but warm, good happy feelings," Gretchen Jackson said. "Once you've won an important race at a track, you feel like that track is always a part of your life."
Thanks, Tim/Alex.

[VirginiaBred]

Wednesday Morning~

Update 949: Again the Barbaro update will likely be late this morning.

[VirginiaBred]

Holy Ground, half brother to Barbaro, retired

and

Barbaro's younger half brother

both mentioned in this article:

The Quest (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/15897258.htm)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 951: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). Alex just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael.
Given the pending Breeders' Cup there seems to be an uptick in the media coverage of Barbaro. This one is excellent: Remarkable Barbaro still beating the odds (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup06/columns/story?id=2645136&campaign=rsssrch&source=horse+racing). A must read, here is a small excerpt:

Earlier in his career, Prado had ridden regularly at Pimlico. As at most racetracks, everyone gets to know everyone, and Prado knew Dreyfuss.
"He was saying to me, 'Doctor, please save him. Do what you can, please save him,'" Dreyfuss recalled.

[appaloosalady]

What a fantastic article! It brought tears to my eyes all over again. I'm another one guilty of checking in on your updates all of the time without posting, but I want you to know how much your updates are appreciated VB. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!

[Laurierace]

The Jamie Richardson they speak about in the article is a good guy. I especially loved the part where he said he felt like O.J. on the drive up. Jamie looks like he could be anyone who wandered in out of the ghetto that that surrounds Pimlico. He works hard and has risen to the top of his field at that track. Bet thats not the mental image you had huh? This mix of people who came together to give this story the happy ending it appears to be heading towards really is a story in and of itself.

[ivy62]

The article was wonderful and it felt like we relived those moments at Pimlico but know that Barbaro survived so it makes it a little easier each time.....Keep on going Bobby!!!!!!!

VB thanks again and again for the daily updates....I would be worried sick without them! I worry enough about my own horses!!!!!!

[vineyridge]

What I found most encouraging is the statement in the other article VB linked to and quoted where all of Barbaro's people were going to meet with New Bolton about maybe bringing him home for the winter.

[eggbutt]

What I found most encouraging is the statement in the other article VB linked to and quoted where all of Barbaro's people were going to meet with New Bolton about maybe bringing him home for the winter.


OH MY....I didn't notice that! I'm conflicted about whether that's great, great news or whether I'm worried sick that he won't be in an ICU environment! I know they will do what's best for B for sure!

[msj]

I'm another one with tears streaming down my face after reading that article, :cry: but also had a chuckle about the OJ reference! :lol:

It will be interesting to see if they do take Bobby home to Jackson's farm this winter.

Another interesting note from a while ago was that Jackson's still hadn't received any bills from NBC for Bobby. I wonder why??? And if they still haven't gotten bills yet...

Hey everyone, please go light some candles. They are below 1000! Thanks.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks, Alex!


Update 956: I just spoke to Peter Brette who visited Barbaro this (wednesday) afternoon. He took Barbaro out to graze, groomed him and changed his bandages. Another upbeat report.


Update 955: Another Breeders' Cup inspired Barbaro article: Barbaro's influence won't go away (http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061101/NEWS/611010349). Some of the quotes are familiar. Michael does comment on Bernardini:

Matz will watch the Classic too, wondering what a race between Barbaro and Preakness winner Bernardini would have been like.
"You think about it, but it will never happen, so ..." he said. "It's sort of a shame that rivalry never took place, because I think it would have been a good one. I just think that after Bernardini got real good, there was really no one that could challenge him. Whether these older horses now can do that, we'll see on Saturday. I think he's a wonderful horse."
Barbaro will be in his intensive care stall in Pennsylvania, where get-well cards still arrive.

Bernie, from Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 8:40 pm):

Hi everyone! I got back from NBC and everyone there was happy! I saw Dr. R. and he looked relaxed and happy. Barbaro is doing very well and everyone is upbeat.
A word on Rachel- she stopped in today briefly. everything is a little better and she plans to come back to work tomorrow, at least part time (we may kick her out early). Love to you all!

WE BELIEVE!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Thursday Morning~

Update 958: The Barbaro update will again be later this morning.

[Fancy]

I'm another one with tears streaming down my face after reading that article, :cry: but also had a chuckle about the OJ reference! :lol:

It will be interesting to see if they do take Bobby home to Jackson's farm this winter.

Going home would be WONDERFUL for Bobby. I just hope we can still get our updates. Maybe the Jacksons would adopt you for the winter, VB? I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I couldn't read about Bobby every morning before breakfast.

:D :lol: :cool: :winkgrin:

[I'm EBO]

Good morning. Great Article. Thank you for these updates--they continue to start my day.

[mareseatoats]

The Kentucky Derby is prestigeous, especially for those that won it. Oh how proud to have the winner in your own barn.
But bigger and better,
Barbaro is winning the race of his life!
That's what I don't get .... those that talk of, would of, could of, should of.
NOTHING BEATS LIFE.

I'm not looking for any debate .. just my thoughts ... I think they're all started too young ... it's a money thing.
Good thing the eyes of the world have been witness to this story. Better yet, those above (NBC) can read horsey body language.
I would worship the ground he rears on.

Thank you for this thread .. should be published to the World.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 961: A quick review of the awards dinner last night for "Team Barbaro": Team Barbaro, Richardson, Crist Honored at NTWA Dinner (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36160). The following is an excerpt:

Upon accepting the award, Roy Jackson joked that Barbaro had asked him to make some remarks on his behalf. "He wants to first honor you men and women of the press for your honest and straightforward reporting of this whole event. You've done a great service to the racing industry," Jackson said, citing the subjects of laminitis and the anti-slaughter bill.
"Barbaro also wants to thank the multitude of people that sent notes, carrots, you name it," he continued. "Lastly, he wanted to thank Dean Richardson and the whole staff at New Bolton for the care they've given him."

Update 960: Another comfortable night last night (wednesday night) for Barbaro. I just spoke to Peter Brette, who had heard from Michael.



Thanks Alex.

[fish]

[QUOTE=mareseatoats;1970729

I'm not looking for any debate .. just my thoughts ... I think they're all started too young ... it's a money thing.
.[/QUOTE]

If you're not looking for a debate, why even bring this up?

I wish people who claim to be interested in this subject would take some note of the numerous studies which have tested this hypothesis and exposed it for what it is: a myth. E.g. a controlled study (the results of which were published in the BH about 3 years ago) was done comparing horses that were started as yearlings and raced at two to a group not started until 4. The results were that the later group broke down a a dramatically HIGHER rate than those started early. Why? Because bone needs to be modelled to withstand stress EARLY-- before it matures, not after. To make a horses wait until maturity to run actually INCREASES, not decreases, the risk of breakdown.

There are numerous things that can and should be done to reduce the risks of injury to horses. Delaying exposure to the stresses of their intended careers is NOT one of them.

[Fancy]

This from BloodHorse:

""When I left this morning he was in his stall, eating, breathing, doing the things that horses are supposed to do," said Richardson, chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. "Michael Matz is here in Kentucky training his horses [for the Breeders' Cup], so [assistant trainer] Peter Brette has been coming daily to walk him and he's doing great. We took x-rays of his right hind leg today and we're probably going to be removing his cast permanently next week." said Dr. Dean Richardson.

O happy day!!!!!

:eek: :D :lol: :yes: :D :) :winkgrin: :yes: :lol: ;) :winkgrin: :D :) :yes: :lol: :) :winkgrin: :winkgrin: :winkgrin: :lol: :) :cool:

Where IS that cartwheel smilie when you need it?

If you missed it, this was tucked away at the bottom of the page describing the awards banquet yesterday.

MORE NEWS HEADLINES from BloodHorse.com

[summerhorse]

If you're not looking for a debate, why even bring this up?

I wish people who claim to be interested in this subject would take some note of the numerous studies which have tested this hypothesis and exposed it for what it is: a myth. E.g. a controlled study (the results of which were published in the BH about 3 years ago) was done comparing horses that were started as yearlings and raced at two to a group not started until 4. The results were that the later group broke down a a dramatically HIGHER rate than those started early. Why? Because bone needs to be modelled to withstand stress EARLY-- before it matures, not after. To make a horses wait until maturity to run actually INCREASES, not decreases, the risk of breakdown.

There are numerous things that can and should be done to reduce the risks of injury to horses. Delaying exposure to the stresses of their intended careers is NOT one of them.


Did this study furnish the horses or did they look at records of horses already racing/raced? It is pretty unusual for a horse to not be started by 4 (heck 3) and usually that means that horse already has soundness issues before he even gets to training (and its issues). So that would automatically skew the results in favor of starting them young.

[BeastieSlave]

Thanks VB :yes: I'm another who checks in regularly for updates, but doesn't post often.
The articles have been really moving. I can't wait for that update that tells us Bobby's headed for home....

[VirginiaBred]

Friday Morning~

Thanks, Alex:

Update 968: Lots of articles, in no particular order.
Racing: Shadow of Barbaro stalks Bernardini's march to greatness (http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article1951216.ece)
Meaningful win for Matz, Prado (http://horseracing.sportsline.com/cbs/headlines/showarticle.aspx?articleId=14376)
Bernardini awaiting his biggest challenge (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/15915870.htm)
Bernardini Still In Barbaro's Shadow (http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/10222716/detail.html)
Matz's return trip already a winner (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.breeders02nov02,0,6877849.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines)
A dark day Matz can't forget (http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/116244955745570.xml?starledger?colize&coll=1)
Michael Matz wishes Barbaro could be here (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15905794.htm)

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15905794.htm)
Alex may have one more short interview before he leaves for the Breeders' Cup. The Barbaro update will be later this morning - early after, and he will continue to post Barbaro updates as he has them while in Kentucky.

[fish]

Did this study furnish the horses or did they look at records of horses already racing/raced? It is pretty unusual for a horse to not be started by 4 (heck 3) and usually that means that horse already has soundness issues before he even gets to training (and its issues). So that would automatically skew the results in favor of starting them young.

It's been a few years since I read it, but I'm quite sure the study furnished the horses-- it was, after all conducted by reputable scientists who would have been extremely vulnerable to criticism for poor experimental design if they failed to establish meaningful control groups. I am, in fact quite certain I would have rejected its results myself if it had merely been looking at records.

It was, in addition, only one of several studies establishing the importance of early career-simulating, bone-modelling stress to future soundness.

This should come as absolutely no surprise considering the similar findings regarding humans (and doubtless other species with boney skeletons as well). Why anyone would think that young horses would do better hanging around in pastures until adulthood than they would in judiciously controlled exercise programs completely escapes me. If left to their own devices, with the option of loafing around and grazing all day, how many of our own children would be likely to grow into durable athletes? Have we gotten good results by reducing PE in our schools to almost nothing? Would it make sense to keep human track and field hopefuls from running until their plates were completely closed (to the age of 20 in some young men!!)??? to avoid the risk of injuring immature bones? I don't think so. Certainly, athletic pursuits do involve a degree of risk: in applying stress, it's very important not to cross the fine line between just enough and just a little too much. Wherever you look, however, it does seem obvious that the benefits of early training outweigh the risks.

If we really want to protect long term soundness, it's stalls we should be getting rid of, not strenous exercise.

P.S. Many, many years ago, I used to believe just as you do now-- and was every bit as adamant about it. By interesting coincidence, the first person who shook my belief was Michael Matz. I was looking at a yearling filly (by the stallion Ringside Michael partly owned) who was in a winter Timonium sale. When I told Michael I was looking for H/J prospects, he assured me that the filly could jump. When I asked him how he knew, he said he'd already been riding her over fences. I'm now embarrassed to admit that I was not only horrified, and had the arrogance to reproach this reknowned horseman with "Why would you do that to one so young??" Michael just smiled and shrugged, saying "I just do." I looked at the filly again, finding her, to my surprise, completely clean-legged and unblemished in addition to impeccably mannered. It took me quite a while, but eventually I came around to believing that Michael-- along with many other great horsemen-- knew a great deal better than I. I've thought of him and turned a little pink every time I've read another study on bone density and modelling in horses.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 971: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (Thursday night). I just spoke to Peter Brette. Peter may visit Barbaro later today so I'll try to catch up with him again for another update.
friday 12:55pm
Thanks, Alex

[msj]

Glad for another 'comfortable' update! :)

BUT we need candles lit badly. They are below 900! :eek:

[VirginiaBred]

Update 972: Peter Brette visited barbaro today (friday) and all remains well. An upbeat report.

[2Dogs]

thanks again VB - I follow from afar but tonight ESPN did another full update that I just happened to see.

Many a loving vibe I am sending.

[JoZ]

I was looking at a yearling filly ... he assured me that the filly could jump. When I asked him how he knew, he said he'd already been riding her over fences.

Much as I hate to go off on these tangents on Barbaro's thread I cannot let this stand without calling it into question... surely this has to be mis-stated (riding a YEARLING over fences)???

[fish]

Much as I hate to go off on these tangents on Barbaro's thread I cannot let this stand without calling it into question... surely this has to be mis-stated (riding a YEARLING over fences)???

Not mistated. It was a winter (early Dec.) sale, though, so in another month she would have been officially 2 :)

(I don't like doing this to Barbaro's thread either, though-- can I at least point out that I didn't start it? I.e., IMO, this is no place to be arguing about various issues; the topic is Barbaro's recovery, not looking about to cast blame for injuries.)

[VirginiaBred]

We need candles lit quickly!
By Saturday, we will be horribly low.

Please, TEAM BARBARO, light candles; LOTS of them!!!!!!!!

[jparkes]

There was an awesome article on Barbaro this afternoon on ESPN! I hope it's played over again, because it's well worth catching. Footage of him today grazing, along with interviews with the vet and Matz, who continues to get a little emotional when talking about him, but who doesn't? There was even a mention of the cast coming off next week!

[fish]

There was an awesome article on Barbaro this afternoon on ESPN! I hope it's played over again, because it's well worth catching. Footage of him today grazing, along with interviews with the vet and Matz, who continues to get a little emotional when talking about him, but who doesn't? There was even a mention of the cast coming off next week!
Cool!!! :D

[Kenike]

Very cool info!

I'm lighting a bunch of candles as we speak...maybe I'll be able to get them back to 1000...I dunno, looks like a bunch are about to go out....

[VirginiaBred]

Barbaro may have cast removed

By Glenye Cain
Daily Racing Form
www.espn.com



LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro could have his cast removed permanently as early as next week, according to his surgeon, Dr. Dean Richardson.
Richardson told reporters at the National Turf Writers Association's annual pre-Breeders' Cup awards dinner Wednesday night that the colt is progressing well but "still has a long way to go," according to an Associated Press report.
"We took X-rays of his right hind leg today, and we're probably going to be removing his cast permanently next week," Richardson said.
The NTWA honored "Team Barbaro" with the organization's Mr. Fitz Award, which is given to an individual or group showing the spirit of racing. The honorees included Barbaro, Richardson, the rest of Barbaro's veterinary team at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center equine hospital, the colt's owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, jockey Edgar Prado, trainer Michael Matz, and assistant trainer and exercise rider Peter Brette.
Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in the May 20 Preakness and has been in intensive care at the New Bolton Center ever since. He underwent surgery to stabilize the right leg on May 21, then developed laminitis in his left hind leg in July, prompting Richardson to remove an estimated 80 percent of his left hoof.

[VirginiaBred]

Saturday Morning~

Update 973: Tim's horse Redaspen won a nice stake race last night at the Meadowlands. Congrats Tim!
Barbaro update will be later today as has been routine lately.
Thanks Tim & Alex!

[Sannois]

said when interviewed after his BC win that the cast was coming off next week What a horse! :yes:

[VirginiaBred]

Update 981: We are operating on the assumption, as always, that no news is good news. Alex didn't get a Barbaro update this evening...understandably with the Breeders Cup today but likely all is well. Alex will have lots more news regarding his day at the races when he gets back tomorrow.

[Kenike]

Awesome!

[I'm EBO]

So happy that Round Pen won her race. So sad that Pine Island lost so much, so tragically. Good wishes for Fleet Indian.

What was up with George Washington (also a Jackson horse)??

[vineyridge]

GW is a UK miler, and this was his first time at distance and on dirt. Obviously he wasn't fond of one or the other or both.

[baywithchrome2]

Is there a link to the ESPN clip?

[Drvmb1ggl3]

[-0987

[sweetfern]

Candles are back up!
They do tend to go down more on the WEs.
(long time candle lighter and observer)

[Kenike]

I got the candles back up to 1200, so that's a very good thing :) I'm still so happy to hear about the progress and can't wait to see what comes tomorrow. This has been such a terrible and tragic year for TB racing that this little ray of hope is exciting. Bobby's recovery would make it a little less of a bad year for me....an good ending to such a terrible season.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 983: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (saturday). I just spoke to Peter Brette who had heard from Michael Matz. Peter may be visiting Bobby later today so I'll try to catch up with him after I land in Philadelphia.
Thanks Alex!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 984: Peter Brette visited Barbaro this afternoon. Dean Richardson had already taken him out for his pick of grass so Peter just groomed him and changed his bandages. Another upbeat report. As we heard from the press coverage late last week, they are planning to replace Barbaro's cast likely early this coming week.

[VirginiaBred]

Monday Morning~

Update 986: The Barbaro update this morning may come at anytime. I say this because I think Michael Matz flew back from the Breeders' Cup yesterday, so is likely going to be in Fair Hill this morning. I would not anticipate it coming too early though.
Thanks, Alex.

[msj]

I checked in early anyway! My usual, after the horses were fed but before I tackled cleaning stalls! Glad Michael had a win in the Breeder's Cup! :D Like all of us though, I wish it had been with Bobby! :( But hey, the big guy's gonna lose his cast this week. :) Hope all goes well. Now, where's that 'crossing your fingers' icon. :)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 987: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (sunday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was going to the track on my third set. A beautiful, crisp morning this morning here at Fair Hill. The moon provided a nice source of light for the first set at quarter of six. Right now I am walking back from the track on my third set, a horse I just broke from the gate to get his gate card.
Michael returned from Kentucky yesterday and visited Barbaro in the evening. He was happy with how Bobby was doing.
Round Pond has also returned from Kentucky and Michael said that as soon as the sun is up, she'll be turned out in the paddock.
(monday November 6th 7:20am)
Thanks Alex!

[Davignport]

I will keep my fingers crossed this week for Bobby. Every good day is one day closer to him being a horse again and out in his paddock grazing happily.

Alex and VB - you are just the BEST!!! I don't know either one of you personally but sure feel like I do. I guess that is how Bobby has made all of us feel. Is there even a question at to who is HORSE OF THE YEAR???

[chicagogirl]

Big step: Doctors remove Barbaro's cast
Lower right hind leg was in cast since surgery following Preakness injury
The Associated Press
Updated: 5:32 p.m. CT Nov 6, 2006
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Barbaro is walking freely, without a cast.

Nearly six months after a horrifying accident at the Preakness, Barbaro had the cast removed from his lower right hind leg on Monday. The Kentucky Derby winner was in the cast since having surgery on May 21, a day after the second race of the Triple Crown series.

“He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood. He walked easily back to his stall,” said Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. “He used all of his legs quite well.”

Barbaro’s left hind hoof, which was stricken with a severe case of laminitis, hasn’t shown signs of any new problems.

“The hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered,” Richardson said.

During Monday’s procedure, Barbaro’s foot was trimmed and a new shoe was glued on it. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support.

Barbaro suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness. The 3-year-old colt sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated.

Richardson said after performing surgery the pastern bone was shattered in “20-plus pieces.”

Barbaro’s right hind bones healed so well after surgery his cast could have been off months ago, if not for the laminitis in his other hind leg. The painful hoof disease prevented the cast from being removed sooner because the colt could not protect himself by bearing more weight on the left hind.

Barbaro’s devastating injuries captured the attention of racing fans across the nation this summer. The outpouring of sympathy was overwhelming and daily updates on Barbaro’s condition were provided by the medical staff at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15521735/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2006 MSNBC.com

[VirginiaBred]

Update 991: New Bolton's update on today's cast: Barbaro's cast removed today (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update11-6.htm):

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's right hind leg cast was removed today, according to his medical team. "Barbaro was placed under general anesthesia for the cast removal," said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. "In addition, his foot was trimmed and a new shoe glued on. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support."
Barbaro's lower right hind leg had been in a cast since surgery at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital following his accident at the Preakness on May 20. "He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood; he walked easily back to his stall," said Dr. Richardson. "He used all of his legs quite well."
Barbaro's left hind foot, which had laminitis, was also fully evaluated while he was under anesthesia. "There are no signs of new problems with that foot, but the hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered," said Dr. Richardson.
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, November 14, unless there is a significant change in Barbaro's condition.

Update 990: I just spoke to Mrs. Jackson. She told me that Barbaro had his cast replaced today (I did not ask what with) and all was well with the process (pool recovery etc.) She was pretty upbeat about it. I assume more details will be forthcoming in the New Bolton release!

[Kenike]

I just saw it on MSNBC, so I came here and see VB's ever faithful update from NB! YAY!!!! I know we've still got plenty to wait and jingle for with his lh foot, but this is such a big step...made my day (even above my new car, which will be picked up tomorrow afternoon)!!! YAY!

Off to light more candles now..... :D

[fish]

Thank you. This is very smiley :) NEWS!!!!

Ahem... and onto the next phase. Good thing is, Barbaro seems to have his part down pat :) (again)

[flshgordon]

FANTASTIC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

The only thing better than this will be to get my boy home from the hospital too.....hopefully next week!

HOORAY for team Barbaro!

[ivy62]

YEAH! Barbaro!!!!!! This is the first major step and I hope he continues to do well, maybe it will ease the pain of the demise of Pine Island, she wasn't as lucky as him......

VB how can I thank you for all your devotion to us....I will keep jingling and lighting candles until he gets to run free without pain.....
Does anyone know what kind of supplements he is getting?

[catknsn]

This is such great news and so exciting. If he can hold up with the cast off and start being exercised, I think I may finally believe it's all going to be okay for him!

[Texarkana]

This is such great news and so exciting. If he can hold up with the cast off and start being exercised, I think I may finally believe it's all going to be okay for him!

Not to rain on the parade... but there's still that pesky little issue of not having a left foot... hard to say he's out of the woods. And he'll definitely be taking it easy seeing as how he's a 3-footed horse, lol. But the cast being removed is a huge leap in the positive direction! :D

[sporthorsefilly]

The cast is off, GO BARBARO! What a wonderful recovery, great horse, great owners and great crew. Grow left foot grow!

I was thrilled to see Michael Matz and Edgar Prado victorious in the BC, they deserved the thrill of another Churchill Downs victory.

Light more candles, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we do have more time yet to go.

Gosh I am so thrilled for all those involved with this wonderful horse. I am so happy that Barbaro was such a good patient and that all the work, time, effort and expense has given him this wonderful chance to recover. Yeah Bobby!

[VirginiaBred]

Big Step: Doctors Remove Barbaro's Cast
www.msnbc.com

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Barbaro is walking freely, without a cast.
Nearly six months after a horrifying accident at the Preakness, Barbaro had the cast removed from his lower right hind leg on Monday. The Kentucky Derby winner was in the cast since having surgery on May 21, a day after the second race of the Triple Crown series.
“He had a perfect pool recovery and immediately stood. He walked easily back to his stall,” said Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. “He used all of his legs quite well.”
Barbaro’s left hind hoof, which was stricken with a severe case of laminitis, hasn’t shown signs of any new problems.
“The hoof needs several more months of growth before we will know how much foot structure and function will be recovered,” Richardson said.
During Monday’s procedure, Barbaro’s foot was trimmed and a new shoe was glued on it. A padded bandage with plastic and fiberglass splints was placed on his lower limb for support.
Barbaro suffered life-threatening injuries when he broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness. The 3-year-old colt sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated.
Richardson said after performing surgery the pastern bone was shattered in “20-plus pieces.”
Barbaro’s right hind bones healed so well after surgery his cast could have been off months ago, if not for the laminitis in his other hind leg. The painful hoof disease prevented the cast from being removed sooner because the colt could not protect himself by bearing more weight on the left hind.
Barbaro’s devastating injuries captured the attention of racing fans across the nation this summer. The outpouring of sympathy was overwhelming and daily updates on Barbaro’s condition were provided by the medical staff at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.

[ASB Stars]

I got my Barbaro bracelets in the mail yesterday- what perfect timing!

GOOOOOOO BIG guy!!!!

[msj]

Wonderful news! :) :) :)

I hope that I'm reading correctly between the lines on that report in that the Drs. at NBC feel there is enough hoof growth on the left hind to sustain Bobby! I sure hope so! Heck, I might even try a cartwheel - no, on second thought, that's a bad idea. I'll just go celebrate and have a glass or 2 of wine! After all, it's 5 o'clock somewhere!!!!:D :D :D

After I vote that is! :D :D :D

Thanks for the great news! :) :) : )

MORE CANDLES please!!!!! They are getting low again.

[War Admiral]

I'm with Texarkana - it's VERY exciting and it is indeed a miracle that Our Boy has come so very very far, but I would not stop lighting candles just yet. Still too much could still go wrong.

But this really is awesome news - GO BARBARO!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Tuesday Morning ~ (One day after the cast removal! :D )

Update 994: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I walked to the track with Michael Matz's set while on my fourth horse. Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael also visited Barbaro last night after racing at Delaware. He was happy with how Barbaro was handling his new legware. There was certainly an upbeat mood as we walked to the track.

Thanks, Alex!

[annikak]

SUCH GREAT NEWS!~

The radio here said... Barbao will breed happily ever after!

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

YAY! Go BOBBY!!!! That is such great news!

[Spoilsport]

YAY :D :D :D :D :) :) :) :)!

Thanks to VB and everyone who keeps us updated! I've been too busy to post but check this thread every day :winkgrin: :winkgrin: !

[Daydream Believer]

Absolutely wonderful news!

[Skip's Rider]

Hooray!!! :D:D:D This is great news. VB, many thanks for keeping us up-to-date.

[dcm]

Heard this on Paul Harvey also. Wonderful, wonderful news!

:yes: :D :yes: :D :yes: :cool: :D :yes: :D :yes: :D :yes: :cool:

[Indy]

WAHOO! What great news!!! :) :) :)

[VirginiaBred]

Update 999: I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who visited Barbaro this afternoon. All remains well.
Michael's take on the eclipse awards: Matz: Bernardini still deserves title (http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?type=news&style=purple&section=bc&id=21779). An excerpt:

"I'm obviously prejudiced, but I think it would probably be a little hard for them to give Barbaro champion 3-year-old and not Bernardini," Matz said. "It'd be nice if they could be joint 3-year-old champions, but I don't know if that could be possible and I don't think you could give Bernardini nothing for campaigning all year. Bernardini campaigned all year. He was second to Invasor; it wasn't like he ran a bad race."

Update 998: Barbaro radiographs taken on November 7 (cast removal) are now online: Barbaro Photo Album (http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/BarbaroPhotos.htm)

Thank you Alex.

[YoungFilly]

Thanks VB for keeping us all updated! I can tell you for sure, that every once in a while the topic of Barbaro comes up with non-horse people, and they ask "I wonder what ever happened to him?" And I can rattle off "Well, he is going to have his cast off this Sunday!" thanks to your posts. He did capture the nation, and I am so glad he is doing so well!

[Kenike]

wow! It barely looks like the same leg! If you look close enough you can see where the calcification is, etc, but what a wonderful job they did...Bobby included in the "they" part.

I echo the thanks, VB. If it weren't for your tireless efforts here, I'd be lost. :)

Sidenote: I'm lighting a bunch of candles, but we're below 1000 again. Can we get a bunch of people to start lighting with me??

[msj]

wow! It barely looks like the same leg! If you look close enough you can see where the calcification is, etc, but what a wonderful job they did...Bobby included in the "they" part.

I echo the thanks, VB. If it weren't for your tireless efforts here, I'd be lost. :)

Sidenote: I'm lighting a bunch of candles, but we're below 1000 again. Can we get a bunch of people to start lighting with me??

Your request for candles must have worked. I was just there at 7:05 AM and the total was 1137! :D

Ditto on the thanks to VB! You are fantastic! If you ever are foolish enough to come to the Rochester NY area, you've got a place to stay and meals to boot! :) :)

[VirginiaBred]

Wednesday Morning~

Update 1000: A great NPR interview with Dr. Richardson: Barbaro's Cast Removed; Recovery Continues (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6449349).
I am sure the Barbaro update this morning will be delayed. Its raining pretty hard outside so I am anticipating a morning of shedrowing. If that is the case, I will stop by Michael Matz's barn once they are done to get the update.
Thanks, Alex.

[eggbutt]

Thanks so much VB for all the updates. When I heard Michael say in an interview at the BC that the cast might come off this week, it was totally joyful in our house! What super wonderful news.

Are there still possible plans on taking him home for the winter?

[VirginiaBred]

Yes, he is on track to go to the Jacksons' for the winter. As they are extremely close to New Bolton, the particulars are being worked out.

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks Alex.
Update 1001: It is a miserably wet day (although warm). So training has been pretty much limited to the shedrow, I will venture over to Michael Matz's barn later this morning for the update.