Barbaro Updates 39
updates are now here.
Update 407: New Bolton Center press release: Another smooth cast change for Barbaro:
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is doing well this morning after the cast on his right hind limb was changed late yesterday afternoon under general anesthesia. "The leg looked good under the cast, especially considering the length of time that he has been in a cast," said Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery. "The radiographs also were encouraging. There is no sign of active infection. This is further supported by his markedly improving blood values over the last two weeks. He had an excellent pool recovery; he is a very intelligent horse and has definitely figured out the whole process."
The cast on the right hind leg encloses the foot and extends up to just below the hock. It will continue to be changed regularly until the fractures and joint fusions have healed completely enough to sustain full weight bearing.
The bandage and protective boot on Barbaro's laminitic left hind foot continues to be changed daily. "The appearance of the foot is very good. It is dry and healthy looking with excellent early regrowth at the coronary band," said Dr. Richardson.
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.
The next update will be posted on Tuesday, August 15 unless there is a significant change in Barbaro's condition.
Update 406: Still no update, but as far as I am aware New Bolton is planning to release an update themselves this morning so we also have that to look forward to. I saw some coverage (positive) on Bobby last night on the local NBC10 channel (this was before the cast change). I believe the footage they used was old (from July 13).
Update 405: No update yet. I will catch up with Peter once I am finished riding (two more to go) but he did mention he plans to visit today. I started a little earlier this morning (5:20 am) and certainly before the sun started. It does seem we have quite a few foxes around, and they are not shy. I saw at least two while on my first set (at least I think they were foxes, either that or the deer are shrinking). The only other set on the track first thing was Michael Matz's set (of ten horses / riders).
Later I caught up with Tim, Barclay Tagg's assistant. He told me about Showing Up this weekend (which we know), but I was more interested in his time working for Allaire DuPont (he worked for her for 20 years until she recently passed away). He was there when Kelso was there (not during his racing period) but noted he used to get many visitors (by the bus load). People can still visit his grave, he was buried on the farm, they just need to call ahead.
And later still, I nearly fell off (trainer did not see, it was coming onto the track, 2yo rearing up). Nearly, but not quite!
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!
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
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.
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.
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).
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 used 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 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
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.
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.
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.
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."
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
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!
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 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).
Update 387: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). 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
Alex,
Thank you so very much for putting the comments back up. You are so wonderful! Here's hoping everyone will share only loving, positive comments for Barbaro from now on.
Dearest Bobby,
Best of luck with your cast change today Sweetheart. Just be patient Honey, you will be out of that stall and out in the fresh air before you know it! My heart is with you and your incredible, caring doctors. I love you Angel. I hear more yummy carrots are on the way! What a lucky boy you are!!
Posted by: Karen in Las Vegas at August 8, 2006 8:50 PM