Barbaro ~ America's Horse

[VirginiaBred]

Saturday Morning~

Update 582: Here is the assessment of Fog by UC Davis, and I assume this was published before the Bloodhorse piece that indicated they were going to begin Chemotherapy: Lost in the Fog Update – Sept. 1, 2006, relevant excerpt:

Lost in the Fog was very bright, alert, comfortable, eating well, and physically looked very good and in good spirits. He has not shown any signs of abdominal discomfort this week. The tumor in his spleen and the second tumor high in the abdomen between his kidneys and below his spinal column have not changed in size during the past two weeks, and no new tumors were detected in the spleen or liver or other abdominal or thoracic organs.
These findings indicate that the dexamathasone treatment has controlled the previously rapid growth of the tumors but has not caused them to shrink.
The location and size of the tumor high in the abdomen precludes the possibility that it can be removed surgically; however, chemotherapy remains an option, with the goal of inducing remission of the tumor masses.

The Thoroghbred Times also reports on Fog’s current condition: Lost in the Fog to undergo chemotherapy treatments.

It is a wet, blustery morning this morning. This will certainly make training more complicated. No doubt the dirt track will be shut again, but the wood chip track will be open, and I bet a few trainers will send a few horses out there. The barn shedrows will be the busy training spots today as most horsemen will jog / walk their horses around their respective shedrows. For salaried riders, days like today are obviously not a problem. For freelancers, we only get paid for what we ride, so today will not be profitable!

It may also be a little tricky to get the Barbaro update early this morning, its likely I will need to venture over to Michael Matz’s barn, so I do anticipate a delay.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 583: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (friday night). As I suspected, I had to go to Michael’s barn to get the update (he had heard from Dr. Richardson). There is not much training going on other than that done in each barn’s respective shedrows. I shedrowed two for Tim, but was pretty glad to get out of there. I suspect Fair Hill might be a little busy tomorrow if the storm clears out. Michael also mentioned that Dr. Richardson is returning from his vacation today.
update 7:40 am, saturday, september 2 ~ Thanks, Alex~

[ivy62]

VB- thanks for the recap…I hope somethng goes right for LITG, can they do radiation? or at least operate on the spleen? That way the system would only have to work on one tumor not 2? I am so happy about Bobby now we just have to wait for the left rear hoof to grow in…he is an amazing horse!!! Keep jingling from NY!

[MsM]

For those of us who have or know someone who has had chemo, “no growth” is very good news after only two weeks! Of course you hope that the tumors might shrink and possibly be removed, but having it not progress is a very big deal. “Stability” is definitely something to be clebrated, especially when he seems to have a very good quality of life!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 584: Spoke to Barclay Tagg (10 am) and Funny Cide was on his way over to the detention barn (I think they have to be there six hours before their race) in preparation for this afternoon’s feature race, The Woodward. Funny Cide jogged this morning, a quiet bit of exercise. So far so good, there is no rain in Saratoga, yet. Barclay asked about the weather down here, I am not sure he was too thrilled with the answer (rain and wind).
I thought it was appropriate to highlight the efforts of those on this site wrt the anti horse-slaughter bill: OUR PROGRESS SO FAR…. This is only one example of all the generosity (time and reesources) of those of you on this site.
Finally, Mike seems to be settling in well to his new spot: Hello Again from Mike and Family!!! and apparently is finding his sense of humour!

[msj]

Thanks VB for the updates. I hope the rain we have in Western NY doesn’t travel up to Saratoga until the races are over.

OK, we all need to light some candles for both Bobby and Foggy. Foggy’s down to 864 and Bobby down to 1036!!!

[VirginiaBred]

Thanks to Alex: Update 585: Apparently we are not the only ones where bad weather is impacting racing (Philadelphia Park and Monmouth cancelled, hoping for a fast track for Funny in Saratoga), its a bog in England! Sue McMullen just sent me this e-mail about the feature race at Haydock Park today (Haydock Park Sprint comes down to two):

The big sprint at Haydock was today and it was won by Reverence, who of course beat Enticing in the Nunthorpe. It was nice for the horse to win again as some felt he was lucky in the Nunthorpe as he had the ground in his favour. You couldn’t even argue that he had his ground (soft) as it was pretty desperate in the north of England today. They were baling water off the course before the first and Thirsk was abandoned after three races. So it was heavy even for Reverence and would have tapped his stamina. I believe the time was 2.7 secs slower than standard, which is a lot for a six furlong race. All credit to Reverence for plugging his way through a bog.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 587: Peter just called (5:45 pm) and Barbaro remains comfortable, Michael had visited and spoke to Peter. Another good day. Peter is planning a visit tomorrow.
Don’t forget, 7 pm vigil for Barbaro and Lost in the Fog. Whereever you are, whatever you are doing, spare some thoughts for Bobby and the Fog.
Update 586: Woodward odds and ends. Congratulations to Premium Tap and John Kimmel. John Kimmel used to have a string at Fair Hill, and along time ago I used to freelance for him. The result seems to highlight that the three year old division is the stronger division at this point and will likely yeild the horse of the year. I also see Corey Black has been added to the broadcast crew. He has had a pretty “interesting” racing career. Was a great apprentice jockey many years ago in California, was more recently agent for Gary Stevens (now retired), and then last year he came east with a jockey to be his agent. He would also gallop / breeze (I guess as part of his agent duties) and come over to Fair Hill a few days a week.

[merrygoround]

Thanks again!

There are groupies and there are raceies, Corey is just another bitten by the bug racie.

[merrygoround]

Thanks again!

There are groupies and there are raceies, Corey is just another, bitten by the bug, racie.

[merrygoround]

Thanks again!

There are groupies and there are raceies, Corey is just another, bitten by the bug, raceie.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 588: Both Brother Derek and Bob and John were beaten in their first starts since the Triple Crown: Cindago Tops Bob and John in El Cajon; Brother Derek Fades, excerpt:

Brother Derek, off since back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (both gr. I) in May, did not have the easiest of returns for trainer Dan Hendricks. He was a step slow getting away from the gate and pulled jockey Alex Solis to the leaders while stuck four wide on the clubhouse turn. He continued to prompt the pace to the far turn but fell back while racing between horses as they came off the bend. He finished a tired fourth.

[VirginiaBred]

Sunday Morning:

Update 589: With the Woodward now complete (Premium Tap springs $64 upset) our racing focus will shift to Belmont next weekend where Showing Up will return to the races in the Man o’ War: Man o’ War is Showing Up’s best option. This is the first of the three year old “big guns” taking on older horses (but not likely Fair Hill’s Better talk Now who won it last year: Better Talk Now Unlikely to Defend Man o’ War). Barclay mentioned to me a couple of days ago that Showing Up was likely to have his final breeze in preparation for the Man o’ War on tuesday at Belmont. If Showing Up runs well in the Man o’ War he will be on target for the Breeders Cup Turf.

This morning’s update on Barbaro will likely be a little later than usual. I have a couple to get on beginning at 7 am, once I am done I will then try to get the update. Thanks Alex!

[VirginiaBred]

Update 591: Just spoke to Barclay Tagg about Funny Cide. No real excuses, Funny appeared to come back from the race fine. Barclay is having the vet go over him thoroughly but nothing appears to be amiss. Barclay mentioned that his jockey felt Funny bobble a little going down the backside and did not pick up the bit from that point on.
Showing Up is still scheduled for his final work in tuesday before the Man o’ War, we will follow him into saturday’s race.

Update 590: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (saturday night). I saw Michael as I was leaving the woodchip track on my first set this morning. Due to the poor weather yesterday I went in today to ride a couple for Tim. Michael has a few riders come in on sundays, one of whom (today) is Emily. (COTH’s EMILY!!! - inserted here by VirginiaBred)

She took some nice pictures of Round Pond at Monmouth last weekend. Her partner is a professional photographer and is covering the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
update sunday, september 3, 8:25 am

[Xctrygirl]

Yep thats me. Home now and off to take a nap.

And “my partner” is Charles Mann.

Somehow “partner” or “boyfriend” all sound dorky. Oh well.

~Emily

[VirginiaBred]

Update 592: An excellent article on Lost in the Fog: HOME STRETCH.

[VirginiaBred]

Update 593: Just spoke to Peter Brette. He was unable to visit Barbaro today, I think he spent most of the day cleaning things up in his yard after the weather that came through yesterday (something I have neglected to do). As far as Peter is aware, Barbaro remains fine, so that is good enough for me.
Thanks, Alex!

[vineyridge]

Somehow “partner” or “boyfriend” all sound dorky. Oh well.

“my man”? As in “Charlie’s my man.”

Or is that dorky, too?

[VirginiaBred]

Monday Morning:

Update 594: Bo Derek was on ABC yesterday discussing the Anti Horse-Slaughter legislation: Perfect ‘10’ Actress Rallies for Horses, she even makes reference to Barbaro in her short clip. The vote on this issue is scheduled for September 7, so this will be a busy week. The discussion boards are very active on this issue.

It looks more and more likely that Better Talk Now will be pointed for the Melbourne Cup: Better Talk Now pointed for Melbourne Cup. I need to see if I can get a job with Graham! What a great adventure this would be. I witnessed Makybe Diva’s first Melbourne Cup victory, and having been to many races around the world, this was my most memorable racing experience.
It does beg the question, why don’t US-based horses compete for the Melbourne Cup. A couple of reasons might include, timing (its the same week as the Breeders Cup), and the distance of the race (its way too far for many of the horses in the US who are used to a mile and a half being an absolute marathon). Anyway, the Melbourne Cup is known as the race that stops a nation (it actually stops two nations when you include New Zealand). It is so refreshing to see how our sport really can be capture the imagination of countries in such a significant way, if only for a day.
We have been voted with a Yeah (I thought that was pretty cool)!

The Barbaro update this morning may be a little late, I am not sure. It is Labor Day, but this does not impact training horses, i.e. Fair Hill will be business as usual. That being said, it might be tough for me to get the update up until a little later. Thanks, Alex/Tim!

[msj]

Yep, I’ll bet Ernesto left a mess for everyone down there to clean up. Thank heavens it wasn’t a lot worse. Sending good vibes to Barbaro on Labor day and lighting a few more candles for him and Foggy.