Update 396: Jeannine Edwards just sent me this e-mail which gives a little insight into the “behind the scenes” of producing a show, and of course Barbaro!
before our show on sunday, i had called michael to see if he was going to be at monmouth for the matchmaker and if so, could we interview him on the show. he told me he just gotten to saratoga and wouldn’t be there. i said i was just in saratoga and just now got to monmouth! (kenny mayne, randy moss, jerry bailey, rolly hoyt our researcher, some of our production crew, and myself all worked the double header weekend we had aug 5/6. we started in saratoga on thurs, worked the whitney show from 5-6pm on saturday, then after returning our rental cars at the albany airport jumped into a limo for the ride down to monmouth, arriving at 11pm sat night. sunday morning i got up at 6am and we were all cramming for our haskell telecast that afternoon at 5pm… after which 10 of us had dinner at chili’s and then drove to a hotel at newark airport for our flights out monday morning.) anyway, i had a nice chat with michael. he said barbaro continues to show that strong spirit and determination. i asked what he sees in his face and eyes when he looks at barbaro… is it spunk, fear, worry, weariness, etc. he said if anything barbaro’s spirit and attitude are getting better. he said he’s not getting tired of the routine, he’s getting brighter. he said he REALLY wants out of the stall… every time the door opens he’s ready. i was happy to hear that and we thank michael for taking the time to chat with me and fill me in a little.
I bet he DOES want out of that stall!
Praying that day comes soon!!!
In from Alex:
Update 397: New Bolton’s press release, Cast change planned for Barbaro later today:
Doctors at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital plan to change the right hind leg cast of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro later today. “Changing the cast gives us the opportunity to take new radiographs and evaluate the progress of the fracture healing and joint fusions,” said Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery.
“His left hind hoof continues to show signs of regrowth and looks healthy,” said Dr. Richardson. The colt’s left hind foot, which had most of the hoof wall removed due to severe laminitis, has a daily bandage change for examination and treatment.
Candle is lit, curb chains are at hand and I am still sending all postive thoughts your way Bobby.
Thanks for all the updates and poems. They make my day!:sadsmile:
VB, you posted earlier that there was less activity when things were going well. Never fear we are all here and of course we are checking the updates. I assume many of us are still rooting for Bobby, even if we do not post. I myself have 3 different pictures of Bobby in front of my face. My favorite one is of Michael and Bobby sharing a tender moment!:sadsmile: Keep up the good work and never fear as Team Barbaro is thriving!
:yes: :sadsmile:
Go Bobby go!
GOD JUMPS
Remember the fabulous article many pages back “GOD JUMPS”? I had emailed the author to let her know I’d posted her writing here and here’s the wonderful response I just received from her. If you have forwarded the article to anyone, please do credit her as the author of this wonderful piece:
Hi,
Thanks for writing! That article has received more circulation than anything I’ve written to date. 
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Please feel free to distribute it, but please credit me and Flying Changes Magazine, where it was originally published.
Thank you!
Lauren
Flying Changes Magazine
19502 NE 134th Place
Battle Ground, WA 98604
(360) 687-0203
fax (360) 687-4898
www.flyingchanges.com
Can’t wait to hear about the cast change today! Candles lit and curb chains jangling!
From Tim/Alex:
Update 398: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro, I know we could assume that with the press release, but it did not explicitly say so. Peter just called, had had heard from Michael. Peter is visiting later today, so I will try to catch up with him again a little later.
update 12:30 pm, tuesday august 8
Thanks so much for the updates VB - I’m praying hard for Barbaro!
Cast is being changed right now, according to Tim Woolley Racing blog…
Special jingles to Barbaro for cast-changing day!
[B]Many thanks to Alex & Tim~
[/B]Update 400: Peter called, 4:30 pm, they are currently changing his cast on his right hind leg as noted in New Bolton’s update today. I hope to hear more later.
Update 399: A quick update from Kennett Florist and their visit today from Rachel:
Just got back from my trip to NBC today. We got in a fresh shipment of baby carrots with the greens this morning, since they had asked for more carrots yesterday. It’s always nice to be greeted at the door by everyone at NBC. The baskets had some treats for them as well. We made use of some of the money from the “kitty” that many have been sending in the mail for some of the treats today. So thank you to all. I had a chance to talk to Dr. Sweeney briefly and asked how Bobby was doing. She said he was doing good and they were getting ready to do his regularly scheduled cast change. She also extends her thanks to everyone for all the gifts that are being sent.
Rachel at Kennett Florist
I also wanted to note I have uploaded three pictures from my visit to New Bolton on saturday. The “featured” photo is of Peter Brette, posing with one of the six cards delivered from Churchill Downs. The second is of the Thomas family, who were visiting from Tampa Florida and had just posted the two images that are displayed between them. The third picture is a poster from the Barbaromaniacs!
Update 401: While we wait for news on Bobby’s cast change, an interesting story is Kelso’s dad, Your Host. Bobby is even cited in this wikipedia article (thanks Beverly).
Thanks to Tim/Alex:
Update 402: Another lovely poem, by Melissa Harden:
Horse Angels Speaking
By
Melissa Harden
Barbaro must be listening a minute or two
To Horse Angels Secretariat and Seattle Slew
It is too soon to join us Secretariat said
Therefore you need now to listen instead.
Continue your healing and being patiently calm
Your positive attitude is the best healing balm
They’re are saying you’re smart and we have to agree
But what else should we expect with your great pedigree.
We have races in heaven and a whole lot of fun
But it is too soon to join us; your job is not done.
You will see that we all must have our own Triple Crown
Yours might be through your foals or even greater renown.
You have made safety in racing a cause celebre
That might be your achievement at the end of your day
Or there might be another Triple Crown with you son
So even not on a course there’re still races to run.
But whatever your job is, your success is confirmed
Because we know you are one of us chimed in Affirmed.
For you see we know that you are one of us and great
Even though your own Triple Crown was stolen by fate.
We’ll be watching you closely to see you don’t falter
While hearing the prayers offered here at our altar
For there are so many more legends with us up here
With us watching over you, you have nothing to fear.
[I]You can also tell Mike Rea that we are all praying
So he will recover soon and restart his training
Cause we know that he loves horses and misses them too
Tell him that next time in the saddle to use crazy glue.
Edited to add, GREAT POEM!!!
[/I]
FINALLY, this in from Alex: (I had been worried!)
Update 403: Peter Brette just called. They have changed the cast, Bobby is now back in his stall. He did have anesthesia as I think they wanted to check everything etc. (all his feet etc.) but it seems all is well, he recovered in the pool and is now returned. I am sure we will hear more from New Bolton tomorrow etc. Peter called 8:45 pm
We need MORE candles!
Thanks so much for the word, VB, we depend on you!
I think we need a veritable torch out there, friends of Bobby! Send out the word- let’s get it back over 2K- I know he DESERVES our commitment- and I also know…
he will FEEL it- after this tough day!
Ok, I just lit a bunch more candles, can’t believe how few are lit now. Just because he’s getting better we can’t stop till he’s out of the woods. I don’t think the candles will make him get better, but it will make everyone know that we are thinking about him and care. :yes:
I lit two earlier as well
One from Bob my ottb that recovered from a horrible colic, the one that is not caused by an inpaction or twist, complete with toxic showers and one from my ottb broodmare that would love a Bobby baby if only in her dreams :D.
Another little candle blinking its heart out for Bobby.
I just lit three. We’ll get the number back up, don’t worry…
i just lit 7, for all my beloveds that understand Bobby’s plight. not to stray from candles being lit, but could i please get any info on a Bobby bracelet or two or…? i can’t seem to find a source, here or elsewhere…thank you : )
Thank you Tim/Alex:
Update 404: Much like the last couple of days the morning update will be delayed as Michael is in Saratoga and I have to wait until Peter talks to Michael later in the morning. The following article: Motion Sizes Up Arlington Festival Races discusses this weekend’s stakes races at Arlington and quotes from Fair Hill’s Graham Motion (who will run Better Talk Now and Film Maker, two super consistent graded stakes horses over the years) and Barclay Tagg who provides a little insight into the switch to the Turf for the Jackson’s Showing Up:
“I think he’s very adept on both surfaces, but a little more comfortable on the grass,” Tagg said. “I made the switch because I thought Barbaro would go ahead and do the Triple Crown, and I didn’t need to have him chasing Barbaro around.”
Its nice to see a trainer frankly talk about his horse’s prospects in light of another horse, knowing he won’t offend his owner!
This is for Captain!
Captain, PM gubbyz to find out about a bracelet.
