Wednesday Morning ~
The Barbaro update will again be later in the day.
Update 1264: A nice article on Barbaro’s journey: Going the Distance – Barbaro’s story was one of the year’s best. The article notes this web-site, and includes the following excerpt:
To me, 2006 will always be the Year of Barbaro. Barbaro is an athlete in every sense of the word, giving his all wherever needed. He never asked for money, never sought performance enhancing drugs, never turned down an autograph.
All he asked for were caring humans and lots of baby carrots. Here’s hoping he’ll have many more years to live and green pastures in which to roam.
This article highlights the benefits on the new synthetic surfaces that US racing surely needs: Race Pros Hope Synthetic Tracks Save Horses. The article does note a downside to the new surface, it makes it harder to handicap a race, and thus could effect the handle. While this may occur in the short term, I assume once we get used to racing on these new surfaces we will understand better how to handicap the races. The new surfaces are attracting bigger fields, which in turn attracts more wagering (according to a couple of people I know who love to bet).
The new surface at Fair Hill (Tapeta) is riding very well at the moment. I have been on it for one set for each of the last couple of days and you really do feel you are floating across it. I imagine it might also help us older riders out a little with the better concussion on our own joints!
Update 1263: Another gorgeous winter morning this morning at Fair Hill, although very spring-like for sure! Hawty Creek went outback first set. It was still pretty dark but you could pick out the deer grazing. We also saw a fox scampering out of the way, which actually spooked Hawty Creek and she bucked so hard I almost went into orbit. Anyway, I landed in the right spot. I took a few to the gate today, including Tim’s Nonpariel. She is doing everything right in her early training program. Behind the gate I caught up with Adrian Rolls, Graham Motion’s assistant. He noted that Better Talk Now (best distance turf horse in North America) has resumed training and will be in light exercise for a couple of weeks at Fair Hill before heading down to Florida. He jogged a little in the shedrow this morning. When I was leaving Fair Hill (I went via the tack shop to get a mane comb) I saw Better Talk Now out in his paddock in the lovely sunshine.
Thanks, Alex.
Dear VB…I have wanted to send the Jacksons a card, what is the proper address to send it to at NBC…Its much to long to go into, but I need to thank her personally for something…and again, thanks for all the updates…
Update 1265: The Eclipse Award finalists are known: Eclipse Awards Finalists Dominated by Breeders’ Cup Winners. Barbaro, the Jackson’s (in two categories) and Edgar Prado are all in the running. Unfortunately Michael Matz was not selected for the trainer category.
ESPN has a great article on the woes of horse racing: I am horse racing. It includes the following two excerpts:
I will stop burying my head in the sand when it comes to the issue of horse slaughter. I have the clout and the money to put an end to this reprehensible practice. I am truly ashamed that I have allowed thousands of retired race horses to perish in this grisly manner each year and I will do something about it. For an industry that generates $14 billion a year in business, there shouldn’t be any problem coming up with the money to make this happen. I’m going to stop pretending this isn’t a serious problem.
and
I will order that every racetrack that has a slots room also have a mutuel window in that area, television screens showing the races and, whenever possible, an unobstructed view of the racetrack. I’ve had it with racino managements who do everything possible to keep the slot players from even knowing that horse racing is going on somewhere else on the premises.Thanks, Alex.
Here you go:
New Bolton Center:
George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals
New Bolton Center
382 West Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
VB and Alex thank you just doesn’t seem like enough with you bringing the daily racing forum into my home. It has reopened my eyes to TB racing issues. I love the breed and always have and we have to find a way to make them last and be healthy…the more people that know maybe it will help. The polytrack seems to have had it’s share of problems in colder climates does anyone know anything about this? and what is the difference in the Tapeta track and is it legal for racing?
Go Barbaro Go and even if he is not voted 3 yr ols horse of the year I think he is!!!
Update 1266: Barbaro remains comfortable. I had a short visit with Barbaro today. I had planned to pull his mane (shorten his mane). I started, but they were wanting to do some routine medical work with him. I did not want to interrupt so I just hung around for a while and then left. I hope I get to finish what I started, or his mane will really look odd. There were some cute baby goats in one of the “stalls” that I got a glimpse of on my way out. Very cool.
Thanks, Alex.
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;2112478]
Update 1266: Barbaro remains comfortable. I had a short visit with Barbaro today. I had planned to pull his mane (shorten his mane). I started, but they were wanting to do some routine medical work with him. I did not want to interrupt so I just hung around for a while and then left. I hope I get to finish what I started, or his mane will really look odd. There were some cute baby goats in one of the “stalls” that I got a glimpse of on my way out. Very cool.
Thanks, Alex.[/QUOTE]
how do u konw him in person?
Dick Jerardi wins Eclipse Award for Barbaro Coverage!
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36932
(Edited press release)
Dick Jerardi, sports writer for the Philadelphia Daily News, has won the 2006 media Eclipse Award for writing in the news/commentary category for his series of articles on the events surrounding the injury and surgery on Barbaro in the hours following the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course. Jerardi’s articles “A Nightmare, Right from the Start,” and “Maybe Step,” were both published May 22, and “In Barbaro’s Corral” was published May 24.
and
In the first of the three articles, Jerardi described the scene at Pimlico right after the Barbaro’s injury and the colt’s journey to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center that evening.
The second article detailed the explanations of Dr. Dean Richardson after performing successful surgery on Barbaro at New Bolton.
The final story provided comment on the decision of Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, to move ahead with the surgery and the emotional turmoil of the preceding two days.
Go to :http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36932
for the complete story.
SO VB, watcha gonna do with all that mane you pull out? 
wink wink, nudge nudge, hint hint!!!
Thursday Morning ~
The Barbaro update will be later in the day.
Alas, that was Alex pulling the mane…
Don’t throw away those mane hairs from Barbaro!
Here is a great idea: They make bracelets out of horse hair. Have some made, and set up an auction for them, to raise money for the Barbaro fund.
A fantastic idea, and I passed it on! :yes:
Update 1268: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (wednesday night). I just spoke to Mrs. Jackson who visited Barbaro this morning, bringing him his Lael grass. The Jackson’s had been away for a few days over the holiday period.
Thanks, Alex.
Thanks, Alex ~
Update 1269: Another comfortable day for Barbaro. Tom called and he had Barbaro outside grazing today (thursday afternoon), and it was a beautiful day to do that! Mrs. Jackson is now on her way over to visit Barbaro with her grand children.
Update 1270: Dr. Dean Richardson, with a little help from his star patient, makes a football prediction: Barbaro vet Richardson says Buckeyes win.
Friday Morning ~
Barbaro’s update will be later in the day.
Where is Barbaro right now? I was just told that he is moving to Rod n Riddle in Kentucky. Is that true?
Update 1273: Mrs. Jackson just called and reported Barbaro was comfortable during her visit this morning (9 am). She of course brought him his grass. Mrs. Jackson also confirmed Dr. Scott Morrison visited Barbaro on wednesday of this week. This was Dr. Morrison’s second visit I believe. He is focused on Barbaro’s left hind foot, and placed a cast on the foot. This was reported by Channel 18 in Lexington yesterday: http://www.wlextv.com/ (the video to click is 1/2 way down the page in their Featured Video Box)
I also chatted a little bit with Mrs. Jackson about Barbaro’s Kentucky Derby win, and what a tremendous performance it was (the ease of the win, the time of the race etc.) Mrs. Jackson said as she led Barbaro in after the race (so within ten minutes of the facile win) Barbaro was “bone dry”, as if he had not exerted himself in his effort.
update 11:55 am, friday, January 5
Thanks, Alex.
Update 1276: I just spoke to Tom, the Jackson’s farm manager. He visited Barbaro today (this afternoon as usual), and he (Barbaro) remains comfortable. The weather prevented them from going outside.
More insight on the visit of Dr. Morrison on wednesday of this week from the Thoroughbred Times: Morrison applied cast to Barbaro’s laminitic left hoof on Wednesday. It primarily an interview with Mrs. Jackson. It includes the following excerpts:
“I had no idea how touchy that situation is. It’s just a very fragile connection as the hoof wall grows, there is such fragility with those connections between the wall and the tissue surrounding the bone, this is how I understand it and that’s why you don’t just turn him loose or something. He has to have it controlled so that it stabilizes and it grows and connects in the proper way.”
and
[I]
“He doesn’t carry himself the same way in the back because of the fused joints, he’s still adjusting to the fusion. He’s different gaited but he doesn’t give you any indication that he’s lost interest in life. He knows his people, too,” she continued. “The other day he was lying down, and we had been away for ten days, and I just walked in and they had, of all things, a mother goat in there with her four babies. She’s one of those little pygmy goats, and they are just the cutest little things. And I went right over to them before Barbaro, and he heard my voice and sprung up out of his bedding and was whinnying and everything, saying, ‘I’m over here, bring my grass.’ He’s pretty with it. He’s a funny horse.”
[/I]Rachel from Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 8:49 pm):
Afternoon All!! Happy new year family, friends and FOB’s!! Hope 2007 is treating everyone well!
Alie and I visited NBC with a basket for our boy. Everyone was in good spirits. We took down the tree and put the ornaments in Dr Sweeney’s office for Mrs Jackson to pick up. As people were walking by, they thanked us again for putting up such a beautiful tree… and asked us to pass thanks along to you.
Thanks again go out to Jessica who stopped by with cake and coffee for us, along with a book she had put together from messages many of you had sent her. Thank you all for such kind words and for thinking of us. And the cake is wonderful… just what we needed on a rainy day!!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
WE BELIEVE!!!
Rach at KF
There was a nice article from Bloomberg.com that appears to have been picked up by other media. This version: Barbaro boosts town’s economy includes photographs!
