Very cool! 
It was originally about me hot walking for the Derby - with the headline ‘From Harvard to Hotwalking’ but now the horse I was going to walk is not in, it will be about my trip to KY!
I will post it here.
Please send me the link when you get it.
So I heard from Claire (who got a preview) that the NBC story on Barbaro is AMAZING. Everyone cried at certain parts!!!
Thanks, Alex~
Final preparations are being put together for this weekend’s celebrations, keep an eye out as more details unfold.
[QUOTE=HungLikeAStallion;2393402]
It was originally about me hot walking for the Derby - with the headline ‘From Harvard to Hotwalking’ but now the horse I was going to walk is not in, it will be about my trip to KY!
I will post it here.[/QUOTE]
WOW HLAS seems like you have SUUUCCCCHHHH an amazing life, but Hotwalking? wasnt it a few weeks ago you were driving carriage’s downtown in some city? along with being at Harvard and playing polo? And then visiting “the best” KY racing/breeding farms, and being buddy buddy with the top trainers…Did you make your trip out to KY on spring break or what? Just seems like whatever is going on your right in the middle of and are going to get press coverage for…
Yes I was in KY for Spring Break - post a lot about it here.
I practiced my hot walking at Palm Meadows in January solely to prepare to hot walk for the Derby - unfortunately the horse I was going to hot walk did not make the cut!
Thanks Alex~
Bidding for the auction items tonight has already been swift, and if this is any indication of tonight’s activity we should be able to raise a lot of money for TCA and Laminitis Research at New Bolton. The item with the current highest bid is the signed Kentucky Derby win picture!
Off to Fair Hill for event number two of our weekend of Barbaro celebrations!
Update 1819: The fundraiser tonight at Delaware Park was really cool. Great to meet so many people who had come together for this, about $14k was raised! More details tomorrow, but a great start to the celebrations for the weekend!
Wendy has posted some pictures from the fundraiser last night: How are things going in Delaware?
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=38684
Happy Birthday, Barbaro! Fans Pay Tribute
By DAN GELSTON
No cake, no oats. Only memories, tears, and stories of Barbaro’s spirit were shared at this birthday party.
Fans traveled from around the world to pay tribute and honor Barbaro at Delaware Park on Sunday on what would have been the Kentucky Derby winner’s fourth birthday.
Strangers who had only chatted on Internet message boards hugged like old friends, connected by the colt who became a symbol of strength and courage before he was euthanized in January.
“I never would have anticipated anything like this, this time last year let alone four years ago when Barbaro was born,” co-owner Gretchen Jackson told nearly 600 fans at the track’s grove.
Not even the most dedicated horse fan could have ever imagined this. Fans of Barbaro, from Philadelphia to South Africa, jammed two tents for the “Celebration of Barbaro’s Life,” at the same track where he won his maiden race on Oct. 4, 2005.
“I’m going to try not to fall apart, but I’m going to,” organizer Sharon Crumb said.
She did, and she wasn’t alone.
Fans – some wearing Barbaro shirts with a halo around the “B” – dabbed tears while Barbaro’s owners spoke or while they personally shared their stories with them. Roy and Gretchen Jackson were mobbed like rock stars, signing autographs, posing for pictures, but mostly just listening to the fans who wanted a minute to tell their own stories.
Someone put an “FOB” hat on Roy Jackson’s head, signed by so many of Barbaro’s devoted followers.
“You’re our hero!” one fan cried out.
Not even the Jacksons thought Barbaro’s legacy would live on like this. “It’s made it a great deal easier for all of those connected and close to Barbaro to go day-by-day and go through this whole journey,” Roy Jackson said. “I would implore you, as we’re going to do, to continue to work on his legacy. I think that’s the important thing to do now.”
Exercise rider Alex Brown created the chat room on trainer Tim Woolley’s Web site for racing fans that started the birth of the FOBs – that’s Fans of Barbaro. What once was an online Barbaro meeting spot has transformed into a horse welfare community.
The FOBs have raised about $250,000 and personally rescued nearly 600 horses, started fund drives for laminitis research and other equine diseases, and pressured lawmakers to pass anti-slaughter bills. On Saturday night, another $15,000 was raised at an auction fundraiser.
“Barbaro’s done more good after his death,” said Jo Deibel, who has had some of the horses rescued from killer pens moved to her horse haven.
Brown, a rider at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., where Michael Matz trained Barbaro, teamed with Crumb to organize the celebration. Without the Web site blog, Barbaro’s fans may never have had an outlet to show their love and appreciation for the colt.
“It wasn’t going to happen like this,” Brown said. “I hope it’s a good thing. These guys have raised boatloads of money for horse welfare, saved a whole bunch of horses. How can you not think this is a great thing?”
The FOBs surely thought this was a great event.
There was the fan in Minnesota who put together a banner of all of the FOBs with a fan from New York. The two women met for the first time this weekend.
No one traveled like 22-year-old Nadine Bradley, who made the 30-hour trip from Pretoria, South Africa. She also posted on Brown’s message board, and knew she had to make the trip with her mother
“I think the fact that he put up a fight and didn’t take it lying down,” she said. "He wanted to live. He had that spark in his eye.
One fan needed a more permanent reminder of Barbaro. Mary Cebzanov, of Philadelphia, had the colt’s image tattooed on the back of her left shoulder. She had Barbaro’s face, a horseshoe under the neck, and his name inked in script under the shoe. Cebzanov watched Barbaro win his maiden race and said she became a true fan after he won the Holy Bull Stakes in February 2005. “I knew right away he was something special,” she said. This wasn’t an entirely somber birthday. Mini-horseshoes weighed down blue “Happy Birthday Barbaro” balloons, and everything from books to stuffed horses to painting were for sale or up for auction with proceeds going toward various equine charities.
“I just can’t believe we all came together for this,” Crumb said. "It’s been more wonderful than I could have hoped. It’s just a beautiful day. Fans were greeted by a lengthy welcoming sign written by, ahem, Barbaro. One excerpt:
“It is because of your dedication and devotion that you’ve achieved great things as a Barbaro Nation!! We will always be a team and I will be beside you and support you with your United Causes. … Just call my name and I’ll be there. … Love, Barbaro.”
Barbaro’s ashes remain with the Jacksons while they decide the proper way to honor him.
“I see love and I see affection, and I hope they feel that back from me,” Gretchen Jackson said.
I’m so glad that Barbaro’s birthday party went well. Dan Gelston did a great write up on it.
I’m a bit disappointed though that NBC Barbaro Documentary didn’t air because the hockey game went into double overtime, at least that’s what happened in western NY. 
They said it will air at 9 PM and 12 Friday on CNBC. I’m guessing that CNBC is cable and I don’t have cable so I will have to find someone locally that does that can tape it for me.
Thanks so much VB for the article and keeping us updated. I look forward to your posts!:yes:
Thanks Alex~
Update 1823: Wendy’s photographs from sunday afternoon’s events at Delaware Park: my afternoon at Del Park photos (they showcase at least one surprise guest).
Update 1822: It will take a few days to fully process this weekend’s celebrations, in the meantime here is some more coverage, this time the Thororoughbred Times: Barbaro’s birthday celebrated at Delaware Park.
During the formal remarks, Jeannine Edwards read out a note from Edgar Prado, here it is:
BARBARO… WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME TO PRONOUNCE. HE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST THRILL IN MY LIFE… (SECOND ONLY TO MY KIDS BEING BORN.)
HE CHANGED THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE… NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE WON THE DERBY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HEART, COURAGE AND WILL TO LIVE HE SHOWED, EVEN AGAINST THE ODDS.
HE NEVER GAVE UP, HE FOUGHT SO HARD EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE TAUGHT US THAT TO GIVE UP IS NOT AN OPTION.
HE BEGAN THE FLAME OF HOPE THAT NEARLY ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE… BUT WE MUST PUT OUR HEARTS INTO IT, IT IS UP TO US NOW TO ENSURE THIS FLAME WILL NEVER BE EXTINGUISHED.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HIM AS A TRUE CHAMPION AND A FIGHTER. THOSE WHO SAW HIM SAW GREATNESS… HE LEFT HIS MARK ON HORSE RACING.
TO ALL THE FANS… THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THE ROUGH TIMES. YOUR CALLS, EMAILS, AND LETTERS REALLY HELPED ME STAY ON MY FEET.
BARBARO BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER… PEOPLE THAT REALLY LOVE THE SPORT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ANIMALS. BARBARO STOLE THOSE HEARTS FOREVER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING LOVING, CARING PEOPLE. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE STILL GREAT FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE MUST CONTINUE TO RAISE OUR VOICES TOGETHER… ESPECIALLY IN THE NAME OF A HORSE THAT WE LOVED SO MUCH AND WHO BROUGHT SUCH JOY INTO OUR LIVES.
BARBARO IS GONE, BUT STILL LIVES IN OUR HEARTS, AND WILL FOREVER. THANK YOU BARBARO FOR MAKING ME A BETTER PERSON. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE RIDE OF MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY DREAM COME TRUE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME LOVE YOU.
I MISS YOU, MY FRIEND, AND ALWAYS WILL. HOPE TO SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD AND WE CAN BE REUNITED FOR ONE MORE RIDE.
EDGAR PRADO
Ohhh, I wish I had known earlier that the Barbaro Doc didn’t air. It was aired last night on UHD (???) channel on Comcast at 10 PM. Truly beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I hope it’s released on DVD in the future. I did record it on my DVR.
Thanks Alex~
Update 1824: Additional media coverage from our celebrations yesterday: Wilmington News Journal Remembering Barbaro, Daily News Barbaro’s spirit lives: At Delaware Park, fans join to honor fallen colt and WJZ Fans Gather To Honor Barbaro On His Birthday.
Thanks Alex~
Mike Jensen attended our celebrations yesterday, this is what he wrote: Fans of Barbaro gather to celebrate his birthday.
Thank you Alex~
Update 1830: A couple more very good articles that note the outpouring of support that Barbaro has created for horse welfare issues, support that you provide: May The Horse Be With You and Memories of Barbaro dominate Kentucky Derby week
The celebration at Delaware Park on Sunday was awesome. Even though we were all coming together for the first time, everyone felt like a family and it was a very emotional day. I think Mr. & Mrs. Jackson were quite overwhelmed at how many of us FOB’s were there. It was such an honor to get to meet them and just to be a part of the whole day. Many, many thanks to Alex for everything he did at Fair Hill and Delaware Park to make the day one I will never forget. Thanks to you VB for continuing to keep this thread going and to let us fans know what is happening. I wish you could have been with us on Sunday…
Me too, me too. I was at a horse show. :no: We were champion and reserve, but my heart was elsewhere…
NBC has now rescheduled their Barbaro documentary to air on their regular network at 8 pm on saturday: Barbaro Documentary Will Air on NBC After Derby.
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;2402212]
NBC has now rescheduled their Barbaro documentary to air on their regular network at 8 pm on saturday: Barbaro Documentary Will Air on NBC After Derby.[/QUOTE]
I missed that news bit
