Thanks for doing this VB.
Virginia Bred, you are a peach for keeping us all updated on Barbaro’s progress. I used to come to the board (and rarely the racing forum) every couple of days until the accident at the Preakness. Now I check in here every day just to see your posts! Mucho many thanks! 
Thanks for all the updates!
Barbaro looked good on the coverage that they are showing before the Belmont. I still cant help but get all teary eyed everytime they show the Preakness.
VB- I really appreciate all your updates, as well as Tim Woollwys site- its such a relief…you are so kind to keep us updated.:yes:
I hope (and I have never felt this way before) I get to meet Barbaro- he has touched so many hearts, but only being able to speak to my own, he has infiltrated my soul, too. What a boy…and in his recovery, he continues to show his outstanding nature.
I liked that in the footage of him today, they showed him turn and itch his side and he put all of his weight on his bad leg and lifted his good one. That made me so happy! He looks like he is a very nice stallion. I wish I had enough money to get a baby out of my mare from him.
Thanks again, Tim!!!
Update 85: Peter Brette decided not to visit Barbaro today given all the media at New Bolton. We, of course, have benefited from the media coverage thanks to ESPN and ABC. He looks great today!
Update 84: If you can, tune into the Belmont TV coverage (ESPN and then ABC), they are doing a fantastic job of providing Barbaro updates. Some great shots of him today, rolling in his stall, getting a bath and more. I am sure they will repeat this later. The horse does look great.
Update 83: The ESPN 2 broadcast yesterday included a story on Hoist The Flag, and comparisons to Barbaro. The story noted Hoist The Flag’s spectacular early career (undefeated, his jockey Jean Cruguet noting he was the best he had ridden, and he rode Seattle Slew) and horrific accident, prior to the triple crown. His injuries appear to be similar to Barbaro’s catastrophic injuries, and the decision to try to save the horse was going to involve the need for truly ground breaking work. He went on to become a (very) successful sire. The following article (thanks Lynette): The Dream Lives On notes the story in the context of War Emblem’s preparation for the Belmont (2002). The following are excerpts:
In March 1971, thoroughbred racing was preparing for a coronation. A magnificent colt named Hoist the Flag was blazing toward the Kentucky Derby, conjuring up images of his grandsire, Triple Crown winner War Admiral. “I don’t think he’ll ever get beat,” raved his jockey, Jean Cruguet, “unless he falls down.” As Hoist the Flag scorched through workouts at Belmont Park, onlookers watched with giddy anticipation.
and
Jenny and Reed had done the impossible. Hoist the Flag survived. He would become an exceptional sire, bequeathing his talent to generations of offspring.
Update 82: Belmont Day which obviously reminds us all of the horrific accident of three weeks ago. Lets hope the Belmont afternoon is great racing without incident. I am sure there will be plenty of Barbaro coverage this afternoon on ESPN and ABC so we will keep an eye out for it. If anyone reading this is attending Belmont today, it would be great to post your ‘reports’ in the comments section, especially surrounding the get well card and other Barbaro stuff. While Fair Hill is not represented in the big race, Miraculous Miss, trained by Steve Klesaris, is running in the Acorn, so we will be rooting for her.
Peter Brette is planning to visit Barbaro this afternoon so we will try to catch up with an update later. (Note, Kathy Anderson did not end up visiting yesterday, hence no ‘report’, although she did talk to someone who did visit Barbaro, and he was fine.)
`
Update 81: Another good night last night for Barbaro (friday night). Just spoke to Michael Matz who had just received word. More updates later, but have to run and get on two more horses and (hopefully) watch england win our first world cup game!
update: saturday, 8:40 am
Update 86: No official update this morning (I was not able to catch up with the Matz’s barn this AM). I will catch up with Peter Brette later, so should have something later in the day. He did look great yesterday on TV. He appeared bright, happy, and not lame as he was moving about. I really think the coverage of Barbaro yesterday was very good.
We are now looking at three weeks since the horrific accident, and it seems all has gone exceptionally well in those three weeks. I was talking with Kathy Anderson yesterday about the critical issues going forward. It seems the next critical ‘event’ to consider is the changing of the cast, which will likely be in the next week or so (my guess based on our conversation). This will allow the vets a closer look at the healing process, and will also create some risks itself (replacing the cast; Barbaro will need to be anethetized etc.) So perhaps we should celebrate the progress of the three weeks, but wait cautiously for the cast replacement process.
As far as I am aware, Miraculous Miss is on her way back to Fair Hill. Some scrapes and bruises are known, but it may be a few days before they really know if there are any ill effects from the gate incident in the Acorn.
update, Sunday, 9:25 AM
Update 88: Just spoke to Peter Brette and he reported Michael (Matz) visited Barbaro today (sunday) and all remains well. Another good day.
Update 87: Great article from mercurynews: A tough day for Barbaro’s inner circle and followers that offers great details of Barbaro’s status and routine, his cast, fondness for his neighbour, and some skin abrasions caused by the sling used in the surgery process. A few excerpts:
Three weeks after the catastrophic injuries to Barbaro’s right hind ankle during the first furlong of the Preakness Stakes, the medical team at New Bolton is aware of potential setbacks, knowing that decisions on his future will be made only after his cast comes off for good. But the mood of the place, while still cautious, indicates that Barbaro keeps clearing every hurdle.
“He continues to make remarkable improvement, walking in his stall with his cast,” co-owner Gretchen Jackson said last week.
and
“He’s using his cast really well,” Adams said. “We’re all really thrilled with that. It’s dry. It’s not cracked. It’s not worn through at the bottom. All of the staining you see is purely superficial, because it’s about 7 or 8 millimeters thick. Nothing’s gotten through.”
and
Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who live just down the road in West Grove, come by each day to see the horse, as does Matz, who arrived after running a horse at Delaware Park on Saturday afternoon.
“I changed a bandage in there, groomed him up a little,” said Matz, standing just outside the ICU. “It’s something that makes him happy.”
And that can work both ways. Matz does some grooming each day.
“He was good to us,” Matz said, “and we’re just trying to return the favor.”
Update 93: Just spoke to Peter Brette, who visited Barbaro today (monday). Barbaro is doing well, so his status remains the same. I asked Peter if he could investigate the source of the blanket Barbaro was wearing (when filmed on ESPN / ABC) with the signatures etc. It is a blanket from the Kentucky Derby. It has printed on it: 132 Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro. It includes signatures from many people working at Churchill Downs.
To answer a couple of questions that have come up in the comments lately:
a. We will continue to provide updates as we have them, we hope that is at least once a day
b. Barbaro will not be returning to Fair Hill, simply because Fair Hill is a training center for horses that are running races etc. While I am not privy to plans for the future, it would not make sense to return to a place like Fair Hill. It makes better sense to return to the owner’s farm, and then hopefully to a ‘stallion station’.
Update 92: Added links to the ‘sidebar’: Barbaro Photo Album, which includes the latest photos from New Bolton, taken on Saturday (June 10); and Good luck, Barbaro! (Barbara Livingston), many shots from Fair Hill, some simply great photographs.
Update 91: The following Thoroughbed Times article: Barbaro adjusting to life of constant attention at New Bolton does a good job of illustrating how at ease Barbaro is with his injured leg and supporting cast. We know about the early ear scratching episode, we have heard about him rearing up for the state Govenor, but it also appears he likes to buck too:
“He’s got a big personality, he’s feisty,” said George D. Widener Hospital Executive Director Corinne Sweeney, D.V.M. "I saw him in the stall [Thursday morning] with Dr. Richardson [chief surgeon at Penn’s veterinary school] and he actually was bucking for fun–you know those kind of horses–and he is moving around his stall all the time.
ESPN has an article : After Triple Crown, Barbaro is still the one to beat (thanks Lisa) where the connections of the Preakness and Belmont winners presume Barbaro remains the number one three year old, excerpt:
The day after saddling Jazil to victory in the Belmont Stakes, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin believes the injured Kentucky Derby winner most likely will end up the 3-year-old champion.
And Tom Albertrani, who trains Preakness winner Bernardini, agrees – at least for now.
“Barbaro didn’t do anything wrong,” McLaughlin said Sunday after watching several promising 2-year-olds train over Belmont Park’s main track. “He’s undefeated except for one race. It would be hard to top him, but we’ll give it our best.”
We, of course, would agree!
Update 90: New Bolton’s release notes: Beginning today, updates on Barbaro’s condition will be made weekly, unless there is a significant change to report. The release also speculates as to why Barbaro has attracted so much public attention, the following is an excerpt:
Why do heroic animals inspire such intense emotions? Partly, I think, because they perform their acts of heroism for us, and not of their own volition. While we may feel intense admiration and concern for human warriors and athletes who put themselves at risk of injury or death, our sympathy is always tempered by the belief that they were aware of the risks and were willing to face them. With animals we cannot shelter realistically behind this assumption.
We will continue to provide updates as we have them from people visiting etc.
Update 89: Much like update 77 we have no official word yet this morning re: Barbaro, but presume that since we have not heard anything that things are OK. (I asked Michael Matz and his team this morning and as of 7:30 am they had not heard anything.) Would rather post this than not post anything, but will endevour to find at least one update per day going forward, as things progress.
updated: monday, 8:45 am
Many thanks from me as well VirginiaBred!
It is so nice to be able to get all the news from one spot. Hope all continues to go well for him.
AnnikaK I did not know you were as interested in Barbaro as I am. Bill says I am obsessed. I too hope to meet him one day. Perhaps he will stand at 3 Chimneys when he makes it thorough all this and we can go see him during Rolex 
.
VB, my thanks as well, for the updates.
Latest update…
Update 95: The cast replacement did happen today. A friend called who had just spoken to Kathy Anderson, who confirmed that Barbaro had the cast replacement this morning. Everything looks good (radiographs, skin etc.) and he is now in the recovery pool, where they will wait for him to come out of the anesthesia.
update 11:30 am
Good swim in the pool, Barbaro! :yes:
Jingling in GA that everything goes OK.
Next Update-Good News
Thanks to Tim Wooley Racing:
"Update 96: Out of the Pool! New Bolton’s Press Release: Doctors change Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro’s cast notes the procedure Barbaro endured today. The following is an excerpt:
Today Chief of Surgery Dean W. Richardson replaced the cast that had been on Barbaro’s hind leg since surgery on May 21. “His leg looks excellent,” said Dr. Richardson. “The incision has healed well and judging by the radiographs, the graft is opacifying (“taking”). Callus is forming nicely, and all of the implants (plate and screws) look unchanged.” The cast was replaced under general anesthesia, and Barbaro had a very smooth pool recovery.
(thanks Edie!)
To “celebrate”, we have just posted a new “movie” Beautiful Barbaro on our Fan Media page. Thanks Jayne!"
That is great news, and I loved the new movie! Beautiful!!
More good news on his progress. Hoping for many more good days to come.
Congratulations, Barbaro on one more step to your recovery. Continuing to send prayers and jingles for this magnificent horse. Thank you for the continued updates.
obsessed is a good word for it- and we have a date!:yes:
Another thanks for keeping us updated. Hope all continues to go well!!
