Another comfortable night.
:yes: :yes: 
I’ll settle for about 150 more of these boringly repetitive reports.
:winkgrin: :winkgrin: :winkgrin: :winkgrin:
A. Peter Brette just called, he had just heard from Michael (in Saratoga). Phew, sorry for the delay, but it will be kind of like this until Michael returns to Fair Hill (I am not sure when). Love this painting of the Derby, I can spot Bobby in front!
updated monday noon, august 7
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg)[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.jpg)
Totally Agreed:yes: :yes: :winkgrin: :winkgrin:
DITTO! :winkgrin:
In from Alex:
Update 388: Technical stuff. I have made a request of a vendor to see if they will provide me discussion board and chat software for “free” for three months to see what we can do. (Free = they can serve an ad. etc) Lets see if that can happen. This site is currently ranked 23 on google for the keyword Barbaro. This is a big improvement of late.
Fair Hill got a mention in a USA Today article on artificial surfaces: Track technology treads on gentle ground. I may have posted a similar article before, but not from the USA Today. The following is a quote from Steve Klesaris:
“I think it’s what the industry needs today,” said Steve Klesaris, second in Delaware’s trainer standings and also based at Fair Hill. “Horses today are not as durable as they were years ago; however, the tracks have not changed in 100 years. The time has come for that.”
The promising Green Monkey seems to be sidelined for the timebeing: The Green Monkey sidelined. I believe he is the most expensive horse to be purchased at a 2yo in training sale (where they breeze the horses as a part of showing them before they sell). He sold for an extraordinary $16 million. He is currently in Saratoga prepping for his first race. His last work (I think it was 1:03 and change for five eighths) seemed a little on the slow side.
I asked Peter this morning why Bobby wore a shadow roll (sheepskin noseband). This type of noseband is sometimes used to encourage a horse to drop his head a little. For Bobby it was simply what Michael Matz does. Everything runs in either a shadow roll or figure eight (cross noseband).
This is very intersting…I often wondered about the sheepskin nosebands and I recall being told it was to keep race horses from seeing ground shadows.
OK, more dumb racing questions: Any particular reason for the white bridles?
And, I’ve noticed more race horses with their tongues out during warmup. In other disciplines this would be very bad and penalized. How does it affect a race horse other than the obvious chance of biting their tongue?
Wishing Barbaro well
By Heather A. Davis
www.upenn.edu
The most famous horse since Smarty Jones remains in intensive care but is resting comfortably—and that’s good news for the colt’s owners and scores of new fans.
Ever since the three-year-old Barbaro shattered bones in his leg at the Preakness on May 20 and was transported to Penn’s New Bolton Center for surgery, thousands of people have emailed get-well messages, tacked signs of hope on the fence at the Center and brought carrots, apples and hand-picked grass for the colt to eat.
“I don’t think there are very many message boards for horses,” says Gail Luciani, director of communication for the Vet School, who received 500 messages in an hour that first day. “The response has been huge. … People are really reaching out.”
Messages posted on an online message board for Barbaro (www.vet.upenn.edu/barbaro/) have come from all over the world—from Tennessee and Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Germany. One horse lover from Chicago urged the colt to “eat your carrots and listen to the doctors and get well soon,” while others have offered prayers. A fan from Delaware insisted that Barbaro is “a true champion on or off the track.”
One anonymous donor gave a generous gift to launch the Barbaro Fund at the George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton. The money won’t be earmarked for Barbaro, but for ongoing patient care and expansion of the hospital. Information on how to donate can be found at: www.vet.upenn.edu/giving/giving_ways.html.
Barbaro has struck a chord with horse lovers and novices alike. Though the crowds of people who gathered that first day to catch a glimpse of the horse coming into the Kennett Square facility have dispersed, people continue to place flowers along the fence outside the New Bolton Center. Looking at the Kentucky Derby champ you can see why, says Luciani. “You can just see an elegance, an intelligence, a strength,” she says. And as the spotlight shines on Penn’s large animal hospital, Luciani praises the professionalism of the staff, faculty and students there. “The fact that they have a very famous patient has not slowed down anything.”
For updates on Barbaro’s condition, visit the Vet School’s web site at www.vet.upenn.edu.
From Alex:
Update 389: Just received the following e-mail from Rachel at Kennett Florist:
We headed up to NBC early this morning to treat the staff to Monday morning breakfast of croissants, muffins, danish, donuts, fruit salad, juices and coffee. As always everyone was so thankful and wanted us to convey how much they LOVED everyone who was sending these wonderful treats (which of course was the Barbaro maniacs from the TWR web site), and to send their thanks. As we were heading out one of the staff asked that if we had any deliveries for this afternoon, could we please include carrots.
So up we went this afternoon with lots of Bobby’s favorite baby carrots with the greens on top and the baby peeled carrots. We also had a nice basket of goodies specifically for the blood donor horses.
I hit the tack stores this weekend and found some different horse treats (even one called ‘hoof snacks’ - I figured, hey, couldn’t hurt). I’ll have to find out if Bobby’s got any particular favorite ones, since I still can’t find the stud muffins.
Thanks again to all of you for the wonderful treats for Bobby as well as the staff; they are very much appreciated.
Rachel at Kennett Florist
Also, prospero has agreed to help us! I will hopefully get to implement their software (chatroom and discussion boards) tomorrow.
Update 391: Kathy Anderson, who also had a quick visit to Saratoga, may be visiting Bobby later tonight. If she does, I will try to get an update tonight, otherwise it will be tomorrow.
Update 390: The Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies were held today: Hall of Fame Induction: A Flood of Memories. There were three inductees: Carl Hanford, Bill Boland and Cougar II. The article is a wonderful read. The horse most closely related to Fair Hill is Kelso (the reason for Carl Handford’s induction), simply because he was owned by Mrs. DuPont, and while she died recently, her farm was just off the Bohemia river not far from Chesapeake City. She owned racehorses until her passing, and I used to gallop a few when I worked for Barclay Tagg. I was actually on a boat yesterday morning on the Bohemia anchored just by her farm (I am pretty sure). A gorgeous part of the world. Later today was the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga. The horse that was third (Green Lemon) was trained by an ex Fair Hill trainer, Peter Pugh!
My bracelets are here!!! They are beautiful, baby blue and say BELIEVE IN BARBARO. for the posters that asked for one, they got mailed today. I slipped mine on last night and had this awesome feeling of happiness and strength come over me. It just makes ya feel good!
http://www.studmuffinshorsetreats.com/stud-muffins-products-c-1.html
Can somebody send this URL to Rachel?
It amazes me that some people just question the feelings we all share… How dare they! This horse has brought people together to unite for a good cause. Not just for his life but maybe some needed changes in horse racing ie: Saratoga closing for a race day due to weather and maybe the tracks surfaces too!
Well…however it is Barabro continues to live in our hearts and that is wonderful. As said for those of us who remember Secretariat and I will add Ruffian to that list 2 horses with unknown potential including Barbaro.
I would like to order some bracelets but does anyone still have the link? I do not want to wade through 85 pages of updates!!! Heehee!
Thanks again VB as usual for the updates. I am very curious about how you go about trying to have a hoof regrow and have good attachment with so much of it removed? HAs this been successful before?
HAve to go light another candle…
Thanks Alex:
Update 392: Kathy Anderson just called…she was leaving New Bolton Center at about 9pm after visiting Barbaro. Bobby had just received a massage. He was out of the sling, munching on some fresh-cut grass. He was bright and alert. And after not having seen him for a couple of days (Kathy was in Saratoga), she thought he even might have put a little weight on.
updated monday 9:20pm
Fancy, message forwarded!
virginia bred, thank you so much for these updates. I posted in sporthorse breeding looking for barbaro updates, because sometimes I’m a dunce. forgiveness, please.
thanks for all of these updates, virginiabred!!! your the bestest!!:yes: :winkgrin:
[B]Early Tuesday, from Alex~
[/B]Update 393: Today’s update will again be later in the morning due to Michael Matz being in Saratoga. Thankfully we have Kathy Anderson’s most recent report from last night (update 392).
New Bolton Center is planning a press release today so we might see that this morning.
Massuese is thankfully OK after being pulled up by Edgar Prado shortly into the Matchmaker, see the last article here: Masseuse OK after injury.
Here are a couple of poems that have been e-mailed:
By Judith Walker:
Wind Kissed Miracle
Ancient One
Trusting One
Knowing One
Our wind kissed miracle
Who has captured all of our hearts
Heaven touched you
When you ran, you flew
Ancient Soul, you knew
Where your friends the Winds slept
You knew how to find Them
To ask if they could play
Chase in meadows, or at the break of day
To sail effortless down tracks of dirt
We watched in awe
Your effortless stride took our breath away
A small pebble caused you to stumble
Then stole your winged hoofs
Ancient One
Trusting One
Knowing One
Our wind kissed miracle
Who has captured our hearts
We still watch in awe
As you fly, and soar
On new Wind friends
Winds of healing love
Healing breath sent daily to you, dearest Ancient Soul
Soon you will play chase in a meadow
Once again take our breath away.
By Gloria Nussbaum:
The Will To Win
(as inspired by Barbaro)
Regal, majestic, magnificent, strong,
The one we awaited, with hope, for so long,
You marched on the stage with a presence unmatched,
And by flawless performance, we all grew attached.
But by more than performance… your own manner drew
Us into the “magic” that we see in few.
That intangible something that shines from within,
That connects with the longing we all have to “win.”
Focused, competitive, disciplined, brave,
You showed us a way that we all could behave.
Fluid, commanding, your bearing and strides,
Your outward display hinted more was inside.
And when things went wrong, and your course became rough,
You moved on to teach us that yours was no bluff.
In good times or bad, the fight is the same,
With courage and strength you forge on with no blame.
What have you shown by your will to survive?
A spirit that yearns to stay on – and, to thrive!
An open heart eager, whatever life holds,
To trust that the future has promise untold.
A passion for keeping on, reaching for more,
With hope in what else may come, yet unexplored.
We have watched with amazement the journey within,
And have seen for ourselves the TRUE will to win.
You’ve achieved beyond that of sheer Triple Crown lore,
And to us you will always have that class and more,
Because you have touched something so deep inside,
That we all feel like we are along on your ride.
To walk in the footprints of one special horse,
May make little sense to some people, of course,
But by leaving your imprint – unspoiled and real,
You’ve taught us all more about ways we can heal.
Will we follow your model - to put forth our best?
And discover the joys that we haven’t as yet?
The lessons you teach us are simple, yet deep.
They whisper of truths we’ll be honored to keep.
For winning is not merely beating a foe,
It’s conquering hardship, and pain, and sorrows,
It’s patience, surmounting unknowns once again,
It’s rising above - and yes, not giving in.
It matters not whether another competes,
Comparisons, measures, are all incomplete.
No one must lose so that you may win.
A winner stands tall and lifts others with him.
The ending is still to be written, through time,
And “wins” may not look like what we have in mind,
But of this we are sure, you will run your full race,
And wire to wire, you’ll finish with grace.
We cherish the chance that we have to observe
Your ongoing victory, so well deserved.
We’ve joined in the journey. Now may we begin
To grasp the true meaning of “the will to win.”
sigh!
How nice. Both poems are lovely.
A race in which no one loses–what a concept!
Thank you, VB, for this post. What a nice way to start off my day.
WOW.
[B]Tim/Alex; my thanks!
[/B]Update 395: As we wait for our Barbaro update this morning I thought you might like to hear about the Saratoga antics of Bernadini yesterday morning, e-mail excerpt from a friend:
Bernardini looks to be heading towards the Travers with plenty of spunk. He became playful on the way to the Saratoga main track monday morning, rearing up and striking assistant trainer Dave Wallace who was accompanying Bernardini on the lead pony. Dave took a few good whacks on the leg and shoulder, and when I asked him if he was okay he thought I was asking about the horse. You know that’s how horse people think. Never mind that being struck by a horse is probably something like having George Foreman hit you with a sledge hammer.
Peter Brette will visit Barbaro after he has finished at Fair Hill, so we will have that update, New Bolton’s press release and word from Michael to come.
Update 394: This morning Fair Hill is beautiful, if not a little too warm. On my way back from my first set I saw a fox scampering away across the grass, away from a flock of geese. The geese seemed to have the fox a little rattled. A later set (third or fourth) another fox was calmly trotting across the dirt track, unphased by the horses galloping by. No Bobby update yet, as noted earlier it will likely be later this morning. I have ridden six and have three more left to go.
I thought I would post these two e-mails:
the first from Mike C, regarding his brief meeting with Edgar Prado to give him the CALL:
I went to Monmouth Park yesterday for the races, but also to try to give a copy of “The Call” to Edagr Prado who had several mounts there. He was taken off his mounts in the 1st and 2nd races, guess traffic or the helicopter carring him and John Velazquez there was late…Edgar arrived after the 1st race and was in a hurry. I attempted to talk to him, but him being in a big hurry , POLITELY offered to sign or talk later. So I waited till the end of the day after his last mount to reach him… After the Haskell, the feature race of the day, I approached him. He was very cordial, I asked him if he’d please sign my BARBARO hat, HE GRACIOUSLY DID…Then I handed him an envelope with a copy of “the call” in it…I explained to him what it was and if he would please try to read it in his spare time, that I felt he may enjoy it…He smiled and we shook hands, I said to him thanks for saving BARBAROS’ life, he just smiled and went into the jocks room… Edgar is a very classy guy…
Kim C. also provides her experience seeing Bobby at Keeneland:
The backside at Keeneland is very fan friendly, and it’s no problem at all to go back there. There is a parking lot at the end of the area and many fans walk right through the backside area on the way to the track. My mother & I always go back at least once during the meet to see the horses. Now we don’t always get to go into the shed row, sometimes we just see the horses from behind the outer wall of shed row, maybe 4-6 feet away. That’s how we saw Bobby.
We were walking around a shed row area and come upon a security guard and I asked him where Michael Matz was stabled. He told us and we went down to his barn and stood about 4-6 feet away from Bobby. He had his head down munching hay and we couldn’t see anything but his hind quarters. As we were standing there imploring Bobby to look at us, someone walked by his stall, saw us, stopped and got Barbaro’s attention and Bobby moved around to the front of the stall and we got to see him quite well. We talked to him a minute, but he was more interested in his hay! We also saw Smarty Jones in 2004. So, next year, whoever wants their horse to win the derby just needs to have us go see him at Keeneland.
It was kind of hard to tell how big Bobby was from inside the stall but he looked a good size. I know his daddy is about 17.1 hands. We thought Bobby had a beautiful face. I’m a big fan of Dynaformer and early this year when
the TC preps began, Barbaro immediately drew my attention because he was a Dynaformer.
We were, to say the least, thrilled to see him at Keeneland and super thrilled to see him win the derby.
