Barbaro Updates: 28
updates are now here.
Update 349: Just returned from Delaware Park, where Mike's family and friends were present for the raffle drawing. It was great to meet Mike's sisters and see Rochelle (his wife). Sheila Barndollar did a fantastic job putting everything together, they sold all four hundred tickets. Rebecca Witzman won, so congratulations to Rebecca! Mike is progressing well. His sisters have lost internet access, hence why no updates for the lcast couple of days. They feel really badly about that. I will try to update their blog to alert people, but it may take a little time.
Jake posted a nice response to my interview with Tom Albertrani (update 348) (comment at 4:35 pm) copied below:
You had only to look at Tom Albertrani's face that day at the Preakness to know a real horseman. Here his own horse is burning up the track, but I saw the double-take he gave when Michael Matz left the stands. He looked stunned, and saddened.
I feel for him, being unable to enjoy that incredible victory, and I know he would have loved to see Barbaro and Bernardini in the home stretch.
The true measure of a horseman isn't the exultation with which he wins, but the depth of feeling he has for the horses, without which there would be no sport.
I've seen that a lot with true horsemen; the face of Trudy McCaffrey when Freehouse won the Swaps but Hello broke down. She could barely keep her mind on the win---all she thought of was Hello.
And Marylou Whitney and Edgar Prado practically in tears when their Birdstone beat Smarty and denied him the Triple Crown.
And you want to talk about horsemen (and women) -you can't beat Roy and Gretchen Jackson, or Michael Matz, or Peter Brette, or all of the people who have been touched by Barbaro.
I mentioned to Tim today about the interview, and that I might try to contact Dan Hendricks for the same (Brother Derek's trainer). Tim reminded me that Dan was asked by the media shortly after the race how his horse was, his response was pretty much, who cares, how is Bobby! (OK, not quite like that, but that was the sentiment.)
Linda Lee wrote a nice poem in the comments (5:14 pm):
I have been looking for months now of all the pictures of Barbaro. I have written below what I see. After you read take a look again at your favorite picture of this GREAT horse.
Just Look in His Face!
(In Honor of Barbaro)
Just look, old souls you see,
Has he been on earth many times before?
Oh, what wisdom you see.
Just look deep, old souls you see,
His eyes? always are waiting for what is next.
Always remembering from the last race what he needs for the next.
Just look deeper; don't you want to watch those old souls too?
He is watching, grazing, running, healing, and pleasing.
Did you look for that old soul hiding there?
Just look, make it quick, don't miss those old souls resting there,
See an old soul asking to be set free
You want to be inside of that old soul too.
Just look
Just look deep
Just look deeper
Just look, make it quick
Linda Lee Smith (I usually sign just Linda Lee)
Boonsboro, Maryland
KEEP THE FAITH!
Update 348: I just did a telephone interview with Tom Albertrani, trainer of Bernadini. I wanted to get his perspective on a couple of things, including obviously his thoughts re: Bobby. Here is the interview:
Me: I asked Tom about the mood after winning the Preakness.
Tom: While happy to win a triple crown race, there was a bad feeling. It was very upsetting to see such a great horse being put in the horse ambulance. No one wants to experience what Michael (and his team) had to experience. It definitely took away from the excitement of the victory. The day after the race, the mood was a little better, we could focus a little on the win, but we wished dearly for a great horse race. After Bernadini's win saturday in the Jim Dandy, Michael Matz was one of the first to congratulate me. Later in the evening I caught up with Michael again. He gave me an update on Barbaro, we are all really rooting for him.
Me: I asked Tom about his experience with Godolphin:
Tom: I had worked for Bill Mott for nine great years. The Godolphin opportunity came along and it was an opportunity of a lifetime. It was an incredible experience. I got to travel all around the world, Ireland, France, Italy, Australia. I worked with some fantastic horses: Dubai Millenium, Fantastic Light, Street Cry, Swain, Halling ... we had an incredible 85 group one winners in seven years. Sheikh Mohammed is a great horseman (Sheikh Mohammed runs Godolphin and Darley Stud, owner of Bernadini). He is very hands-on, and on top of everything within the entire operation. He loves the sport of horse racing, its competitive nature. He would have loved nothing more than seeing a true rivalry, something akin to Affirmed and Alydar.
I have never met Tom. I do know a few people who have and who have worked with / for him. He does seem like a very cool guy.
Update 347: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). I just spoke to Peter Brette who had just got off the phone with Michael Matz.
update 11:20 am, monday july 31
Update 346: No morning update yet, but Peter (Brette) did confirm Barbaro remained comfortable throughout the day sunday. Here is an article that appeared recently while we wait for an update from this morning. The Chicago Tribune: Veterinary hospital is breed apart writes about New Bolton Center, a nice compliment to their own video. Here is an excerpt about the recovery pool:
Normally, horses coming out of anesthesia after surgery are lying down in a recovery room. As they wake up, they must struggle to their feet, a dicey maneuver on freshly repaired ankles and legs. Moreover, a postoperative horse may be confused and thrash about in the recovery room, further jeopardizing the surgeon's work.
But in New Bolton's C. Mahlon Kline Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Center, an orthopedic surgical patient like Barbaro is lifted from the operating table in a sling suspended from a ceiling monorail system that can handle patients typically weighing 1,000 pounds. From there, the animal is conveyed to the nearby room containing the recovery pool, a bright blue circle of heated water, some 20 feet deep.
There, the animal is lowered into a black rubber raft with four long sleeves enclosing the legs. Once the raft is inflated, the horse remains floating there, typically for one or two hours, with nurses sitting close beside it. Thus, when the patient awakens, there is nothing hard anywhere near an injured leg, no matter how much it tries to thrash about.
A couple of blogs have written about this site: Animals We Can Love (that's Tim in the picture, not me) and Barbaro = Passion = Blog = Community. Toby, the author of the latter blog, is a "blog buddy".
Update 345: This morning's update will again be delayed. Michael is still in Saratoga I think, returning today. I imagine I will know something by mid morning and be able to post then.
Update 344: We have seen Barbaro coverage in the UK, in New Zealand, and now Japan: Sympathy for a racehorse. This article talks about the rationale for the sympathy directed towards Barbaro as the world is seemingly full of other tragedies. The conclusion:
Barbarophilia is certainly not logical. And it is sentimental, outrageously so. But here's a thought the anti-Barbaro crowd seems to have missed: Compassion isn't an either-or proposition. Interest in the fate of an injured horse in Pennsylvania doesn't preclude concern for terrified children in West Java or Baghdad or Tyre. Very likely, it's the same warmhearted people caring about the lot of them. Even if it wasn't, you can't legislate the flow of sympathy.
The following article: Bernardini could be Horse of Year I hesitated to post. Not because I don't admire another great racehorse, who won very easily over the weekend (although he really had nothing to beat), but because it was poorly written and factually inaccurate. Bobby was 6 for 6 going into the Preakness. I would also take issue with qualifying Albertrani's tenure with Godolphin as a sentence but since I don't know the guy (yet) I cannot confirm how much he enjoyed working with horses like Dubai Millenium.
Update 343: No new update this evening. I am assuming that is a good thing. Lori Keith rode her first winner at Philadelphia Park today, in the first race. She is a friend, and its great to see her getting going at Philly. She had ridden a winner at Penn, and actually went to Saratoga yesterday and was fourth. I asked her her perspective on Barbaro, she said:
My heart goes out to everyone involved. The horse is obviously strong, and he is hanging in there. It really makes you want to pull for him even more, he is trying.
Very true words. Congrats on the win, and looking forward to seeing you at Fair Hill breezing.
Adrienne caught up with Michael Matz yesterday at Saratoga. She had this to say (comment at 5:35 pm from update 27):
I was at Saratoga yesterday and actually had 2 michael signtings. The first was on a tour of the barns and track that was scheduled through the thoroughbred museum. Michael was with one of his children.
The second was in the paddock waiting for the post purade for the Jim Dandy. michael was walking into the paddock and I asked him how Barbaro was doing because I couldn't check Tim and Alex's web site as I was at Saratoga.I told him that I was one of those crazy and proud of it Barbaro fanatics. Michael said that he had a good night. I guess I heard the update as close as you can get from the horses mouth. He stopped for a second and I then asked him to thank Tim, Alex and the NBC staff for all of their wonderful work. I also told him that I hoped Barbaro enjoyed the carrots and the Delaware Park cap that I dropped off at the NBC 2 weeks ago. Finally he thanked me for the thoughts. Michael seems to be a really kind and understanding person. Barbaro you are really lucky!!!!
Wm & Cl, NH provides us this new poem (5:33 pm updates 27)
****Seabiscuit To Barbaro****
GO BOY GO,
Rest if you must,
Lord heal our great Barbaro
who's won a nation's trust.
Heart only like one other,
Seabiscuit's claim to fame-- There is but just another,
Barbaro's his name.
Living far greater,
Than one could hope for--
His spirit, God is creator,
More than Life's core!
He is destined for much more.
Strengthen him night and day--
What is needed to rest and snore.
Show his shining spirit today,
As a testament to hero lore!
You are the one to beat this,
With loving care and caress-- Believe Blessed with a kiss,
Lucky Swiftness your harness!
Make believers of doubters.
Great joy to be heard--
Help Campaign all ye shouters.
Help spread the good word!
Not just for Barbaro's fight,
But for Mike Rea's too-- May both heal day and night
Richly blessed by all of you!
Recovery's road may be long,
But tender care is there too-- Keep sending those donations.
Each and everyone of you.
Lend a hand to a friend,
Help a neighbor in need.
Hold up another, don't offend,
Is the word of this noble steed!
Contribute your time,
Your money, your hands--
Be it poetic rhyme.
Or prayers from all lands.
Expert minds can only wonder,
Seeing Barbaro's will to survive--
Marvel at MIRACLES we'll ponder,
Makes us thankful we are alive.
GO BARBARO GO,
Listen, rest, soak up our love!
You've grabbed us so--
Heaven's gift to us from above.
Whispering your wise ways,
Bring commonsense to reign--
Uplifting our hopes these days,
Lead us safely back home again.
Forever thanks to Alex & Mike,
Allowing others a sharing mind--
For blessed news raising the spike,
Focused on good and bad left behind--
Go BARBARO Go -- we all love you so!
I was at dinner tonight when our host (Sue) relayed a story from our local fair (which has been in town the last week). She was talking with the person responsible for the big cats, and they were planning to take a lioness to New Bolton to be spade. Sue mentioned how excited the person was at the thought that she might get a chance to see Bobby! (Not too likely, but its great to see how widespread Bobby mania is!)
I am going to try to catch up with Tom Albertrani and get a quick interview on his Bobby perspective. He seems a really nice guy and I am sure has good things to say about Bobby. I have his phone number anyway!
Just love that "Seabiscuit to Barbaro" poem, brought tears to my eyes! You keep fighting, Bobby, prove the doubters in the world wrong!
Posted by: Ruth Ann at July 30, 2006 11:50 PM