Barbaro Updates: 166
updates are now here.
Update 1249: I just spoke to Tom, the Jackson's farm manager, and Barbaro remains comfortable.
Here is another year-end wrap up of racing in the US: Barbaro's injury, racetrack safety dot memorable 2006.
Jay Hovdey wrote an nice article in the Daily Racing Form: Tough game still able to hit your soft spot. Unfortunately you need to be a paying member to read it. I read it as I paid for the hard copy version of course! He makes note of the horse slaughter bill and clearly comes out to support banning of horse slaughter in the US. Lets hope media coverage of this issue, a black mark on horse racing, continues as we move into the new year.
Update 1248: A nice article in the Wilmington News Journal on Mike Rea: Unbridled support gives Rea big lift. I had interviewed for this article a little while ago, so I am excited to see it published (thanks Cecily). Among other things the article focuses on Mercy Turano's efforts to get ABC interested in Mike for its Extreme Makeover Show. Very cool!
Update 1247: A gorgeous morning at Fair Hill this morning, it makes you glad to be alive! I had a quiet morning (five ridden) and it was nice and relaxing. I took Tim's Nonpariel to the gate. This was her second time for gate schooling. I walked her around the gate a few times, and then Michael led me through the gate four or five times. She was very good. Tim was with us on Medi Man. She was just standing in the gate. We chatted with Mike and Brian (the gate guys from Philadelphia Park) about the new slots they now have up there. My biggest concern is that horse racing simply becomes a legislative requirement and takes a backseat to the Casino's. I can see that seems to have happened somewhat at Delaware Park, anyway, we will see.
I took Hawty Creek outback. Its great we can still go outback this time of year. She had a light day today in anticipation of a breeze she will do tomorrow. The plan is to breeze her in company with Tim's Kielbasa Queen.
Tim had a few visitors this morning. A couple were here just to see Real Lace. She seems to be becoming a favourite of people. Tim is now giving her a little time off after her very nice fall campaign (two wins and two thirds). She is a nice prospect for next year I would think.
Of course I had to buy tomorrow's Daily Racing Form to see the article on this site in print. It was very cool. Everyone in the barn was impressed, which included George (the carrot man). George visits once in a while and it is always fun to catch up with him.
The Barbaro update will again be late in the day, after Tom's visit this afternoon.
Update 1246: A nice article on this site in the Daily Racing Form: Blog becomes the source for Barbaro. Thanks Glenye. Glenye called me up thursday evening to interview me for this over the phone. Very cool.
I also liked this end of year article from the Daily Racing Form: 2006: The Way It Was. A good summary / survey of everything that was for horse racing in the US for 2006. Barbaro is a big focus, and you will note other events which we covered here throughout the year.
Update 1245: I just spoke to Tom, the Jackson's farm manager, who visited (as usual) this afternoon (friday). Barbaro remains comfortable.
Many of you have followed, and supported, the horses involved in the accident in Missouri, as they were on their way to slaughter. Here is an article about "Stan" with a happy ending: Detour in trip to slaughterhouse: ACCIDENT SAVES ONE RACEHORSE FROM FATE OF THOUSANDS.
Update 1244: Here is the current view of the fence line outside New Bolton: New Bolton Fence Line: Dec 28.
Another Fan of Barbaro has a letter published on horse slaughter: Letter: Horse slaughter ban good for beef farmers.
I thought this was a nice review of horse racing in 2006 in the US: Seasons of 2006.
Update 1243: Here is the video created by Penn that was sent to media outlets last week: Barbaro video walking: December 20th.
This morning was a little quieter (no loose horses I think, and one less to ride). I took Hawty Creek outback today, it was a lovely sunrise first thing as we jogged around the fields. For Tim I rode Nonpariel (going very well galloping a mile and a quarter on the dirt, learning and improving each day) and Gator Nation, the former's older half brother. He jogged two miles and felt good. Real Lace looked good this morning after her creditable third yesterday at Laurel. Jaunty Gale, who won her first race, is now having a winter break, she left this morning to her owner's farm in Camden, SC.
Update 1242: End of year honors will soon be known, here is another sports writer's opinion: This Cat is Horse of Year. I think many of his picks are picks people here might agree with (3yo: Barbaro; 2yo NoBiz; Older female: Round Pond; Turf Male: Showing Up etc. etc.) His picks would give trainer Michael Matz two winners and the Jackson's two winners, I would suspect that would make them trainer and owner winners too!
Jerry Green provides his Most memorable sports moments of 2006. Barbaro's journey coming in at number two. Ironically his number one pick (Zidane in the World Cup final) took place during a low point in Barbaro's journey.
Today's Barbaro update will again likely be late in the day.
Update 1241: Barbaro remains comfortable (thursday afternoon). I know, I visited. It was an impromptu visit. I was planning to hang another poster on the outside fence line and meet Sabina Pierce, to get a couple of photographs of the fence line and have lunch. One thing led to another and I visited Barbaro briefly. It was the first time I had seen him with Dr. Richardson in attendance (as well as Tom, the Jackson's farm manager). It was a short visit, but great nonetheless. I helped out a little with Tom, and then stayed and chatted with Beth, who I had seen before but not someone I had met. I am not sure what Beth's official role / position is at New Bolton, but one of her tasks is to muck out Barbaro's stall. This is not an easy task given how deeply bedded the stall is for Barbaro. It is also somewhat of a mix of straw and shavings. Anyway, it was fun to learn more about another of Barbaro's care providers and fun to hang out with Barbaro, if only briefly. I did feed him some baby carrots and an apple or two.
Update 1240: Real Lace was third in her first race in her new condition (she moved up a condition after her last win). She ran a nice race and is cooling out well.
Update 1239: A lovely morning at Fair Hill this morning. It was quite crisp early, but soon warmed up. I rode seven, three of which were Tim's (Gator Nation, Nonpariel and Medi Man). I had not ridden Medi Man for a while, and she went very nicely, on the synthetic track. I took three to the synthetic track and it seems to be riding very well recently. Hawty Creek is training well, and will likely do her next piece of work on sunday. There were a few loose horses this morning, I was relieved not to have exited any of them myself! Tim is now on his way to Laurel to saddle Real Lace, running in the fourth race. Winning her last race she now moves up a condition, and the races do get tougher. Hopefully she will continue to run well. The Barbaro update today (and going forward for a few days) will be late in the day.
Update 1238: Jack Ireland has written a nice article on Dr. Kathy Anderson: Vet's link to Barbaro becomes more meaningful. It includes the following excerpt:
But watching as the colt recovered from a broken leg and then from a bout of a life-threatening hoof condition called laminitis affected Anderson personally.
"It has been totally humbling to me," she said. "I now have a lot of confidence and have been impressed with the concern the American public has shown for Barbaro. Here's this one horse, and there are so many people who don't follow racing or know anything about horses and they have taken great interest in this equine hero."
OK, off to Fair Hill (I was out of town yesterday).
Update 1237: Barbaro remains comfortable. I just spoke to Tom, the Jackson's farm manager, who visited Barbaro this afternoon (wednesday afternoon). Tom groomed Barbaro and took him outside to graze and walk.
A nice article on Dr. Richardson: Barbaro's doctor spent summer in the limelight. It includes the following excerpt:
Richardson lectures all over the world. Beyond orthopedics, his primary area of research is joint disease and the molecular biology of cartilage.
The surgeon has written 11 major textbooks that deal with equine-fracture repair. He has received the University of Pennsylvania's Distinguished Teaching Award two years running.
"Students are scared to death of him," said Liberty Getman, a third-year resident who assisted during Barbaro's surgery. "He wants his students to be learning all the time. He can be tough on people, but it's always well-intended. He's not that scary once you get to know him."
Update 1236: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). Lucy, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson's daughter, just called to let us know after visiting Barbaro.
Tuesday 12:50pm
Update 1235: The Bloodhorse has a Barbaro photo gallery: Barbaro. I believe HRTV me be doing a piece on Barbaro during its Santa Anita coverage (that includes the Malibu Stakes and Brother Derek). The big race in the UK is the King George, won on more than one occasion by Desert Orchid.
Update 1234: My sixth visit to Barbaro: Christmas Day.
Today I was to help out with Barbaro in the absense of Tom, the Jackson's farm manager. The plan was for me to go over, groom Barbaro and take him out to walk and graze. I had planned to arrive at 1 pm to do this, but surveying the clouds I decided to go a little earlier. I had also another poster to hang on the outside fence line (the first from overseas most likely) so I arrived at about 12:15 pm to hang the poster and go and see Barbaro.
When I entered the ICU I noticed a few people were there. It was Tom and Lucy (Mr. and Mrs. Jackson's daughter) and their four children (the grandchildren who visit quite often). I had met Tom before, so it was nice to be able to meet their entire family who seem to be very nice people (no surprise there). On duty in the ICU was Kathleen, Ray was also helping out.
I entered Barbaro's stall, put on his halter and tied him up in preparation for grooming. My idea was to give him a quick groom before he went out, and then a more thorough job once he had been outside. I set to work as I chatted away with Barbaro's visitors. I started by picking his front feet, then I gave Barbaro a quick once over with a body brush. He seemed to really enjoy it as I was brushing his forlock, something I would not have entirely anticipated. Anyway, it did not take me long to get him ready. I put a blanket on him (not one of the new gifts), put a shank on him, and then led him outside. Barbaro's visitors then left, and I was one-on-one with Barbaro for the first time while we were outside. It was very cool. He is so well behaved when he is outside, just very happy to be in the different environment. In his stall you better keep an eye on him, and make purposeful moves. Outside he is just much more relaxed. After grazing for five minutes it started a very light rain. I thought I would have to bring him in pretty quickly so I decided to have him do his walking, just to make sure he got that bit of exercise taken care of. He was so intent on his eating that it took me a little while to convince him to walk on, but once walking we did our five minutes pretty easily. By that time the drizzle had eased off and Barbaro went back to grazing. He was very happy. It was very peaceful. After about 45 minutes in total I decided to bring him in. The drizzle had returned and there was no need to get wet.
Once back in the stall and tied back up I went back to work grooming him. This time I used a curry comb and body brush. It was a time to be very careful with him, so I spent most of the brushing time with one hand on his halter, and my eyes locked on his eyes. Anyway, he cleaned up very well. I then picked out his feet again, finally attended to his head (light sponguing out of his nostrils and eyes followed by a wipe over with a wrag) and let him loose. Along the way I fed him a couple of carrots.
All in all another very pleasant visit. Chatted away with Kathleen and Ray a little. I left the ICU at 1:45 pm, so in all I spent about an hour and a half with Barbaro on christmas day. Not a bad way to get ready for a lovely (I hope) christmas dinner with Sue, Niall, Jayne and Mick, in about 20 minutes! It is now raining hard.
Update 1233: Barbaro remains comfortable on christmas day. I left him at 1:45 pm, report to follow.
update 3:15 pm, monday, december 25
Alex
you and so many involved with Barbaro are a treasure. Look forward to report of your day with him and have a wonderful break
lyn
Posted by: Lyn Lifshin at December 25, 2006 8:16 PM