Barbaro Updates: 58
updates are now here.
Update 554: Horsetalk from New Zealand continues to be one of the most persistant online sites with Barbaro updates: Barbaro injuries highlight need for laminitis research. Again they cited this site re: yesterday's cast change. If you look at their homepage Barbaro has his own section of the site. Awesome!
Update 553: Just spoke to Peter Brette, and while he was unable to visit Barbaro today he had heard from Michael who had visited, and all remains well. He also noted that Round Pond appeared to come out of yesterday's fine effort in good shape.
An interesting poll question has been posed on the discussion board: Have you started watching more horseracing because of Barbaro?.
Update 552: Thank you Cecil Whig for the lovely front page article: Online outpouring of support for Barbaro.
I asked Michael this morning if Dr. Richardson had finally gone away for a few days (this was after Michael had given me the morning report). Michael said he had, and he also said he had told Dr. Richardson that given he was away on vacation there really was no need for the morning updates. They then wondered a little about what I would do ? So I guess (and HOPE) Dr. Richardson will still be calling in the reports!
Finally, something I had meant to get to for a little while, Mercy T. had a great idea to support Mike Rea, it is posted on the discussion board: A Barbarian Response to MikeRea's Letter. All feedback and support would obviously be welcome!
Update 551: Dave Wallace (Tom Albertrani's assistant) just called to give us a quick update on Bernardini. A few things about the Travers itself. When they were leading Bernardini over for the Travers he was very cool, calm and collected. Dave said it was very impressive to see considering his youth and all the attention he was getting. After the Travers, leaving the test barn (all winners and some other runners are tested after a race to check for drugs etc.) he was bouncing and was very full of himself, as Dave noted, just proud of himself. Dave also mentioned Bernardini's reaction to Javier Castellano's light tap of the whip with his left hand ... which caused Bernardini to swish his tail and pin his ears, almost as if Bernardini was wondering what the problem was since he was winning so easily at that point! (I think I noted something similar in my update directly after the race.)
Anyway, Dave said he has come out of the race in great shape. He will hand walk around the shedrow for a few days (probably about three days) before he goes back to the track and starts training again. I will plan to follow up with Dave later in the week to see how he is progressing.
Update 550: New Bolton Center's press release concerning yesterday's cast change: Barbaro has cast change:
Veterinarians at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital changed the right hind leg cast of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro yesterday, Sunday, August 27. "The cast was changed because there was a small crack in it," said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. "Based on new radiographs that were taken, the leg looked excellent under the cast. The pastern joint looks completely fused, and there is only a small area in the long pastern bone that has a little farther to go before we take him out of the cast completely."
In addition, the radiographs showed that there were no signs of infection. The cast change took place under general anesthesia, and Barbaro had another successful pool recovery before returning to his stall.
The colt's left hind foot has laminitis, but Barbaro seems comfortable with that foot as well. The bandage on the left hind foot continues to be changed daily.
According to Dr. Richardson: "Barbaro is bright and happy this morning with an excellent appetite."
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, September 5 unless there is a significant change in Barbaro's condition.
Update 549: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (sunday night). Just spoke to Michael Matz behind the gate. He said that everything looked good after the cast change yesterday. He expressed that everyone seemed happy with Bobby's progress.
updated monday 8:15am
Update 548: The New York Times has the following article: Bernardini and Barbaro: A Rivalry That Wasn't that does a nice job of highlighting both horses' accomplishments without make sweeping statements on who is the better. I also like the note of comparison with Cigar from Tom Albertani. He should know as he is closely connected to both horses. I think that comparison just illustrates that this year we have been blessed with superb 3yos.
A quick recap from the races yesterday. We know Round Pond was a very close second, here is another report: Promenade Girl wins Molly Pitcher. Stormy Kiss (Jackson owned, Tagg trained) was third in the Ballerina: Dubai Escapade takes Ballerina and George Washington (Jackson bred) was third O'BRIEN UPBEAT DESPITE GEORGE DEFEAT after a slow start.
Next weekend we will focus on the Woodward at Saratoga. Funny Cide is scheduled to run, he breezed 5/8ths in 1:00 in preparation for the race last thursday: Funny Cide Preps for Woodward With Bullet Work, an excerpt:
"I thought the track was slow, but safe," Tagg said. "He really worked well over it. I thought it was a serious workout for him. But we wanted to be safe with him because he's going to run for big money next Saturday."
I am not sure when this morning's Barbaro update will occur. If Dr. Richardson is indeed on vacation it may be a little later, but he may well still be providing Michael his morning update, I just don't know.
Good Morning Alex and team Barbaro,
Understanding that the update will probably be later, I'll not worry but will check back periodically during the morning.
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To Everyone - please keep all of us Floridian members of team Barbaro in your prayers. It looks like all of us (no matter where in the state we are) are going to get hit by Ernesto. Along with that, please also pray that the horses are kept safely too. I always worry about them. I know that many horse owners have too many horses to evacuate.
Janice
Posted by: Janice from Florida at August 28, 2006 9:57 AM