VB, thanks again for the updates; I don’t know what I would do without them. I’ve spread the word in my small circle about the vigil tonight.
Clint, thanks so much.
[B]Team Barbaro, please e-mail, call, send smoke signals, whatever it takes to get everyone on board for tonight’s vigil.
[/B]
A young friend who is worried about Barbaro was in a twit that her mother might not have candles. I told her that a flashlight would do, or even turning on the car lights ( but with the engine running, so as not to run the battery down 
), or just turning on every light in the house for 5 minutes while she prayed really hard for Barbaro, right at 7pm, would be the same thing. God would hear her prayers just as well as HE would hear the prayers of everyone who had a candle.
The important part is that she prayed from deep in her heart that Barbaro continued to fight to live, and the wonderful doctors had the skill to help him and that God didn’t need him just yet, but would let us keep him for a while longer.
But, if God needed him now, then God knew best and HE would make the right decision for Barbaro and we must not cry because Barbaro would be happy where ever he went.
Ohhh, that was a hard discussion to have. But it made both of us feel better.
Saturday AM, both ABC and CBS had a short blurb on their morning shows showing Barbaro walking and that he’s doing reasonably well, considering the gloomy prognosis by Dean Richardson on Thursday.
We all know he’s nowhere near out of the woods and probably won’t be for many months to come, but to see him walking and putting weight on both hind legs/feet certainly is grounds for encouragement. :yes:
VB - I don’t think any of us can possibly thank you enough for all the great updates. And those thanks also go to all the others that posted other clips and stories.
I’m doing both headlights on for Barbaro today and everyday(hey, that’s what Chevy trucks do!) and I’ve already gotten out about 6 candles to light for him in the house. I sure hope the AC doesn’t put them out, but with 90+ degree temps, the AC will be working nonstop for a while. :sadsmile:
Hang in there Barbaro, your fan base is pulling for you! 
:yes:
So who from here will be at New Bolton Center tonight at 7 PM? I’m only 20 minutes away and I’ll look for candles around the house and matches. We could all light them up at 7 PM exactly outside of NB, it would be special especially if we all sent a prayer up to Heaven at the same time requesting that God give us more quality time with Barbaro.
Barbaro has touched something in us, part of it is the building excitement that started with Funny Cide, then with Smarty Jones, they are local boys in this area and then the hope…the dream…Barbaro. We couldn’t get enough of him, everyone at the edge of their seat in anticipation. Then the tragedy and hopes dashed yet still more tragic is to lose him completely. Barbaro should be the call to help all the racehorses, he is the light for them and reminds us that his mates still need our help no matter how his fate turns out. I would like to join all of you in prayer for Barbaro that he will pull through and give us more hope, but that he’s not forgotten next year.
I’m planning to go to New Bolton with candles and matches tonight, someone please bring a watch.
If you guys haven’t already, Head on over to Tim Woolley’s Racing Site Where you can read all the great comments people are leaving about his great Barbaro Updates.
I thought it would be great if all us COTHers could post there (just scroll to the very bottom to post a comment) how thankful we are for his updates and website.
vigil?
Whst is ghis vigil tonight?
As of Saturday morning, he rested well again last night and was up and down 2 or 3 times, so is able to move around comfortably. Along with normal heart rate, etc, his digital pulse is normal as well.
VB and everyone else - thanks for all the updates. You all are amazing.
My daughter and I will be lighting candles at 7pm here in upstate NY and jingling anything and everything. Bobby is an amazing horse and we are praying that he will overcome this hurdle and will continue on the road to recovery.
www.amblesidefarm.com
welsh & crossbred ponies
Mr. CF and I will join the vigil and light a candle here in Texas for Bobby.
Donna
Carson Farm
Update 241: We have received a couple of calls about tonights vigil (CBS radio, New Bolton Center). The main questions were where and when ?
Where: whereever you are. If you can congregate with others in your area, great. If not, great! I am sure there will be a few congregating outside the main entrance of New Bolton (I may do the same).
When: 7 pm east coast time.
Update 240: New Bolton Center press release: Barbaro continues to be stable confirms what we learned from Michael this morning:
Chief of Surgery Dean Richardson reports today that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro had a very good night and remains in stable condition at the George D. Widener Hospital. “His heart rate and pulse are normal, and his appetite is good,” said Dr. Richardson. “He continues to respond well, looks good and has a positive attitude.”
Barbaro is being treated at the hospital for fractures received at the Preakness on May 20 as well as laminitis in his left hind foot. “We continue to monitor him very closely, and we are keeping him as comfortable as possible,” said Dr. Richardson.
Jeannine Edwards (ESPN) left the following comment:
ESPN’s coverage will continue throughout the weekend. I will actually be at Delaware Park today (Sat) and tomorrow for our Delaware Handicap telecast on Sun, but another reporter is coming for the Barbaro watch. If the situation warrants, I’ll be back at New Bolton on Mon. Let’s hope for a positive update again today. Good luck with the vigil this evening… I’ll be there in spirit.
Note, Jeannine left the comment before the positive update this morning! She further explained to me that ESPN will likely have coverage throughout the day, and Sports Center this evening. There will also be a piece on the Delaware Handicap broadcast tomorrow from Delaware Park (5pm ESPN2). Many have commented on the quality of ESPNs coverage (of course I agree). I think the fact that Jeannine was a racehorse trainer and exercise rider for many years helps with her objective coverage.
We had a visitor today, at Fair Hill. Jean, I hope you enjoyed your trip to Fair Hill, and NBC. I enjoyed the Maccaroons, and will wait a little while to enjoy the Sam Adams!
The wife and I have bought candles for everyone who will be with us at the races tonight.
It’s pouring rain and thunder here in West Grove, PA and no doubt at New Bolton Center. It doesn’t appear to be letting up anytime soon. How will this work at NB? Bring flashlights.
there are 15 of us (so far, in my group) with candles and jingling things ready to go here in massachusetts. waiting on 7pm! and a few of us have our Barbaro hats on, too : )
c’mon Bobby!!
Team Barbaro!!!
It really sounds as if there is going to be an impressive gathering at New Bolton this evening. Susan is correct, bring a flashlight in the event it decides to storm.
Please light a candle for VirginiaBred someone. I will have them blazing here in Virginia.
Everyone tell someone else. Let’s get a larger power involved.
This just in from Tim:
Update 242: Just spoke to Peter Brette. While he is unable to visit today (still in the barn) he noted that D.D (Michael’s wife) visited earlier today and said Bobby remains comfortable (she visited about noon). No doubt Michael will visit later today, I think he had runners at Delaware Park. Kathy Anderson is also visiting today (likely as I type) so I will try to catch up with her in a little while.
Update 243: The following is a comment posted by Jen as a result of our afternoon activities (it was actually pretty cool watching a horse use an aqua treadmill)!
alex and I went to a very interesting open house this afternoon for Fair Hill Equine Therapy at Bruce Jackson’s new barn (rebuilt since devestating fire late last year). We had the opportunity to chat with Chuck, one of the Fair Hill vets who works with Kathy Anderson. He was great about letting us pick his brain to better understand some of the issues related to Barbaro’s condition. I wanted to share some of what I personally learned…most of all, in regards to the sling. I naively thought that whilst in the sling the horse was literally suspended and totally non-weight bearing. Not the case. In fact, he’s still actually full-weight bearing in the sling. What it does is provides support so that should he want to lean on it (in whatever direction), he can rest himself off of whichever leg he wants. So, it still gives him a fair bit of control over his situation. Even so, it was a learning process for him to become comfortable with the concept (understandable!). But it seems as though he’s come to appreciate it’s benefits. Also, regarding the sling, as you can see from the photos it’s positioned right in front of the stall door and that is because it’s a part of the lift system that transports the horse from post-operative recovery back to the stall. Makes sense. Another bit I found interesting was that Barbaro has apparently been on Aspirin and Plavix (anti-platelet aggregation…ie. makes blood less likely to clot) since his injury as part of the effort to prevent laminitis (general risks of immobility)and he will continue on these medications to try to fascilitate blood flow to where it is so very needed for healing. Last bit,also related to laminitis prevention, initially, they fed Bobby on the ground to encourage weight bearing on the front legs. Now, they’re feeding him more upright to try to provide protection for the front legs as they don’t want him to favor them too much at this point. OK, that’s it. I know I for one have absolute faith that our boy is in the very most capable hands and I thought it was cool to hear more about the details.
If it stops raining at 7PM we’ll know we are plugged in. :yes: I’ve seen God hold back the sky, it looked like the parting of the Red Sea during hurricane Ivan, just swirling overhead and overdue for the down pour and high winds that were to hit the Dixon Oval at Devon. It was amazing and very prayed for.
Hey, the sun is peaking through the clouds…
Well you won’t be able to see them…
way up here in Ontario - but I"ll have candles burning for the vigil tonight. I feel an incredible connection, hard to explain, with Barbaro and find myself talking about him more than my own horses…what an impact he has made on so many who have never met him.
I hope to one day visit him and stroke his soft muzzle. What a good boy he is. Jingles Barbaro!
Update 245: Kathy Anderson just visited (I called her as she was leaving at 5 pm). While Barbaro appeared a little irritated (I guess as one would from time-to-time when stall bound as Bobby is) he managed to devour a bag of fresh grass Kathy fed him. Kathy also noted that they changed the cast on his left hind and apparently all looked as it should. All his vital signs were good. He remains comfortable.
Michael Matz won the Virginia Oaks with Aunt Henny!
Update 244: Trying to catch up on much of the recent media coverage. Mike Schuh e-mailed us this video clip he reported on for WJZ 13 Eyewitness News yesterday (July 14). Barbaro Shows Improvement Day After Outlook Was Grave. (Its cool to have media contact you!) Its a nice piece I think (I am sure it was also commented on below). It includes footage of Bobby’s use of his sling, it highlights the gifts that have been sent to NBC and also includes a short interview with Michael Matz. Well worth viewing!
