Barbaro Updates: 55
updates are now here.
Update 534: Just spoke to Peter. He had just spoken to Michael who visited Barbaro this afternoon. The report remains the same. Michael took Barbaro out for a walk.
It looks like Edgar will plan another visit to see Barbaro when he returns from Saratoga: One ride enough to impress Prado:
It is times like this when Prado really misses Barbaro, who had won all of his starts before the Preakness. Prado said he keeps in contact frequently with Michael Matz, the trainer of Barbaro, and with the colt's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson. Prado said when the Saratoga meet ends he plans to take another trip to the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., to visit Barbaro.
"I miss him overall because he was a special horse who ran good races," Prado said. "Knowing that his life is in jeopardy, I'm always thinking of him and hope that he continues on the road to recovery."
Update 533: Upenn's thank you site includes more pictures of Dr. Richardson's birthday celebrations: Thank You. It includes the following caption:
Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to the wonderful party celebrating Dr. Richardson's birthday. He was truly touched and honored by the generosity of the Barbaromaniacs in making this a special occasion.
The "Barbaro Effect" continues, this time: Barbaro Injury Highlights Need for Laminitis Research Funding. The article concludes:
While Barbaro and his doctors wage battle against laminitis, hundreds of additional horses will be diagnosed with the disease each day. Funding laminitis research is vital to unraveling the unanswered questions about the disease and developing reliable preventative and therapeutic measures, for all of the equine population.
Finally, Discreet Cat got his US racing account underway. I had thought of highlighting him as a horse to follow going into today's race, but we seem to already have a few to focus on. Anyway, Discreet Cat was an undefeated winner of the UAE Derby (Dubai) who has been in the US ever since. They have had a few niggling problems with him and finally got him to the races this afternoon at Saratoga: The Cat is Back; UAE Derby Winner Romps at Saratoga. He may well contend for year end honours in the three year old division.
Update 532: Dr. Richardson posted a thankyou note to everyone (timestamp: 7:55pm):
Kathy Freeborn at the admissions desk here at NBC told me that this website was the best place to respond to the truly extraordinary birthday that I was given today at noon! To all of you who gave to the Barbaro fund and to me personally, I am deeply grateful. I don't claim to be a humble person (no one will argue that one too much!) but it is profoundly humbling and intimidating to be responsible for a patient that has this much love going his way. I am very grateful that there is so much concern out there for Barbaro (sorry, I cannot bring myself to call him Bobby......)and I assure you all that we all will continue to do our best for him. As you all know, he is a very special horse.
THANK YOU ALL.
Update 531: Kennett Florist have just returned from NBC with this birthday report:
OK Gang, take a breath... We're back from NBC!!
The "party" was a huge success! Dr R was very surprised to which he stated "it's not my birthday". We told him "today it is!" He was overwhelmed with the gifts, cards, flowers and all that had been sent. I am forwarding the pictures to Alex and he can hopefully post a couple.
We got there just before 11:30 to set everything up. We were in a more secluded area. We had the gifts and flowers laid out over two tables with the cakes and ice cream. The carrot cake from Bobby had two big carrots on the top, and the choc/vanilla cake had a picture of Bobby (from one of his first times out grazing) with green and blue trim on the white frosting.
Dr Sweeney had told Dr Richardson that they were going to have a meeting at 12:00 and she made sure we were ready when she went to meet him. She had notified a bunch of people so there would be plenty there to yell surprise. (Unfortunately, Mr and Mrs Jackson were unable to attend.) Dr Sweeney told us when she was going to get him and we lit the candles... He was very surprised. He blew out his candles and started to cut the cakes (the one thing he said he knew how to do). Dr Sweeney and Alie took over on cake duty and I dished out the ice cream so the man of honor could enjoy his cake and open some presents. He was overwhelmed by the gifts. Because of your contributions, we were able to get substantial gift certificates to two very nice restaurants here in town, theater tickets (gift certificate), three different golf course gift certificates that he can use either for greens times, the pro shop, or the restaurants, a packet of golf cart tickets for the golf course he belongs to, as well as a gift certificate to the pro shop at that same course. We also made up a very large gourmet basket of goodies; swiss chocolates, pastas and gourmet sauces, plates, glasses, napkins... the works. It even had a special box of note cards with a big brown bay on the front. We decked the place out with baloons (including one that sang Happy Birthday)! The triple crown arrangement was a huge hit... he really liked the idea of that. All in all it was absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of this, you all have been so generous and sweet to talk to, email, etc.
And of course, Bobby had some baskets of carrots and his favorite treats! They called us this morning asking if we were bringing carrots, so we loaded the big guy up good!
Also, almost forgot... We made up a big "publisher's clearinghouse" type check from the Barbaromaniacs, made out to UPenn Barbaro Fund in honor of Dr Richardson. Dr Sweeney presented him with the check that was made out for $3,851.00 to date. We let him know that others are donating on or closer to his birthday! You all are amazing!!!!
WE BELIEVE!!!
Alie, Rachel and the gang at Kennett Florist
Congratulations to everyone who contributed, amazing.
Update 530: Dave Wallace (Tom Albertrani's assistant) just called and reported all systems are a go for Bernardini for tomorrow's Travers. Bernardini did much the same today as he did yesterday, galloping a mile and a quarter after jogging back a half a mile and then jogging forward. While Dave does not gallop Bernardini he does gallop Balletto, their runner today in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. He said she is doing well, acting like she did when she went into her last race (a close second in the Go For Wand). Its a small field, and Todd Pletcher's horse (Fleet Indian) is the obvious concern and clear betting favourite.
Update 529: My morning galloping was a little messed up in terms of horses to ride, so Tim put me on three extra, which turned out to be quite cool. The first was Randy's Bullet, who I had not ridden for a long time. We went out back and jogged the hills (the ground really needs the rain) and I met a fox on my way home. The second was Gator Nation. Some of you wondered if he was OK, since he was scratched from a race at Laurel. Yes, he's in great form, galloped a mile and a half and went very well. The reason for the scratch ? He was on the "also eligible" list, thus not in the main body of the race. He did not draw in (no scratches) and was thus a scratch himself. Finally I rode Something Wild, galloped him a mile, and he went well. As he was training Michael Matz and Peter Brette had Round Pond out training (we were all on the dirt track). She surely is a good looking filly, and is getting ready to run very soon.
More coverage on Lost in the Fog: Lost in the Fog undergoing treatment to shrink tumors, which includes the following:
"He's doing well. I was just giving him a handful of carrots a minute ago," Gilchrist said from his barn at Golden Gate Fields on Thursday evening. "We are treating him to try to shrink the tumors he has.
"If we could do that, they would become operable, and then he would have a chance. We've gone to a little more drastic measures using a few drugs that we didn't have before."
Gilchrist said Lost in the Fog will undergo a sonogram in ten to 12 days to check on his progress. In the meantime, Lost in the Fog is living in his stall, eating, and walking twice a day, much like a normal horse.
Update 528: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (thursday night). Just saw Michael Matz as I was going to the track on my third set (on Chappy), he had heard from Dr. Richardson. Its a muggy morning at Fair Hill, and we have not had the rain that seemed to be in the forecast (yet).
update 7:35 am, friday, august 25
Update 527: This Baltimore Sun article provides further details on the current status of Barbaro: Barbaro's surgeon pleased with colt's progress and reveals the left hind hoof has grown a centimeter, excerpt:
Richardson said Barbaro's hoof has grown about one centimeter since the hoof wall was removed in early July and his broken right leg has healed well enough that without the left-foot laminitis, he would be out of the cast.
A nice Sports Illustrated article on Michael Matz: What could've been...
As Barbaro fights for life, Matz reflects on fateful day. A short excerpt:
Matz is a competitor, a three-time Olympic equestrian. "It hurts to be standing on the sideline,"' he says. "I wish I could send Barbaro out there to run. I can't, and I have to accept that we were lucky to have him as long as we did.'"
And finally: Barbaro casts long shadow over Travers: Injured horse has greatly boosted sport with incredible will to survive. I think this site confirms the subheader. I enjoyed this excerpt:
In essence he is much more. Barbaro is a horse who continues to demonstrate what it means to be a thoroughbred. Intelligent and strong, showing a will to live beyond anything we've seen in four decades of watching horses do what they were bred to do.
Barbaro's struggle for survival has provided inspiration for Internet poets and his daily regimen has been chronicled nightly on network broadcasts whenever newsworthy developments arose.
Wow, Alex - Have a beautiful Fair Hill morning... We're praying for more miracles here on the West Coast where it is 2:00 AM and you've just set up this new update. WHEN do you sleep, web daddy?
Thank you so much for all you do, for Barbaro and Lost in the Fog and Luke and Sluggo and Zeke and Antonio and Saint Liam and Gallant Secret, and little two year old Easy Strider. So many more, we don't even know their names but we hold them in our hearts.
Posted by: Shelley in CA at August 25, 2006 9:05 AM