A little horse talk the past few days (posts above) ...
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Barbaro gets visitor bearing gift for New Bolton Center
Kentucky Derby hero BARBARO continued on the road to recovery Thursday, pleasing veterinarians at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals with his progress.
The dark bay sophomore was feeling frisky and even showing interest in some mares who were also at the hospital, his medical team reported.
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Barbaro received a special visitor on Thursday, with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell stopping by to give the colt his well wishes.
"I visited Barbaro today, and I can tell you he is in the best hands here," Rendell said. "The New Bolton Center provides round-the-clock care and world-class facilities."
Rendell also brought a gift for the New Bolton Center's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals. He personally presented a check for $13.5 million to Jim Riepe, president of the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, to be used toward the completion of new medical facilities at the Center.
"This money is an investment in Pennsylvania's ability to treat animals from across the country, and to provide top-notch educational opportunities so Pennsylvania's veterinary students will have the chance to become the best and compete in the global marketplace," Rendell explained.
The gift will help construct, among other things, a new isolation building with added biosecurity for the treatment of infectious diseases. Also, a colic barn, specializing in the treatment of horses with a variety of high-risk abdominal conditions, and a chemical digestion facility, to house new technology offering a safe and efficient means to dispose of infectious waste, will be built.
"We are so grateful for the funding of new hospital facilities because it shows the support the people of the Commonwealth have for Penn's New Bolton Center," said Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania. "The dedicated staff at New Bolton and at the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Dean Joan Hendricks, make a substantial contribution to animal welfare and the farming industry in Pennsylvania, and this generous grant will enable us to do even more."
"We offer the finest in 21st-century veterinary care to our patients," Hendricks said. "However, we are delivering those services in 20th-century facilities, which makes this generous gift most welcome."
This gift marks the first time public money has been used to improve the New Bolton Center, and the first major expansion since it was founded in 1964.
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>>>>What an outstanding "gift" Barbaro has brought to New Bolton Center. First major expansion in 42 years! It may not be the biggest news of this June 8th, but it still gives me goosebumps.
Thank you again for the news.
I say, "Some blessing -- some disguise!"
The blessing out of this catastrophic injury is the increased publicity for veterinary research and treatment (not to mention the money - although it must have been in the pipeline beforehand, you don't just write a check from the general expense account . . . or do you?)
Anyhow, how is Barbaro a sophomore? Is it because he's three years old, but it's his second racing year?
Wow, that was a fabulous gift. The New Bolton Center has gained a lot of good from the treatment of this horse.
Sweet!
Thanks for the ping!