Barbaro Updates: 178
updates are now here.
Update 1332: Off to Fair Hill. As is usual with winter racing, there is not too much to report from the racing media this time of year. Barbaro coverage also seems to have slowed down the early part of this week. It appears to be a warm morning again (although I hear this will be our last warm morning). My morning should be quite quiet, with only about 4 - 5 to ride. First to go ... Hawty Creek, then Nonpariel, then ... (as a freelance exercise rider things don't always work as you think they will in the mornings but we will see).
Update 1331: A lovely late afternoon at Fair Hill. I went over to take Hawty Creek out for a pick of grass. We hung out for about thirty minutes. She picking away, geese flying overhead under grey skies. Tim was there getting all the feeds ready for evening feed. His horses were waiting in anticipation. It was a mild 50 something degrees. Apparently cold weather is on its way so it is good to make the most of this remaining warmer weather.
Here is a quick story on the documentary I mentioned in update 1202: Derby film at finish line. I can only imagine this will be a must see for all of us here.
Update 1330: Confirmation that Barbaro is comfortable in the Bloodhorse: Barbaro Has 'Improved Significantly' After Latest Surgery, relevant excerpt:
"He is doing much better, but he has a long way to go," Dr. Dean Richardson said of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner who had been dealt a serious setback in his effort to recover from a broken right rear leg and the laminitis. "He is eating well and we have not had him in his sling for the last 24 hours."
Update 1329: A comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael is of course now back in Florida. I asked Peter of Michael's assessment when he went to see Barbaro yesterday morning. Peter said Michael seemed fairly happy with him.
update 11:40 am, monday january 15
Update 1328: No Barbaro update yet this morning. It was a foggy morning this morning at Fair Hill ... and winter training has begun. Basically the dirt track is now closed for the winter and the gate has been moved to the Tapeta track. This morning was gate day, it was foggy, and the first time the gate was on the new track. A lovely combination. The last time the gate was on this track, it was the woodchip track, and probably about ten years ago when there were less horses at Fair Hill. Anyway, I only saw one loose horse, perhaps there were more.
I broke one from the gate, she actually broke very well. Hawty Creek also went to the Tapeta track to train, she galloped a nice mile and a half. I rode Tim's Nonpariel in company with Tim on Farouche. They also both went well on the track. The track seems to be handling the traffic quite well.
Red Aspen is now back in training. Tim was jogging her first thing this morning in the shedrow. If she keeps improving as she has each year she has been in training, this could be a massive year for her. She looks awesome. Not much football chatter on the track this morning, of course a few people inquiring about Barbaro. One trainer noted there was a letter to the editor letter in the Baltimore Sun complaining about the excessive coverage of Barbaro. The trainer was thinking we should target an e-mail campaign to the writer ...
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Whew, Alex is OK.
Posted by: Julie L at January 15, 2007 4:01 PM