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Alex Brown Racing Wiki
alexbrownracing.com, timwoolleyracing.com (TWR) and AlexBrown discussion board are websites originally created by, Alex Brown (alexbrown4), who used to be an exercise rider for thoroughbred trainer Tim Woolley and others at Fair Hill, where 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was trained. Alex has now left Tim Woolley (on good terms), so established alexbrownracing.com to continue Barbaro's legacy.
Following Barbaro’s catastrophic racetrack injury and subsequent 8-month fight to recover at U Penn’s New Bolton Center, thousands of visitors came to TWR’s website for news of Barbaro’s condition. The Fans of Barbaro, or FOB’s, banded together to show support for the horse, his connections and doctors, who became known as Team Barbaro.
While Barbaro eventually succumbed to Laminitis, his legacy lives on through the efforts of FOB’s and others concerned with equine issues, including horse slaughter, horse rescue funding Laminitis research, and other special fundraisers.
The Barbaro Effect extended to improving horseracing, for example synthetic track surfaces are being installed at racetracks to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic breakdowns and other injuries. Other horse racing practices are being examined for their possible contributions to racetrack injuries. Retired Thoroughbreds may soon receive pensions from a portion of their career earnings.
Since Barbaro's stay at New Bolton, Kennett Florist and others have helped FOB's express their gratitude, sympathy, get well wishes, joy and sorrow with those closest to Barbaro's unfolding story. To this day, flowers, letters, cakes, wreaths of carrots and apples arrive for those who were a part of Barbaro's life and the charities important to them. The unprecedented "internet group hug", originally intended to heal a single horse, has turned itself toward the ills of the entire equine world.
