On Jan. 29, a year after Barbaro’s death, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson announced that their 2006 Kentucky Derby winner will be buried at the site of his greatest triumph. Barbaro will be the first horse in history to have his remains placed on the grounds of the historic track.

Barbaro’s remains will be placed outside of an entrance gate in a large elevated space enclosed by bricks. The site will also include a life-size bronze statue commissioned by the Jacksons and loaned to the track as part of the official memorial site.

Roy Jackson said Churchill Downs was the best place to honor the colt, who won the Derby by a dominating 61⁄2 lengths before being injured in the Preakness Stakes (Md.), the second leg of the Triple Crown.

At a press conference at Churchill Downs, the Jacksons announced that nearly $3 million had been raised for laminitis research at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in a fund established in the colt’s honor.

“We think it’s a phenomenal decision for them to make,” said Kentucky Derby Museum Executive Director Lynn Ashton. “Now everyone will have the opportunity to come and visit and to learn about Barbaro. The Jacksons have given Barbaro’s final resting place the same time and consid- eration as they did his race career and decisions about his recovery.”

The Jacksons considered several other sites for Barbaro’s burial over the past year, such as the Kentucky Horse Park and Fair Hill Training Center (Md.), where the colt prepped for his racing career under trainer Michael Matz.

 “It became overwhelmingly clear that this is where Barbaro should be,” said Gretchen. “We wrestled with it for awhile, but we’re really thrilled that [Churchill Downs] wanted him.”