Barbaro Updates: 138
updates are now here.
Update 1072: I just spoke to Peter (5:40 pm) and while he had not heard from Michael yet this afternoon he knows Michael was visiting Barbaro. Peter assumes all is well given that he had not heard anything.
Fleet Indian has undergone surgery: Fleet Indian Has Fetlock Fused, Injury Occurred in Breeders' Cup and it is sad to report that Diesis has been euthanized: Champion and pensioned sire Diesis euthanized at age 26. Diesis was a great racehorse and sire.
Update 1071: A few links of interest. The first looks at the journey of Mike Rea. It provides much background of Mike's life, and is within the broader context of the Barbaro connection: Beyond Brokenness.... The second contrasts Fair Hill and Philadelphia Park. And finally, here's Barbaro's Baby Brother (note: a couple of months old I guess).
Update 1070: I just spoke to Andy Durnin at Hollywood Park. He breezed a few horses this morning on the Cushion Track and was happy with the surface. Lets hope the woes of the weekend are behind them.
Alie from Kennett Florist left this comment (timestamp: 6:01 pm):
I just return from NBC. All was great. Everyone happy & excited to see treats for man & Horse. There was a stampede by the staff, for the carrot cake, and chocolates. Corrine & I served it up.
I talked to Mrs. Jackson as I was going in. What a wonderful lady. The weather is sunny but a little cool. I would think the big guy will get out today. Have a good day. God Bless.
We Believe
Alie
KF
Update 1069: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was leaving the track from my first set. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. It was a chilly morning this morning for sure. Long johns are now required wear.
I caught up with Barclay Tagg by phone. Showing Up boarded a plane at 8:30 am this morning to head to California for the Hollywood Derby on sunday. He worked yesterday, I think in about 1: 02. A nice easy work to set him up for the weekend. NoBiz worked on sunday for his race on saturday (The Remsen). Barclay said it was a good work, he walked yesterday and galloped this morning.
update tuesday, november 21, 10:45 am
Ouiji Board is now in Japan getting ready for her race this sunday, the Japan Cup. Our final piece of stakes news for the weekend races, Red Aspen worked yesterday in preparation for the April Run Stakes at Laurel. She worked well (under Tim as usual). The April Run Stakes will likely be her biggest test to date.
Update 1068: A great article on synthetic tracks by Mike Jensen: Barbaro injury a 'wake-up call'. Much of the article includes quotes from Fair Hill people Kathy Anderson, Michael Matz and Graham Motion. (Michael Dickinson used to train at Fair Hill and owns the tapeta surface which Fair Hill is putting in place.) Here are a couple of excerpts:
Asked about the possibility of local tracks such as Philadelphia Park and Delaware Park going to an all-weather artificial surface, Motion said, " They'd be foolish not to jump on the bandwagon. Delaware has struggled with their entries all year. It changes it around. All of a sudden, if they get a Polytrack surface, they become the track that everybody wants to run at. It's that simple, really.
"I can't believe it wouldn't be worthwhile for them to do it. They go from being a place that's struggling to fill the entries to a place where everybody is going to want to be."
"Bigger fields means bigger handles," said Matz, who conditioned Round Pond to a victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, becoming the first trainer since D. Wayne Lukas in 1999 to have a Kentucky Derby winner and a Breeders' Cup winner in the same year. "Bigger handle means more people coming out to watch the races. And eventually, more people go to the casino. I just wish they would look at it that way."
and
There are a lot of angles to consider - tracks in England tried a number of surfaces before hitting on the preferred one - but Motion said he sees one ultimate bottom line. He pointed to a newspaper on his desk at Fair Hill with a photograph of Pine Island off her feet rolling on her back during the Breeders' Cup. It was an image used in newspapers all over the country.
"Look," Motion said, "this is what we're trying to get away from."
The Barbaro update this morning may be delayed to after training hours, I am not sure yet. Please keep calling.
Good morning Bobby, Alex & Everyone! Will look forward to the update when I get home from work today! Bobby, hope you had another good night and a bright, sunshiny day ahead when you go outside! :)
Have a good day everyone!
Posted by: Ruth Ann - NJ at November 21, 2006 10:28 AM