Barbaro
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Barbaro (born April 29, 2003) is an American thoroughbred racehorse, who won decisively the 2006 Kentucky Derby and was a heavy favorite in the Preakness Stakes. On May 20, 2006, he suffered an injury shortly after the start of the race, as he fractured three bones in and around the ankle of his right hind leg. The next day, he underwent surgery at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania for his leg injuries. After initially favorable reports regarding his recovery, in early July complications began to develop. As of July 13, 2006, Barbaro's prognosis was serious but stable. This injury ruined his shot at the Triple Crown and has ended his racing career.
2006 Kentucky Derby
Undefeated going into the race, Barbaro was sent off as the second choice of the betting public, at odds of 6:1, in a full field of 20 horses. Barbaro charged ahead during the last turn and straightaway of the race to win by 6 ½ lengths; Barbaro's lead in the final furlong expanded even as jockey Edgar Prado did not ask for his top speed. This margin of victory at the Kentucky Derby was the largest since 1946, when Triple Crown winner Assault took the Run for the Roses by eight lengths. Barbaro's win made him only the sixth undefeated horse to win the Kentucky Derby.["Barbaro makes Derby his sixth victory in six starts"]. ESPN, May 7, 2006. During the gallop-out after the wire, Barbaro's lead extended to 20 lengths, which is rare during post-race gallop-outs. The manner of his Derby victory led to speculation that Barbaro might be a "superhorse," the likes of which had not been seen since Affirmed and two other horses had won the Triple Crown in the 1970's.
2006 Preakness Stakes and injury
Barbaro's Preakness Stakes began with a false start when he crashed through the starting gate prematurely. Barbaro had used only his nose to disengage the magnetically locked gate bars. He was led back around the gates. Maryland's Chief Veterinarian personally attested to Barbaro's fitness upon being reloaded into the gate. Barbaro's false start had nothing to do with the ankle injury that would happen moments later. As the restarted race began, Barbaro had a good start and was briefly in a better position than at the same point in the Kentucky Derby.
Approximately 130 meters into the race, just before the sixteenth pole, there was accidental contact between Barbaro and opposing horse Brother Derek. Barbaro drifted out just as Brother Derek was closing the margin. Brother Derek extended his right front leg and, as can best be determined, it hit Barbaro's right hind. This apparently touched off the "bad step" leading to Barbaro's injury. Barbaro's head immediately reared up as he had sustained fractures above and below his right hind ankle. His right hind leg suddenly failed to support his weight.["Prado visits Barbaro, who continues to heal"]. The Daily Racing Form via the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, May 30, 2006.
Barbaro broke his leg in three places; a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint was dislocated. In summary, it was as broken off as it appears in the photo above.
Veteran jockey Edgar Prado immediately pulled Barbaro up and brought him to a gentle stop. He dismounted and leaned his shoulder into the horse's breast to act as a fourth leg until track attendants arrived. Bernardini went on to win the race.
Injury aftermath
Barbaro was taken to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania for treatment. The Center is renowned for its specialized care, especially for animals needing complicated bone surgery. Its use of heated pools fitted with "horse rafts", electronic overhead winches and monorails is unique on the U.S. East Coast, offering the greatest available protection against re-injury by horses coming out of sedation after surgery.Barbaro's injuries were life threatening. His life depended on whether the blood supply to the ankle could be maintained. Barbaro had arrived safely at New Bolton Fair Hill Training Center, and had responded well to being tranquilized.
The next morning, Dr. Dean Richardson performed a fusion of that joint and stabilized it and made it comfortable enough for Barbaro to walk on. It was a five hour procedure and was one of the toughest surgeries he had ever performed. The surgical team successfully inserted titanium plate metal implants and more than 20 screws into the colt's injured leg to help fuse the fetlock (ankle) joint and pastern and a fiberglass cast had been placed over this. Barbaro then went in the recovery pool at 7:40 pm. ["Derby winner Barbaro undergoes surgery"]. AP, May 22, 2006.[Tim Woolley Horseracing News]. Retrieved May 22, 2006.
After about an hour in the pool, at around 9:00 pm EDT, Barbaro calmly awoke from anesthesia, got up and "practically jogged" to his stall. He then ate and was comfortably putting weight on the injured leg. The blood supply to the injury site was very good, but his prognosis was 50-50.["After Successful Surgery, Barbaro's Chances Remain 'Coin Toss'"]. The Blood-Horse, May 23, 2006.["Barbaro surgery successful, Derby winner begins road to recovery"]. AP, May 22, 2006. The next morning Barbaro was already showing interest in some of the mares at the facility. He was walking well on his limb, walking around the stall, he was quite active for his condition; in short, his first week of recovery went well. On June 13th, Barbaro had his cast replaced. On July 3rd, Barbaro had his cast replaced a second time. His prognosis was uncertain even though he was doing well because complications might arise at any time.
A bad week
In the first week of July, complications arose. Barbaro now had problems with both hind legs. He developed an abscess on his uninjured left foot, which was treated topically, but he carried a fever through the weekend and failed to put weight on his injured right foot for any significant length of time. He was visibly uncomfortable, though his appetite remained strong and he remained active. On July 11th, newspapers started to report news of these problems.By July 13th, Barbaro's had developed a severe case of laminitis in the left hind hoof. A procedure called a hoof wall resection removed 80 percent of Barbaro's left rear hoof. The remaining 20 percent of his hoof wall was still attached to the coffin bone and was still living tissue, but it is unclear how much of it will ever grow back. Both rear legs are now in casts. His condition was serious but stable. The team of veterinarians plan to restrict themselves to aggressive standard treatment only: no experimental procedures.[Barbaro May Die Due to Foot Inflamation][Vets lose confidence in Barbaro's recovery; laminitis hits] July 13["Doctors Say Barbaro's Life Is at Risk Due to an Inflammation in His Left Hind Foot"] Associated Press, July 14, 2006.[Barbaro doing 'much better'] July 14, 2006
Concern for Barbaro
Many people around the World, having their hopes dashed for the return of an era of the superhorse, have expressed sorrow over the sudden end to this amazing animal's racing career. Based on the length of the his lead in his victory in the first race toward the Triple Crown, he clearly had a shot at it. This spirited colt inspired the dreams of many, and his downfall, in front of the eyes of the racing world, in a single moment of happenstance, seems especially tragic. Horse lovers around the world have expressed empathy for him. Barbaro's life hangs in the balance: the mid-July phase of his recovery appears to be critical. The veterinarians fighting for Barbaro's life have mentioned only in passing the word that causes all animal lovers to cringe, "euthanasia". Many concerned hope and, for some, pray that Barbaro may survive, propagate his august bloodlines and go on to sire a racer who will yet win the Crown.
Future value
If Barbaro recovers, the injury should not prevent him from breeding, and his value as a stud will probably be very high, provided the injury itself is not traced to a heritable predisposition.["Race has started to save Barbaro for stud duties"]. The Herald, May 23, 2006. Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson have all the possibilities covered with insurance policies on both Barbaro's life and on his stallion potential, but the horse's earnings at stud are likely to be significantly higher than the payout of either policy. ["Barbaro doing very well two days after surgery"] The Thoroughbred Times, May 23, 2006.
Connections
Barbaro is owned and bred by Gretchen and Roy Jackson's Lael Stables in West Grove, Pennsylvania. He was trained by Michael Matz at Fair Hill Training Center. During his racing career he was ridden by Edgar Prado.Breeding
| Pedigree of Barbaro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sire Dynaformer dk. b/br. 1985 | Roberto b. 1969 | Hail To Reason br. 1958 | Turn-To |
| Nothirdchance | |||
| Bramalea dk. b/br. 1959 | Nashua | ||
| Rarelea | |||
| Andover Way dk. b/br. 1978 | His Majesty b. 1968 | Ribot | |
| Flower Bowl | |||
| On The Trail b. 1964 | Olympia | ||
| Golden Trail | |||
| Dam La Ville Rouge b. 1996 | Carson City ch. 1987 | Mr. Prospector b. 1970 | Raise A Native |
| Gold Digger | |||
| Blushing Promise b. 1982 | Blushing Groom | ||
| Summertime Promise | |||
| La Reine Rouge b. 1978 | King's Bishop b. 1969 | Round Table | |
| Spearfish | |||
| Silver Betsy b. 1971 | Nearctic | ||
| Silver Abbey | |||
Racing career
| Date | Race | Track | Location | Distance | Surface | Condition | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 4, 2005 | Maiden | Delaware Park | Wilmington, Delaware | 1 mi. | Turf | Firm | 1st |
| November 19, 2005 | Laurel Futurity | Laurel Park | Laurel, Maryland | Turf | Firm | 1st | |
| January 1, 2006 | Tropical Park Derby | Calder Race Course | Miami Gardens, Florida | Turf | Firm | 1st | |
| February 4, 2006 | Holy Bull Stakes | Gulfstream Park | Hallandale Beach, Florida | Dirt | Sloppy | 1st | |
| April 1, 2006 | Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | Hallandale Beach, Florida | Dirt | Fast | 1st | |
| May 6, 2006 | Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs | Louisville, Kentucky | Dirt | Fast | 1st | |
| May 20, 2006 | Preakness Stakes | Pimlico Race Course | Baltimore, Maryland | Dirt | Fast | DNF, injury |
Trivia
- Barbaro, in the wake of his Preakness injury, has become the object of care and affection from the public in a way only a few animals before him have. He has received many thousands of "Get Well" cards and presents (including a 7ft by 72ft card from fans at the Belmont), his condition is followed by news organizations on a daily basis, and he inspired a large anonymous donation to the New Bolton Center establishing the "Barbaro Fund", to aid the treatment and care of large animals.
- Barbaro's stable name is Bobby.
See also
References
External links
- [Regular updates from Horsetalk on Barbaro's progress]
- [Updates on Barbaro from Fair Hill Training Center]
- [Updates on Barbaro from Penn Veterinary Medicine]
- [The Baltimore Sun via The Hartford Courant: Poise on the track may save horse's life]
- [Barbaro Tribute Video]
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