Update 1077: Another comfortable day for Barbaro today. I know, I saw! My first visit thanks to Mrs. Jackson. I spent more than an hour with Barbaro, talking with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. I will post more tomorrow about the visit, but most importantly he (Barbaro) does look great. His coat is shiny, he has a clean eye and great weight.
Excellent Alex!
Go Barbaro!!
That’s wonderful!! 
It’s so nice to hear that he will recover! 
Go Barbaro!!
That’s wonderful!! It’s so nice to hear that he will recover! 
Well people have sure been busy! The candles are up over 1100! Go Bobby GO! I still will not say he is going to recover yet! I am waiting for the day where he has 90% of his foot grown in and it is correct…this is more difficult then the break to fix in my opinion but I am with you all the way!!! Nice to know he is putting on weight. It is an indication that he is not stressed by his situation. Also with all this handling maybe he will be a nice stud to handle not like some of the others…
Still jingling and lighting candles in NY!
Thanksgiving Morning ~
Update 1078: A great way to start thanksgiving: Few limits for Barbaro’s many fans. This Mike Jensen article notes a few of our regular visitors and contributors. The following are excerpts:
A “classical modern” dancer with several choreographed works reviewed in the New York Times, Martita Goshen has an idea for her next solo performance already percolating.
She doesn’t yet know what form it will take. She just has a theme.
“I’m deeply inspired by the horse Barbaro, and his integrity, and the people around him caring for him,” Goshen said. “That’s a big tableau. How I pull it all together in less than an hour, it will be fascinating.”
and
“Everybody talks about Barbaro’s will to live,” Smoliak said. “Well, guess what, there are horses standing on the slaughter line, they have the will to live, too. We just don’t know them.”
He is still a full-throttle fan of Barbaro’s, looking for news about the horse every day. But he watches more C-Span, too.
“Barbaro has had an effect on people,” Smoliak said. “The bottom line, I’m a better U.S. citizen because of him.”
and
"The energy field of a horse is as big as a barn - compared to most of us lowly humans with our fields out about a ‘wingspan,’ " Somano said in an e-mail.
She started doing distance healing on Barbaro the day of the Preakness, she said, and has continued it every day.
“I know it might sound ‘out there’ to those not familiar with this work and the credentialing back of it,” Somano said. "I assure you, though, I am about as conservative and levelheaded as any practitioner can be working in an unconventional field.
The Barbaro update this morning will hopefully come sometime mid-morning.
Thanks, Alex.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, VB, and to all the FOB on this list and elsewhere. It’s going to be a lovely day here in Michigan. Wish I could send it around to everybody.
:yes: :yes: :winkgrin: :lol:
Happy Turkey Day Bobby! I am sure you will have your feast today as well. :yes: :yes: :yes:
I, for one, am going to get on my knees and give thanks for the wonderful people and horses in my life (ok, the cat and the hamster too).
Happy Thanksgiving to Barbaro, Dr. Richardson & New Bolton Staff, The Jacksons, Michael Matz, Alex Brown, and the entire Team Barbaro group.
WE BELIEVE!!!
Update 1079: It is unlikely there will be a Barbaro update today. I went over to Michael Matz’s barn after I was finished this morning (no dirt track today, so work was in the shedrow) and Michael was already on his way to Kentucky to saddle Sangrita. I chatted with Peter for a while. Peter is not planning to visit and does not anticipate hearing anything (assuming all remains well). Peter did note that Chelokee is running on saturday, at Churchill. They also have plenty of runners at Laurel on saturday, and I think maybe Aqueduct. I shedrowed a couple for Tim earlier in the morning. Red Aspen (who I do not ride) is also in on saturday, in the April Run Stakes at Laurel. The Laurel card looks awesome!
Russell Baze is getting close to setting the record for most wins by a jockey: Four-Bagger Moves Baze to Within 7 of Record. It is nice to see the current record holder supporting Baze in his quest: Jockey Baze deserves to break all-time win record, Pincay says. This article also notes Baze’s best horses:
Baze called 2005 champion sprinter Lost in the Fog the best horse he ever rode, while also mentioning graded stakes winners Hawkster, Super Moment, Simply Majestic, Great Communicator, and Event of the Year.
“Because of the campaign [Lost in the Fog] put together, few horses would have been able to ship as much as he did and run as well as he did on so many different surfaces,” Baze said. “He was just a fantastically talented animal.”
Finally the Jackson’s Showing Up is in California: Showing Up Ready for Hollywood Derby; Derek Confirmed. The following is an excerpt:
“He’s laid back in his stall but aggressive in his races,” said Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg, after jogging the chestnut colt once around the main track. “He’s not hard to ride, but wants to get it done.”
Lael Stables’ Showing Up, victorious in six of eight starts - including three-for-four on turf - can enhance his reputation among the nation’s turf elite in the 1 1/4 mile-mile grass test.
The colt, seeking his second grade I victory after accounting for the Secretariat at Arlington, has won in five different states.
“He’s well-traveled and handled the flight well,” said Smullen. He is scheduled to school at the gate Thursday.
Robin is another x Fair Hill rider. I will plan to put together something about my Barbaro visit yesterday a little later.
Thanks, Alex.
Alex’s visit with Barbaro:
Update 1080: My visit with Barbaro from yesterday (wednesday 5-6 pm):
I was to meet Mrs. Jackson at 5 pm in the lobby area of New Bolton. I had not yet met Mrs. Jackson, so not only was this my first visit with Barbaro since the Preakness, but also the first time to meet his owners. I got their five minutes early, and waited a short time in the lobby area rereading many of the get well wishes that are ever present. Right at 5 Mrs. Jackson arrived. She knew who I was, and of course I knew her immediately. No awkward moment and very quick introductions. Mrs. Jackson gave me a signed win picture of the Kentucky Derby and was just effusive in her praise for our site and all that we have done (basically she put me at ease straight away). We went in the direction of Barbaro (a quick hello to Kathy Freeborn) and passed by Dr. Sweeney’s office. Mrs. Jackson introduced me to Dr. Sweeney and we had a very short (nice) chat. We reached the ICU and had to put on our ICU clothes at which time Mr. Jackson arrived. He then signed my win picture (it is signed by Mr. Mrs. Jackson, Edgar Prado and Michael Matz … i’ll get Peter to sign it too before he leaves to Florida). As we got ready to see Barbaro we continued a conversation that actually went on for the entire hour. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were just very easy to talk with and we talked about many things, ranging from travel (I described my love of New Zealand) to horse-related issues (horse slaughter etc.)
We entered the ICU and the first thing we did was attand to a baby goat, with its mother. It was tiny and precious. Anyway, that did not take long, we ventured over to Barbaro’s stall (I may get this wrong but the ICU seemed to include about four stalls, two on either side, with a large middle … kind of like a hospital with a large reception area in the middle and private rooms on the outside.) It is a well lit area and seems (obviously) very clean etc. Mrs. Jackson had brought with her a large carrier-type bag full of freshly cut grass. We got to Barbaro’s stall and opened the door a little … Barbaro was turned away from us, and it took a little coaxing to get him to turn around and come to us. Once he did, he was very happy to see the grass. He munched away, and we stood watching him while also intermittently petting him on the head etc. You can imagine he would pin his ears back, pretend to flash his teeth a little, and then get back to munching on his grass … then look up to us, prick his ears etc. etc. Basically you have to be careful with him, but when careful, and showing him the respect he requires, he is very happy. He also got to eat a red apple (crunch, crunch, crunch and it was gone) and a few spearmint mints (the green ones). He clearly loved those and was not happy about waiting until the wrappers were removed! We must have stood next to him at the front of his stall for a good 30 - 40 minutes as we chatted away. Barbaro then moved to another part of his stall. I got to see the what are now almost white markings on his near (left) side. Nothing to worry about there. His tail is still short, but again, this is simple cosmetic stuff, and the tail will grow out. Michael had clearly already visited as his bandage on his left hind leg was clean and had been recently reset. Shortly before we left Barbaro did lay down, conveniently close to where the remainder of the grass that Mrs. Jackson had gathered was laid. You can tell he really looks after himself by the way he was laying down. Barbaro is clearly a smart horse who seems to understand his current predicament and what he needs to do to get through this.
Overall Barbaro looked well. His coat is clean, shiny and almost summery. I know he is groomed regularly and this must help. His eye is clean and his weight looks great. I really think he looks like a horse in a race barn when you simply look at his body and up. He is big! I know Michael Matz thinks he has grown taller, but simply put, he is a big horse. He is also smart. Adapting to his current situation is pretty amazing for a three year old colt who only knew about running (and running very well). Simply put, I am in awe of Barbaro and all he has endured.
A couple of other notes about our conversations. We mentioned the Florida Derby, apparently Edgar told the Jackson’s Barbaro was only playing in that race. He saw some construction (I guess on the inside) and was not focused on what he should be doing. In the Kentucky Derby Mrs. Jackson said Barbaro hardly sweated in his effort, he did it so easily. Mr. Jackson agreed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were curious as to how I would continue the updates once Michael and Peter head south. They volunteered to help me get updates if necessary. We also discussed the relationships both Michael and Peter have with their horse, and how things will be different when they leave for Florida.
All in all, this was an experience. I met two people and a horse, each of whom seems to be all that is good about life.
Wow, what a great update! Thanks so much for all you have done, and Happy Thanksgiving.
Update 1081: Pictures that go with the two most recent Philadelphia Inquirer articles:
A visit with Barbaro (taken sunday november 19. Note the grass bag I tried to describe in update 1080)
Fair Hill’s New Track (these images accompany the synthetic track article from tuesday of this week).
So glad to hear that Barbaro is doing so well! And thanks for the photo links, VB. Still jingling however for this magnificent animal. He was definitely in my family’s prayers this evening before dinner. :yes: Keep the faith everyone, & way to go, Bobby! I hope your day was filled with lots of special thanksgiving treats! :winkgrin:
Friday Morning ~
Update 1082: Coverage of Barbaro in the UK continues: Life a series of small steps for Barbaro. The following are a couple of excerpts:
“It’s amazing,” she said. "I could say he’s a splendid-looking horse. He has a presence to him. He has a very noble, gallant look about him when he’s on the track, but it has to be more than that.
“I think people saw everybody support the horse and love it through its injury rather than discarding it,” said Jackson. “Everything is disposable in society now and maybe people saw this as something that isn’t disposable. It’s valued.”
and
Richardson remains guardedly optimistic about Barbaro’s chances of survival.
“He’s in the process of regrowing his hoof,” he said. “And that’s not a sure-fire proposition that it occurs adequately on any horse at any time. He has a long way to go. He is certainly not out of the woods. But we’re hopeful.”
For those new to horse race handicapping, this will help. The Barbaro update should be available after training hours this morning, later.
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;2016716]
Friday Morning ~
“I think people saw everybody support the horse and love it through its injury rather than discarding it,” said Jackson. “Everything is disposable in society now and maybe people saw this as something that isn’t disposable. It’s valued.”
[/QUOTE]
Amen
Update 1083: The latest Barbaro update is proving elusive, although I did talk to Peter and either he or Michael will visit today, so I will be able to follow up later. Peter did assume all was well.
Thanks Alex.
Update 1084: Another comfortable night last night for barbaro (thursday night). I just spoke to Peter who confirmed. Michael is on his way over to New Bolton as I type (1:05 pm) to visit Barbaro.
update 1:05 pm, friday november 24 ~ Thanks, Alex.
Update 1086: I just spoke to Peter who had heard from Michael after his afternoon visit with Barbaro. Barbaro remains comfortable and Michael did get him outside (it was a lovely afternoon). Thanks, Alex.
Saturday Morning ~
Update 1087: The Barbaro update will again be after training hours this morning. This morning is likely to be quite busy, a combination of good weather (good track) and a saturday means there will be a lot of horses breezing etc. Thanks, Alex.
Update 1088: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (friday night). Mrs. Jackson called about about 10:30 am this morning as she was leaving New Bolton. She had her usual morning visit with Barbaro delivering hand cut grass from the farm. I was grazing Hawty Creek when Mrs. Jackson called. Hawty had her first little work this morning, it was untimed but close to an open gallop for 3/8ths of a mile. She handled it very well. Alex
