Barbaro In Surgery

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12903163/ ^ | 05/21/2006 | WCAU TV

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was in surgery Sunday fighting for his life a day after breaking his ankle at the Preakness, and the colt's surgeon said he's never worked on so many catastrophic injuries to one horse. Dr. Dean Richardson was operating at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals and said the procedure could take several hours.

[Richard Kimball]

I sure hope Barbaro makes it. Race horses are such spirited animals.

[rockabyebaby]

I saw that race yesterday, poor horsey, apparently broke three bones in the ankle and I heard today that he was able to walk into the hospital by himself, good sign I guess.......hope he comes through ok.......

[RightWhale]

Have horses been cloned yet?

[Danae]

I pray for this gallant soul!

Our father, heal this beauiful son of yours! Make him whole again Father! Guide the hand of his doctors!

AMEN

[Danae]

Not at all. not at all. Most animals with this severe an injury are put down on the track. It is that bad. That he is still alive is a miracle. His jockey and his own calm behavior after the break saved his life so far. The rest is up to God and the Vets.

[Integrityrocks]

"...fighting for his life..."

Huh?

Ankle = life?

[HairOfTheDog]

For a horse, movement is life. Yes, it's life threatening if they can't repair it enough for him to walk.

[Pharmboy]

Thoroughbreds cannot recuperate well from a leg break. They will smash the casts or, if anesthetized, will not do well when forced to lay down (bad for their internal organs). All in all, it would be unusal for this great horse champion to make it through this. I hope he does...

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

[CindyDawg]

I'm glad they are giving him a chance.

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

He has now been in surgery for over 5 hours.

[Chi-townChief]

Barbaro in 5th Hour of Leg Surgery

Not looking real good - I hope he can pull through somehow. You hate to see a horse go out like that.

[Rte66]

A clinician at New Bolton Center said Barbaro was "very brave and well behaved" upon arrival there and was "comfortable overnight." That's good to know.

[squarebarb]

Good news. I didn't see the race as have no t.v. does anybody know where there are still shots of the accident? (Does this make me a ghoul?)

[Lemondropkid31]

Apparently the surgery is nearing completion, but they are not saying anything more than that. This is an update for 30 minutes ago. He may be out by now.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=1988030

[onyx]

Thank you!

[HairOfTheDog]

Barbaro in 5th Hour of Leg Surgery

Not looking real good - I hope he can pull through somehow.

You know... No one operates more than 5 hours on a horse there is not much hope for. I think that part is a good sign.

[onyx]

I share your thinking.

[Lemondropkid31]

I should have posted this link too. Apparently a couple of doctors held a press conference, but they really didn't have too much to say.

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=33665

By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Racing Writer
Barbaro, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), remained in surgery at 6:00 p.m. Sunday to determine the extent of "life threatening injuries" after the colt broke three bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of Saturday's Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
During a briefing at 6 p.m., Dr. Corinne Sweeney told the assembled media at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals that the surgery was still underway but was nearing completion.

Sweeney could not say whether the surgery by Dr. Dean Richardson, which began at about 1 p.m., was taking longer than initially anticipated. She added that Richardson had said the colt was undergoing major surgery so it would be lengthy.