Barbaro’s death: Equine beauty meets harsh reality
The ‘Barbaro Effect’ has taken hold:
“Keith Chamblin, senior vice president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, told the Louisville Courier-Journal last night that he planned to launch a national fund-raising initiative into laminitis research in Barbaro’s memory. Details were being finalized and were to be presented to the Jacksons for their approval, and could be announced as early as today.
Chamblin said NTRA Charities would channel 100 percent of contributions into research. The venture also could include public-service announcements on NTRA-sponsored racing telecasts and dates for organized fund-raisers at tracks and simulcast outlets across the country. Roy Jackson has been apprised of the effort, Chamblin said.”
For full story and more: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16584064.htm
Here is an article by a local Sports Columnist, Rick Bozich, in Louisville, KY. I have included a couple of excerpts and the link to the entire article.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070130/COLUMNISTS01/701300491/1005
“I always scoffed at people who said they could watch horses parade around the … paddock and then pick the Derby winner.” “Then I saw Barbaro”
I think someone asked earlier where they could make donations to New Bolton. In case you haven’t gotten ans answer, you can go here - https://galaxy.isc-seo.upenn.edu/pls/devadmin/dvpk0100.nv00?p_school=VT2
From there, you can donate either to the Barbaro Fund or the Laminitis Research Fund.
Amen to that! What a wonderful memory.:sadsmile:
It is pure and simple passion!!! For the equine people!!!
Thanks Alex~
Update 1418: Dr. Richardson interviewed on CBS, broadcast this morning, interview was yesterday: Veterarian remembers Barbaro.
Mike Jensen wrote this: Barbaro inspires idea for a museum which discusses some potential plans afoot for a Barbaro inspired museum. The article also notes Barbaro was cremated.
I saw Kathy Anderson as I was leaving. She had just returned from a conference in Mexico last night. We hugged, she (and I) were visibly upset. She said she was glad to be out of the country when the news broke. Kathy then asked me what we were planning to do with the site. Lets hope we are able to help support Barbaro’s legacy.
It was great to see Dr. Richardson and the Jacksons last night on Larry King Live. Mrs. Jackson made a strong case for pushing the anti horse slaughter bills through, so I hope we can take that signal and follow up by calling our own congressman and senators.
VirginiaBred,
Thank you for all your great work in keeping us updated. Was out of town when I heard the sad news and did not have computer access.
May Barbaro run free again! Such an amazing animal and so short a life.
My condolences to all who loved him. He will live a hole in all our hearts.
[QUOTE=Anne FS;2182265]
Uh, no, actually, that’s Fox.
I had to turn that one off. Rush went on and on about the “disorder” of all these people who had an attachment to Barbaro, then he said that he was providing information “to all those who suffered from this disorder” (no kidding, he must’ve said it 12 times) about Churchill Downs having cards available that people could sign and they’d be sent to Barbaro’s connections. Then he kept talking about “his connections? What does that mean? His CONNECTIONS?” Then apparently someone on his staff explained that connections meant his trainer, breeder, owners, people involved with Barbaro, and Rush said oh, then why didn’t they just SAY that? He said he thought that it meant sending messages to heaven for Barbaro. :rolleyes: and that’s what all these people with the disorder were doing.
He was awful.[/QUOTE]
I love how this guy who is a known addict and has been arrested how many times? How many stints in rehab? thinks he should be criticising ANYbody no matter what their “disorder” is. A Barbaro disorder is nothing like narcotics addiction Rushie boy.
I was so pleased to have received a beautiful e-mail yesterday. I thought I would share it with you.
After posting it briefly, the sender requested I remove it, so to honor that request, I did.
I would however like to say the e-mail was deeply appreciated, and treasured.
VB - What a great e-mail 
!
What he said about this thread and you is very true. You have kept it upbeat and civil. I will miss it. Lets keep it going a little longer.
RIP Bobby
Don’t Cry For The Horses, by Brenda Riley-Seymore
Don’t cry for the horses
That life has set free
A million white horses
Forever to be
Don’t cry for the horses
Now in God’s hands
As they dance and they prance
To a heavenly band
They were ours as a gift
But never to keep
As they close their eyes
Forever to sleep
Their spirits unbound
On silver wings they fly
A million white horses
Against the blue sky
Look up into heaven
You’ll see them above
The horses we lost
The horses we loved
Manes and tails flowing
They Gallop through time
They were never yours
They were never mine
Don’t cry for the horses
They will be back someday
When our time has come
They will show us the way
On silver wings they will lift us
To the warmth of the sun
When our life is over
And eternity has begun
We will jump the sun
And dance over the moon
A Ballet of horses and riders
on the winds
to a heavenly tune
Do you hear that soft nicker
Close to your ear?
Don’t cry for the horses
Love the ones that are here
Don’t cry for the horses
Lift up your sad eyes
Can’t you see them
As they fly by?
A million white horses
Free from hunger and pain
Their spirits set free
Until we ride again
What a lovely email, VB. It is so nice to see that your hard work and devotion have been recognized, not just by us, but by the outside world as well.
VB, thank you for sharing the email with us. And, thank you for finding and posting all the wonderful articles that are trying to explain the unique connection many had with Barbaro. I’m not sure it can be explained…you either get it or you don’t.
Thanks Alex~
Update 1419: Sue McMullen just sent this e-mail from the UK:
[I]
It is testimony to Barbaro’s position on the world stage that he made the mainstream ‘heavyweight’ newspapers in the UK, including The Times, The Guardian and The Independant, in addition to the Racing Post, our only dedicated racing paper and Horse and Hound, our main equine magazine. I’m certain there was other coverage that I have yet to see. There might be some follow-up stories, and I have been asked to do one of them.
News of his death didn’t break here until it was too late to make certain ‘print’ deadlines, but the story was posted on the online versions. The first UK outlet to break the news was Turftrax, a racing website, and they had it first as, having visited here and seen the devastating news, I sat in shock and sent a text message to their editorial director saying simply ‘he’s gone. The fight is over. 10.30 am this morning’. I didn’t have to say any more than that. He knew exactly who I was talking about and what it meant. At that point I couldn’t phone.
Clive Brittain is one of the UK’s leading, most highly respected and long serving Flat trainers and was one of the first to take horses to the US. It was his filly Pebbles who won the BC Turf at Aqueduct in 1985 and Bold Arrangement chased home the ill-fated Ferdinand in the 1986 Derby. He is a tremendous character and a great horse lover. Needless to say, he has been following the story and today he spoke warmly of Barbaro and his loss to the sport, and beyond:
“It is tragic to lose such a horse. There is no such thing as a bad Derby so the way he skipped away from the field showed he was something exceptional. He may well have become the horse of the century. He was truly a superstar and the way he coped for so long with his terrible injuries indicated the type of horse he was. It is really very, very sad. Let’s hope all the good he generated continues.”
Praise indeed from a man whose judgement you just have to respect.
On a personal note, I’m deeply sad that my first post here for 2007 is to address something that many of us refused to contemplate as we had begun to think him invincible. On Friday morning I visited hospital for a routine screening that although not painful I knew was going to be very uncomfortable. As I sat and waited, feeling some dread at the prospect, I looked down at my Barbaro bracelet (that Sharon kindly sent to me) and thought of all he had gone through, demonstrating his indomitable spirit and unfailing courage. I suddenly felt my fears were utterly pathetic and wondered how many others had faced much worse and drawn comfort from that colt’s great spirit.
In common with so many people I have spent the past eight months with the same daily routine, logging on wherever I have been just to see he was doing ok. Sometimes I had no time to read more than ‘Barbaro spent a comfortable night’ and that was enough. I could go on with whatever it was I had to do. I feel bereft and still can’t quite believe he’s gone so how those close to him are feeling, I just can’t imagine. I had a fantasy that when he was discharged from NBC, there would be a celebration party somewhere for as many fans as possible and I had resolved to attend. It seemed almost ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
I’m still wearing the bracelet. I can’t take it off yet. We have lost a tremendous life force, a magnificent, imperious, galloping creature, a fighter on and off the track, who became such a focus for good. May this continue and become his legacy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,379-2575211,00.html
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/horseracing/story/0,,2001545,00.html
http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article2198433.ece
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/108015.html
[/I]
A “Fan of Barbaro”, Elizabeth Laban, wrote this: Barbaro taught her about the love of sport.
[QUOTE=FourWands;2182157]
Yes… The Secretariat Foundation donates a lot of money towards research on laminitis, among other things. The foundation has been around for a LONG time.
A lot of money was donated when Secretariat died as well.[/QUOTE]
Worth pointing out is the fact that since 1940 the Grayson Foundation - now the Grayson Jockey Clyb Research Foundation has been funding via grants research into a wide variety of subjects impacting horses. Paul Mellon donated well in excess of $3m to this organization
New Projects Funded In 2003
Key factors in the cause of laminitis: $53,430 (one-year project)
Dr. Rustin Moore - Louisiana State University
These investigators made huge strides toward understanding the causes of laminitis in previous work funded by GJCRF. This project continues that effort. The goals are to document the blood flow to the foot, before and after laminitis develops, and to test a therapeutic approach to controlling that blood flow. Controlling and preventing laminitis is a realistic objective, which appears to be attainable
WOW! Thanks VB…that was beautiful.
This board, along with the one on Tim Wooley’s site, has been the first place I came in the morning for the last 8 months. I knew, thanks to VB and Alex, that we would be getting the information straight from the horse’s mouth (excuse the pun) on how our boy was doing. It is hard now not seeing the updates and “ACN” and being happy for the rest of the day. There is no amount of thanks that we can extend to Alex, VB, Mr. & Mrs. Jackson and Dr. R. for letting us all be a part of the wonderful creature that was Barbaro. Their willingness from day one to let everyone know how he was progressing and being so open, was something I have never experienced before. I have cried for Ruffian, Secretariat, Go For Wand, Lost in the Fog and many others, but Bobby was something different, perhaps because we felt like he belonged to all of us. I know I cried again last night when I hugged my horse and I guess that is what it is all about - the love these animals can give to us.
It is nice at times like this to know there are many, many other people out there who feel just the way I do and to have somplace we can come and talk to each other. If someone doesn’t understand how you feel, you cannot explain it. I have had my bracelet on for some time and when I look at it now, he is right there. I have a feeling that I will be wearing it for a very, very long time. It is comforting to know Bobby is running again on 4 healthy legs and watching over us. He was a very special boy who was here for too short a time but his legacy will last forever.
I think Barbaro touched so many people because he took us out of the mundane daily existance and made us feel again. I cried tears of joy when I heard " and here comes Barbaro…". I felt disbelief and dispair two weeks later. Then came hope and miracles… when standing on four legs and walking was such a huge deal…a thrill of a different kind. And now, I am very sad that he is gone but so happy to have been touched by him and the love that surrounded him. He knew he was special and he knew his people loved him.
I just noticed the candles are down to a bit over 3700. It will be sad when they are all out. Gosh, remember the day we were thrilled to have lit 1,000? That seems so long ago.
