As always, thank you VB and all others!
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;1876398]
I did call up New Bolton to inquire about the status of the Barbaro Fund. This is what I learned, as of August 30th, the entire fund is a little over $1.2 million, with 1,431 donors. The funds received in honor of Dr. Richardson: $11,511. 243 donors! Impressive![/QUOTE]
Impressive is an understatement! That’s fabulous news! 
Thanks for the info!!!
Update 652: The Keeneland Sales continue into their fourth day with a couple more seven figure purchases (Bloodhorse: Pulpit, Distorted Humor Colts Bring Seven-Figure Prices Thursday at Keeneland and Thoroughbredtimes: Jess Jackson buys Pulpit colt for $1.3-million). We do know Michael Matz has returned from Keeneland and is now back at Fair Hill. (I asked him how the sale was when I saw Michael this morning, he said he did a lot of walking!) Michael was on his way to visit Barbaro this afternoon when I called Peter, so while I have no update from the visit it is good to know things are back to a more usual routine for Barbaro!
I have been working on updating the FAQ (not finished updating, but keep the questions coming).
Great Alex, and thanks!!!
Friday Morning~
Update 654: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (thursday night). I just saw Michael Matz coming back from their second set. The rain seems to have eased off which meant a pretty busy (chaotic) first set on the woodchip track. My second set, I was jogging Chappy around the dirt track and saw two deer butting heads on the other side of the quarter pole. It would have been pretty cool to watch if I wasn’t on a two-year old !
updated friday 7:45am
Update 653: Now that Michael Matz has returned to Fair Hill I am hoping the update for Barbaro will be back to an earlier time this morning. As we wait I thought I would alert you to this generous offer posted to the discussion board: IN HONOR OF BARBARO RESCUE CHALLENGE. One of our site regulars has made a wonderful matching offer for Miracle Horse Rescue.
Thanks Alex!
Off to light more candles!
Still jingling for Bobby!:sadsmile:
Thanks VB!
Thanks Alex/Tim~
Update 655: Well, the rain returned so the morning was cut a little short (a couple of my later mounts were canceled). I did take two of Tim’s out back across the fields. The first, Gator Nation, it was his first bit of exercise since he ran over the weekend. He seems in good order. For the second, I nearly ran into the local hunt (foxes have no need to worry, the hounds are fat, and instructed not to kill I guess). In fact the local hunt feed the foxes in the winter time. I guess hearing the hounds speak is a signal that the fall is closing in on us.
A nice article on Lost in the Fog that also notes Barbaro: A grueling race for survival: Sprint champ Lost in the Fog now competing against cancer, the following is an excerpt:
Greg Gilchrist, who trains Lost in the Fog, knows the star of his stable will never again answer the call to the post, because he is in the race of his life, for his life.
“He’s a warrior, and this is a race he really needs to win right here,” said Gilchrist.
While Barbaro is strong enough to leave his stall to graze, Lost in the Fog recently began what most human cancer patients dread - chemotherapy treatments.
“He received his first one last Thursday and will need at least six more rounds of chemo,” said Dr. Gary Magdesian, a member of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at University of California at Davis.
CANDLES ARE VERY LOW
The candles lit for Foggy and Bobby are very low, especially going into the weekend! Please help keep them burning brightly!
Update 658: I just spoke to Peter who had spoken to Michael, who had visited Barbaro today. All remains well with Barbaro today.
updated 6:15 pm, friday september 15
Update 657: And now for today’s report from Kennett Florist (timestamp: 9:13 pm):
Everything is good at NBC today. Brought Mr B a nice big baskets of green tops, pears, stud muffins and other treats to get him through the weekend. I will be stopping up tomorrow morning with a little something extra for him, just to make sure he is green top secure.
Also, wanted to repost the link for Senators that Mrs Jackson sent. Fans of Barbaro Unite. S1915 Passes Senate… sorry was thinking about the headlines.
http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/109senators_Ensign_Byrd_vote%5B1%5D.html
I also wanted to note this offer (Fans of Barbaro Band for Horses), for those generously contributing to rescue organizations. Thanks Lisa and Skyler.
Update 656: Apparently Kennett Florist had trouble posting in the comments yesterday, so this was their report from yesterday, e-mailed to me by Rachel:
When we went to NBC Thursday we were told Barbaro was happily munching on his carrots and sharing some grapes with an ICU mate. We threw in some stud muffins as well since we know he adores them!
Check out the pictures from Mike Rea’s Birthday party. Nancy has them up on his snapfish site and they are so awesome!
Mrs Jackson has sent the list of Senators as promised. It is the best info we could ask for. It lists senators by state and how they are voting, as well as all of their contact information. If your senator is voting yes, please know you can still contact him or her to ask that S1915 get out of committee and on the floor!
http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/109senators_Ensign_Byrd_vote%5B1%5D.html
Thank you all!!
WE BELIEVE!!
Rachel at Kennett Florist
Just lit some more for Foggy and Bobby am so glad to hear nothing major. Anyone know when they may decide to take the cast off? If the cast comes off will his care change?
Saturday Morning~
Update 660: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (friday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was going to the woodchip track to breeze Chappy. Maichael had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael confirmed Barbaro was good when he saw him yesterday.
Cappy breezed very nicely on the chips- a luxury we have at Fair Hill given the rainy weather we have had lately. My first set, I open galloped a two year old for his second time. It was his first time in view of his owner. He went very well- possibly 14 second to the eighth, also on the chips.
updated saturday 7:45am
Update 659: A lovely article on Lost in the Fog, which also includes a picture of him grazing (for those without a Daily Racing Form subscription, which is free, this article makes it worthwhile): Vigil for an ailing champ, a couple of excerpts:
But then, a horse like Lost in the Fog tends to reorder priorities. More than just a reliable meal ticket or a lovable barn character, he raised the emotional stakes. Owner Harry Aleo would beam like a proud father whenever Lost in the Fog was mentioned. Russell Baze looked upon his most famous mount as a fellow artist and collaborator in high drama. Gilchrist treats Lost in the Fog like the younger brother he never had.
and
“This office was filled with baskets of carrots and apples, flowers everywhere, and a big pile of cards,” said Rowena Gilchrist, the trainer’s 92-year-old mother, who wears a Lost in the Fog ballcap and keeps her son’s office neat as a pin. “Look at this, what this lady sent from Novato, with the carrots and cookies.”
It read: “Mr. Gilchrist. Please accept this basket I made for Foggy. The statue is of Epona - the Celtic goddess of the horse - she is for healing and has been holding vigil in my home for Barbaro.”
“Here’s another one,” offered Patty Prospero, Gilchrist’s significant other, as well as the Golden Gate paymaster. “This man from Indiana even wrote a poem.”
The update on Barbaro this morning should be around 8 or 9 am.
Thanks Alex.
Candles are down to 815!!! :eek: Keep lighting!
Update 661: Horses to follow today include Funny Cide in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap (Good Reward well-spotted in Brooklyn) and the Jackson’s Stormy Kiss (Stormy Kiss Gets Speed Tested in Floral Park) in the grade 3 Floral Park. These are the ninth and eighth races respectively at Belmont. Good luck Barclay and all concerned. The Jackson’s Enticing was also down to run at Ayr this weekend but has been scratched due to the soft ground. She will now be pointed to the Cheveley Park or Conrwallis Stakes (thanks Sue McMullen).
We had three visitors at Fair Hill this morning, two from Gettysburg, one from Ellicot City). These were the first visitors we have had for a few weeks. I hope they had fun. I had three left to ride while they were at Fair Hill, two on the dirt track and one out back. Anyway, it is fun having people visit, so if you want to stop by, saturday’s, 8 am, Parlo 1. Just e-mail me ahead of time so I know and can confirm I am around.
From Tim/Alex.
Update 662: A vigil tonight at 7 pm for Barbaro and Lost in the Fog. Whereever you are, whatever you are doing spare some thoughts for these two great champions.
Sue McMullen sent this review and preview of racing in Ireland this weekend:
[I]
The Aga Khan-owned filly Kastoria today beat Yeats, hero of the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Gold Cup, in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh. Kieren Fallon rode Yeats and sent him on 5 furlongs out, but it didn’t quite go according to plan as John Oxx’s filly, ridden by Mick Kinane, wouldn’t be shaken off and went passed Yeats to win by half a length. There are no firm plans for the filly but John Oxx says she might go for the Canadian International.
Some of the top babies will be on display tomorrow in the National Stakes, also at the Curragh. This Group One event for two year-olds has been won in the past by some of the best horses in the world, including Sinndar, Hawk Wing, Dubawi and George Washington (bred by the Jackson’s). This year’s event is already being touted as one of the season’s top clashes as it includes the Aiden O’Brien-trained Holy Roman Emperor, one of the yard’s top juveniles and the horse that Kieren Fallon fears the most, Teofilo, trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning. Bolger rates the unbeaten Teofilo as one of the best juveniles he has ever handled and Holy Roman Emperor, winner of the Pheonix Stakes is currently 5-1 for next year’s first classic for colts, the 2,000 Guineas.
[/I]
Finally, an update on the IN HONOR OF BARBARO RESCUE CHALLENGE, it is great to see how generosity can be contageous!
CANDLES ARE TOOOOOOOO LOW. I just lit 10 myself…
Update 663: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. I just spoke to Peter (6pm) who had heard from Michael who had visited. Peter is hoping to go over and visit himself tomorrow. A nice comment from Sallie on her visit to Fair Hill this morning (timestamp: 6:12 pm):
Alex, a big public THANK YOU for hosting us today at Fair Hill! It was fabulous. I can’t wipe the goofy grin from my face, thinking about my morning!
Fellow Fans of Barbaro, if you can, please do take Alex up on his offer of hospitality–Alex is even more kind and gracious in person than he is in text. Plus, you’ll see an absolutely gorgeous, top-of-the-line horse training facility, meet some wonderful horse people and in my case, some delightful fellow Web Site Afficionados, slog through the grass and up to the track to watch Alex do his thing, and like as not see some “celebrities” from this site, human and equine!!! (I am now totally taken with Chappy and look forward to reading more about her. Randy’s Bullet really caught me eye, too, he’s beautiful…)
Anyway, thanks again, Alex! I had a great time!!!
Team Barbaro!
I need help keeping the candles going for Big B. I can’t do this alone.
I just lit 20 candles, but we are a TEAM, so please, if you read this, go light some candles for Barbaro, and THANK YOU from me! 
Thanks, VB. Candles are lit! Sorry, it’s just kind of hard to get on here with an absolutely miserable teething baby, but I try!
I just lit 10–thanks, VB, for reminding us all. It’s hard to remember when it seems that things are going so well. Thank you for being there for us, even when we forget. :o
Sunday Morning ~
Thanks Tim & Alex:
Update 664: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (saturday night). I saw Michael Matz as they were getting a set ready to go to the track at about 8:30 am. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. For me, no riding today, a nice day off, but it is a beautiful day here at Fair Hill today (at last).
Here are a couple of reports on the two Belmont races: Barclay Tagg and the Jackson’s Stormy Kiss was third (Win McCool takes first stakes) in the Floral Park while Funny Cide was fourth in the Brooklyn (Wanderin Boy easily takes Brooklyn). Barclay had this to say about Funny Cide’s early position:
Funny Cide, wheeling back two weeks after he finished eighth in the Woodward, stalked the pace under Cornelio Velasquez, dropped back around the turn, attempted to come on again, but never seriously threatened. He was beaten 5 3/4 lengths.
“I thought that was perfect,” Tagg said of Funny Cide’s early position. “I didn’t tell him to do that. I said don’t rush him and don’t grab a hold of him, just let him run any way he wants.”
There were two gatherings of “Barbaromaniacs” yesterday (three if you include those who visited Fair Hill). A group went to Calder Races and were treated very well judging by the report (comment timestamp 1:55 am), and a group met at NBC and then lunched in Kennett Square (trip to NBC). I was planning to attend the latter group later in the day, but unfortunately sleep took priority.
Because the candles only stay lit for 48 hours, the numbers change before your eyes.
I just a minute ago was lighting 10, and before I was finished, the total number dropped over 150!!! Crap!
Keep lighting team, keep lighting!
We need to see him through!!!
