God Bless Barbaro. It certainly warms my heart to know he’s coming along. It also makes my own experience with losing a special friend feel like it was well worth the effort. It is extremely refreshing to realize that through struggles success can be found and I am so thankful that the Jacksons have been blessed with such a suvivor!
Keep on healing, bones!
Well I went ahead and ordered my own bracelets. They are like the Livestrong ones, only baby blue and say BELIEVE IN BARBARO. I am going to give them to my friends to wear, I have no intentions of making money off them. They should arrive on Aug. 5th. I can’t wait!!! Hope that was ok to do.
A couple reasons that Barbaro is so special in my opinion is because in the beginning he was the hope for victory and even though it seemed all hope was lost, as it was apparent that he could no longer be the triple crown winner, he would still beat the odds and bring us hope for a greater victory yet, his survival. So we can still chant…Go Barbaro, GO! :winkgrin:
With all the goodies…
the staff is getting they are all going to need bigger girths!! 
Someone will have to buy them all Jenny Craig memberships! or at lleast a Gym membership:D :lol:
Or they could start sending all the goodies to me :yes: :yes: !
I’m going sailing this weekend and will miss this thread 
. The updates are going to be late this morning, darn it, so I’ll just be jingling like mad from the ocean.
HAPPY BOINGING, BOBBY!!!
(Thanks for Alex, VB, and everyone here!)
oh yes, tears here too.
Thank you, as always, VB for the updates.
Going to light some candles for Bobby, and send a small donation in his honour to CANTER and the EXCELLER Fund.
Vineyridge thank you for that quote.
My favourite is from Shakespeare, it is on my webpage:
‘He trots the air/ the earth sings when he touches it’
OK Spoiledsport, don’t expect any sympathy from us. :lol: Have fun sailing the ocean blue. 
Per Alex:
Update 333: No update yet this morning. I was just talking to Peter Brette, who has not yet heard from Michael (who is in Saratoga). As soon as I do hear, I will post. Peter also may visit today, so hopefully we will hear from his visit later. More later.
updated 10:47 am saturday.
Thanks Tim/Alex~
Update 334: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (friday night). Just got a voice mail from Peter Brette. Sorry for the late update.
updated saturday, july 29, 1:04 pm
Update 335: A nice article from the Washington Post : Barbaro a ‘Happy Horse’ As He Adapts to His Situation rehashes generally what we know. I do like the closing:
The outpouring of support from the public, Sweeney said, has shown no signs of slowing.
“People see traits in him they wish they had, a warrior’s spirit,” Sweeney said. “He’s a hero and he has no agenda. People can make him what they need in their life.”
I just received an e-mail from a friend of mine at Delaware Park noting the raffle drawing for the Mike Rea Relief Fund is to be monday, I may try to get down for that (I owe for a few tickets!):
On Monday the Mustang for Mike Rea will be drawn here at Delaware Park. The fourth race is to be named after Mike Rea and the drawing is expected to take place about that time to. The car is on display in the grove and the drawing will be in the winners circle. I think there are still some tickets in the horsemens office for purchase.
The latest report about Mike seems a little more upbeat.
Here is that Washington Post article:
www.washingtonpost.com
Horse Racing
Barbaro a ‘Happy Horse’ As He Adapts to His Situation
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Sixteen days ago, Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro’s prospects for survival were not good. Dean Richardson, the chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., announced the horse had laminitis in his left rear leg so severe, he had been forced to cut away 80 percent of the hoof. This happened while Richardson was treating the right rear leg Barbaro shattered May 20 in the Preakness Stakes. He later developed an infection.
“His prognosis for long-term life and comfort has been significantly diminished,” Richardson said.
But Barbaro did not wither and die.
On Wednesday, Richardson changed the cast on the colt’s right rear leg and saw no new problems. Recent blood tests showed no signs of the infection in the surgically repaired right rear pastern joint that had slowed the healing process, said Corrine Sweeney , the hospital’s executive director.
While the laminitis in the left leg continues to threaten Barbaro’s life, the colt has adapted to spending much of the day elevated in a sling and he continues to eat and sleep well.
“He’s a happy horse, he really is,” Sweeney said. The grim report when Barbaro developed laminitis “wasn’t overstated. I know Dean personally and professionally. When he says this is grave, it’s grave. When he says it’s serious, it’s serious. It’s not optimism or pessimism. It’s realism.”
Barbaro remains in the intensive care unit and continues to receive nearly daily visits from owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson and trainer Michael Matz . The outpouring of support from the public, Sweeney said, has shown no signs of slowing.
“People see traits in him they wish they had, a warrior’s spirit,” Sweeney said. “He’s a hero and he has no agenda. People can make him what they need in their life.”
– John Scheinman
My horses all just went and lit candles and we’re over 1100 again. Our prayers are with you Bobby!
Update 336: Redaspen was sixth in the stake today at Philadelphia. Perhaps she got a little tired in her first start back. Tim said Victor Molina gave her a great ride and gave her every opportunity. After a nine month layoff it was great to see her return to the races. Lets hope she can move forward from this start.
Yahoo! News has the following article today: Barbaro’s trainer not getting hopes up which includes the following excerpt:
The medical updates on Barbaro seem encouraging, yet the trainer of the ailing Kentucky Derby winner isn’t allowing himself to become too optimistic.
“I’m not getting my hopes up,” Michael Matz said Saturday. “I’m just taking it one day at a time – but he’s trying.”
I had asked Michael during the week whether he was getting a little more optimistic (as we were getting all the positive news) and his answer to me was similar to the above.
Thanks Alex~
Update 338: Bernadini was super impressive in the Jim Dandy. I am not entirely sure what he beat, but nevertheless he did not get out of third gear. Congratulations!
Update 337: Melissa sent me this poem, which included the following in her e-mail:
I’ve been working on this poem for some weeks but couldn’t finish it after the horrible news two weeks ago. Now, after yesterday’s good news, I was able to finish it. Feel free to share it with anyone including Peter, Michael, the Jacksons, Edgar Prado and all who are close to Bobby.
poem:
“Barbaro”
by
Melissa Harden
Who wouldn’t be charmed?
By the most precious sight
Of a foal being born
After a long restless night
Eyes anxiously watch
As he climbs to his feet
Nuzzling so close
To his mother’s heartbeat
We think of his dam
We think of his sire
Will he have her quiet calm?
While retaining his fire?
Those answers are known
Only to God it is said
So we leave it to Him
As we go to our beds.
We watch foals play games
While amidst their peers
Whether they’ll race
Is best left to seers.
Then the time comes
That all mother’s hate
He must leave her side
To be schooled at the gate
What’s with this saddle?
Who’s this on my back?
You mean I must run
Out here on this track.
He continues to strengthen
His endurance increases
Through most careful workouts
And frustrating breezes
He could be the one
If our watches don’t lie
Shall we aim for the Derby?
And give it a try
He wins all his races
He fills us with pride
This is a great horse
With luck on his side
He then wins the Derby
They are calling him great
He goes to the Preakness
And meets a cruel fate?
In the midst of adversity
He touches our hearts
We see his ability
To be patient and smart
We admire his quiet courage
As he endeavors to heal
Each day we’re encouraged
By his very strong will
There was no Triple Crown
No jubilant mood
But his name will resound
When we think fortitude
For no claim of greatness
Ever had such a measure
As his grace under stress
More precious than treasure
And his name, Barbaro
For all those who know him
Will always mean hero
His fame never to dim.
Sweet Talker ran a great race to just get headed in the Diana. I asked Graham about her chances on thursday. He was a little concerned with her travel schedule, but she certainly showed up today, just losing on the wire! Also, nice win for Master of Disaster at Delaware for Steve Klesaris.
Wow, what a marvelous poem by Melissa!
That is a beautiful poem…
~Darci~
Thank you so much, Melissa, where ever you are. I teach children to read and be moved by poetry and then to write poetry out of their feelings about something that matters very much to them. This is going to be one of my “mentor texts” this year. Barbaro is going to the classroom in many, many ways…:yes:
Melissa this is a wonderful tribute to such a champion…
GO BARBARO!!!
Cautious optimism. :yes:
I don’t have time to always post, but I ALWAYS read the Barbaro updates at least twice a day.
Thank you so much for keeping us informed. I pass the information on to our pony clubbers and many of my friends, horsey or not!
Sending more jingles and more good thoughts for Barbaro!!!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
