Update 514: Dave Wallace, assistant trainer for Tom Albertrani, has agreed to provide us brief updates on Bernadini as we approach the Travers. He noted how well Bernadini worked yesterday (see update 511 for details of the work). Dave said that as he was watching him start his breeze, you would not know he was breezing unless you were clocking him. Anyway, they were very pleased with the work and he has come out of the breeze in very good shape. Today Bernadini walked in the shedrow (note: this is quite usual the day after a work). Tomorrow he will return to the track, and gallop a little bit. I’ll catch up with Dave tomorrow to follow up.
Just watched the CBS vid, it’s great!!
And did anyone else besides me get a kick out of the fiendish glee on Dr. R.'s face when Barbaro bit the reporter? 
:winkgrin:
Super video! Barbaro’s looking so NORMAL!
Are those rubs or some other irritation on his left side? He looks wonderful :sadsmile:
Off to light a candle now - for Barbaro and my horse :sadsmile:
[QUOTE=Boston Chicken;1836762]
Are those rubs or some other irritation on his left side? He looks wonderful :sadsmile:
Off to light a candle now - for Barbaro and my horse :sadsmile:[/QUOTE]
Those rubs (well, scarring now) are from the sling used for the pool recovery after his first, initial surgery. I’m fairly certain that’s touched on in one of the previous updates from VB/Tim Woolley.
Thank you for the video link to the CBS story. As usual, I am sitting here, bawling like a baby watching it! I am so happy! I am so grateful for your updates.
Loved the CBS video. There are actually 2 videos on that site and I watched them twice! But would someone please get Barbaro a fake tail!!! The QH and saddlebreds use them all the time! Especially since it’s still fly season!
that new video is nothing short of AMAZING!:eek: :eek: :eek:
Who would have dreamed after the “L” word that we would be watching him cruise around like that dragging the Dr. with him. I think he looks unbelievable for what he’s been through.
What a fantastic team he has taking care of him :yes:
I have to admit, I got quite choked up to see pulling Dr. Anderson as he was walking. WOW! About his side, I beg to differ about that being a scar. Yes, it might scar somewhat, but not as much as may think. He might not at all, or when healing is complete he might end up with a line or a few small spots. The pink and the white is the new skin coming in before it gets pigment then hair. I only know this because my vet talked me down from a panic attack and explained what to look for when my foal had a dinner plate sized abcess.
Thanks, Alex~
Update 516: Just spoke to Peter Brette (5:30 pm), and while he as been at the Fair Hill barn all day he had just heard from Michael. Barbaro has had another good day.
Update 515: A quick update from Rachel at Kennett Florist (timestamp: 8:29 pm):
Lots to do at NBC today! We had breakfast for the staff; bagels, spreads, fruit salad, juice and coffee. They were piled high in the main area before Alie could finish setting up. Much appreciation was expressed as usual.
This afternoon when I went up with our treats for Bobby and staff I had a chance to ask if the Jackson’s would be invited to Friday’s event, and they are going to extend the invitation. Also heard from a staff member that they were going to get a total on the Barbaro fund donations that have been made in Dr R’s honor and present him with that in a card on Friday. It’s just so exciting! We’re working on finalizing all the gifts… will post about them after Friday, in case anyone is snooping LOL!
Also, passed Sabina as we were heading in (she held the door for us) and was hoping to have a chance to talk to her, but she was gone by the time I got out. Can’t wait to post for you all on Friday! Thanks again for everything!!
WE BELIEVE!!
The post position draw has occured for the Travers: Classic Winner Bernardini Even-Money Favorite in Travers with Bernadini drawing post position 5:
With a compact field in the Travers and a long run to the first turn, post positions will not be extremely important. Bernardini drew post 5 with jockey Javier Castellano.
“The horse makes it a lot easier for Javier,” Albertrani said. “He’s easy to rate and he never fights the rider. Javier is very patient with him and never overreacts.”
The following poem Barbaro’s Goodnight Whisperer includes the following horse banter:
Still, Barbaro wishes Bernadini and Bluegrass Cat Good News.
To Preakness and Haskell Winners - sporting their lucky horseshoes,
“Yahoo Jim Dandy King” - dominating one the toughest races,
“May Luck ride with you Bluegrass Cat at Travers, next of this week’s races.”
“Would have loved to see it for myself,” says Barbaro beaming wide.
Bernadini tosses a look his way saying, “rather had you by my side.”
“Competitive sports with friendly banter, that’s what I love to see,”
snorts Blue Grass Cat through video cam jamming just like Bernadini.
It is so sad about St. Liam. BUt is more acceptable I think because it was a freak accident. Track injuries seem to be more related to age, surface and other man made inventions. RIP sweet St. Liam…
The video of BArbaro was awesome I sure hope the laminitis clears up, does anyone know how the broken leg and joint are doing? People haven’t mentioned it recently.
I got my bracelets…Thanks they are great! They won’t come off until he leaves NBC!
This thread is such a roller coaster. I just heard about Alcor, and I was so interested to hear about his surgery, until, his post-op. I bet they did everything they could to have him make it.
Dean Richardson is one skilled guy, but, alas, not a merical worker. Thank you sir for trying your best anyway.
Actually, the broken leg is doing very well. There has been mention of his cast on that leg coming off in September. 
Keep the candles lit, and the jingling going, cause we have to pull him all the way through this!!!
WE BELIEVE!!!
Thank you VB as always…Sometimes I read so many things I forget! It was nice to see bArbaro playful in the video too…
Gotta go light some candles Keep Jingling!!!
That video was great. I particularly enjoyed him trying to grab the doctor’s cell phone. He looks to be in very good spirits, and yet he’s controllable - he’s not acting like he’s going to have a massive freak-out and reinjure himself.
Thursday Morning from Alex~
Update 519: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (wednesday night). Just saw Michael Matz coming back from the track. He had just gotten a message from Dr. Richardson this morning. Michael also reiterated to me his positive report from his visit with Bobby yesterday.
My last set, I breezed one 3/8 mile in a comfortable 38 and am now walking back up to the track on Chappy. Just passing Peter who is saying to please express his thanks to everyone for all of your support. It’s another gorgeous morning in Fair Hill.
updated thursday 7:17am
Update 518: The Jackson’s are running Enticing today at York: Lael Stables homebred Enticing puts undefeated record on line in Nunthorpe. You will note two unusual things about this spot for their horse. She is running against older horses (she is two) and against the boys. This type of placement of a horse is perhaps a little more common in the UK than it would be in the US (pretty much unheard of):
The lone two-year-old in the open field is Enticing, one of two females among the Nunthorpe entrants. The other female is the five-year-old Paris House mare Mecca’s Mate, winner of the 2005 Land O’Burns Stakes.
Racing at York is beautiful!
Jeannine Edwards sent me this e-mail about ESPN’s Travers coverage on saturday:
We are planning a brief Barbaro update in the show Sat (5-7pm ESPN) as part of the news segment. We will also have a separate tribute to LITF, since we are televising the King’s Bishop live and he won it last year. We are doing a feature on the matchup between Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat… why each trainer thinks their horse is better and how they compare. They’ve never run against each other… Should be interesting. Right now that feature is also scheduled to air on SportsCenter Friday night at 6pm and possibly 11pm. (Last month when we covered the Jim Dandy, we did a 2:30 minute feature on Bernardini, the Preakness, and how Barbaro’s injury affected Bernardini’s connections. That feature was also on SportsCenter the night before the show.) We also have a feature on Sheik Mohammed in Dubai (owner of Bernardini)… one of our Associate Producers, Joan Ciampi, produced this one and she’s very excited about it. We have 3 Associate Producers on this show, Tim Turrell and Chris DeMaio are the other 2 and they put together most of the features and taped elements you see on the telecasts. They all do a super job! Right now we are also scheduled to do a “behind the scenes” interview with Tom Albertrani (who I used to work with at Belmont, we galloped together for Mark Casse) we will accompany him out in the morning as he trains B. and get an up close look and his insight on the horse. It’s a 2-hour show with 4 races, so we’ll have the usual pre-race analysis and post-race interviews, etc.
In a follow up e-mail Jeannine noted that they will also have some coverage on St. Liam (co presenter Jerry Bailey rode St. Liam in his final start) and that there are 46 people at ESPN involved in putting this show together!
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Thanks VB…I can’t wait to watch the Travers coverage!
Thanks, VirginiaBred. Will definitely set my Tivo for the Travers so I won’t miss a thing.
Prayers and jingles!!!
Thank you Tim/Alex:
Update 521: A nice letter from Mike Rea to Barbaro, dictated to his sister (from updates 54: timestamp 3:19):
Hello everyone. I am Mike Rea’s sister, Cathy. When I arrived at Kernan today Mike had Barbaro’s letter ready and asked would I send it to Barbaro. So here it is:
Wed. Aug. 23rd 2006
Dear Barbaro,
Thank you for being a super star and thinking of me. People write on your web site and talk to me. There is no other way they would have talked to me because they talked to you first. Your trainer and owners are so famous and that way I get mentioned on a equal basis as you do. I feel like there is no other way those people would have considered me in their thoughts if they hadn’t considered you first. It is very touching that I am considered by the same caliber of people who considered you. I feel privledged because of all this. I just want the story to show people what my life is about and how much my family loves me and how much I love them. Thank you Barbaro so much. My prayers and dreams are with you.
Mike Rea
As you can tell, I didn’t edit any of his words. Mike is so overwhelmed with everyone caring so much about him. Again my thanks to everyone for helping my brother with his recovery. Cathy Rea Bosley
The above message was also posted on the discussion board: Mike’s Message to Barbaro. I think Round Pond is nearly ready to make her first start for Michael Matz, look for her in the entries at Monmouth.
