Posted on 07/14/2006 6:58:52 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- Barbaro was doing "much better" Friday morning, a day after his veterinarian said the Kentucky Derby winner was a "long shot" to survive a potentially fatal hoof disease.
"He had a good night last night, and even slept on his side," Dr. Dean Richardson told The Associated Press early Friday before re-entering the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals to check again on the 3-year-colt. "He's doing much better."
Richardson appeared a bit more upbeat than he was Thursday, when he told a packed news conference that Barbaro has a severe case of the disease laminitis in his left hind leg, and termed his condition "poor."
Barbaro looked every bit the champion Thursday, but it's how he acts in the next few days that will determine how much longer he lives.
Laminitis, Richardson said, is an "exquisitely painful" condition, and Barbaro has a case so bad that 80 percent of the Derby winner's left hoof wall was removed Wednesday. It could take as long as six months for the hoof to grow back. The disease is often caused by uneven weight distribution to a limb, usually because of serious injury to another.
Barbaro shattered three bones in his right hind leg just a few yards after the start of the Preakness Stakes on May 20.
While the news was good Friday, Barbaro's condition could change at any time.
"If he starts acting like he doesn't want to stand on the leg, that's it -- that will be when we call it quits," a blunt Richardson said Thursday at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.
"It could happen within 24 hours," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Thank you for the pix. I was soooo happy to see these today - and more than anything, to see the little children's tributes on the fence.
The MSM had written a very sad piece this week about how all the cards pinned to Barbaro's stall were old, from the first week after the Preakness - and how all the flowers and fruit were gone, on and on.
It was like one of those pre-written obituaries they have on file for great dignitaries. (I'm sure yours and mine are in there, too, lol.) Admittedly, it was a sad time and things weren't looking good, as they still aren't.
But I wanted to scream at them that, first of all, the *overflow* gifts were given to the other sick horses and animals long ago - and the edibles that *continue* to come in each day are *consumed* by the very sick horse that you (MSM) believe/wish to be near-death!
Second, we know little children's attention spans aren't all that great, so expecting them to still be sending huge numbers of cards and letters and bringing in posters to cheer up Barbaro - and the Jacksons and Doc Richardson and Michael Matz and Kathy Anderson and the New Bolton staff - is a bit much to expect.
However, I'd be willing to *bet* it's their teachers who moved on pretty quickly and, although now on summer vacation, many of those children - as proven by the pix today and the stories of the various kids who begged their parents to drive them to Philly to see Barbaro - are still thinking of him and wanting to do things for him, but just can't.
Third, the MSM writers are very obviously not keeping up with the Barbaro messageboard on the New Bolton site, which has had posts of well-wishes and prayers nearly every minute (60 seconds) since the injury happened and the bulletin board went up. They have to limit the number of messages posted to just so many on the one page - the messages are constantly updating, with new ones replacing the old ones. I hope they realize that!
Fourth, they obviously aren't reading FR, lol, but who would've expected that, anyway? Then there are the advance sales of the Breyer horse Barbaro and Beanie Baby Barbaro and all the charity contributions being given to New Bolton, to the Jockey Fund and many other horse-related foundations, on behalf of, or inspired by, Barbaro.
Fifth - and maybe most important - is that this precious, brave, patient horse has been doing great for 7 weeks! Unfortunately, the laminitis that Doc R has been warning us all about for all this time, did happen - and evidently, right about the time it normally would, if it were going to, just after 6 weeks. Yes, it's a gloomy prognosis, but never underestimate the power of prayer.
I could go on, but that's the main thing I wanted to rant about. I was ssooo very glad to see those kids bring in those posters and flowers and put up their tributes. No one has forgotten, MSM, but you! Good news was such a *yawn,* wasn't it?
Thanks, STARWISE!
You definitely *get it,* RFF! Thanks so much for your post.
I keep thinking of the song I posted for Barbaro when it first happened - picturing him as a tiny colt, just learning to stand up - and fall down - and stand back up - "on wobbly knees". He really was born in western Kaintuck, too.
Now it's wobbly feet, but man, he sure got to "join in the dance" for a few brief shining moments!
A big thank you to Dan Fogelberg ...
~~~~
RUN FOR THE ROSES
Born in the valley
And raised in the trees
Of Western Kentucky
On wobbly knees
With mama beside you
To help you along
You'll soon be a growing up strong.
All the long, lazy mornings
In pastures of green
The sun on your withers
The wind in your mane
Could never prepare you
For what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red --
And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --
From sire to sire
It's born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
It's breeding and it's training
And it's something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.
And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --
~~~~
Love you, Dancing Barbaro!
Don't we wish! Luckily, he has the sling for *some* support. I had a kitty like "Mean" as well, but not quite as handicapped as that. Bless his heart - and yours, for helping!
Better'n that yucky cod liver oil, anyway! Thanks for caring about Barbaro.
Whew! Powerful writing. I just heard a whisper in my ear: "Weep no more, my lady ... oh, weep no more today ..."
So, I suppose now I should sing one song for his old Kentucky home, his old Kentucky home so far away.
Bless his little buttercup-eatin' heart. Go Bobby Go!
Yeah, you are right. It ain't going to happen that way. Kentucky horse traditions are not something to be tampered with. I do not think the owners would want to do that. They want to be traditional all the way.
Another oops on my part. In my post #111, where I wrote "1979," as to when a gelding had last won the Kentucky Derby before Funny Cide in 2003, it was a typo.
I meant to write "1929." It had been 74 years between gelding winners.
I know they will ... but to not *save* something of this horse for posterity, when it can be done, just seems wrong, IMO. But I'm an outsider.
"Which means they could have had him destroyed on the track and collected 30$ mil."
If I recall, jockey/actor Gary Stevens said he was surprised they hadn't done that, and it was a tribute to the Jacksons that they were going to try to get Barbaro repaired.
In any case it's believed that the insurance policy is for inability to stud, not necessarily mortal injury or death.
I've heard a policy for each. Either way, if the Jacksons were only looking at dollars, they would have come away much better to put him down on the track.
I have also read that they have other horses, geldings even, that were saved and now just graze on their farm.
I'm thinking you'd be hard pressed to find a more horse-loving team than the Jacksons, Matz, and Prado.
I've watched horse races on TV my whole life, telling myself to "breath, breath" during every one. Tearing up at the end, just loving to watch them run.
I saw Ruffian break down. I saw that filly in the 90's break down. I even quit watching for a few years after that one!
I've only been to the track once. About two years ago, locally, here in Houston. Second or third race, a horse when down hard, couldn't get up, out went the ambulance, up went the screen, as I explained to my new husband that the horse was being destroyed and dragged into the trailer. He was shocked.
The feeling that hit me on Preakness day '06 was not an unfamiliar one. As I saw M.Matz realize what had happened and run to be with the horse; as I saw Edgar Prado put his hands on his head and stare at the foot; as I stared at my TV and watched Barbaro raising and lowering his hind leg, waiting for the ambulance; I really believed that would be the last image I would remember of Barbaro. Another great horse, and all the what-could-have-beens.
Then the reports came of x-rays and possible surgery, I remember getting up early Sunday morning to check the reports of how he did through the night and whether he would make it to surgery. Then the after surgery reports, and pictures. The interviews with Dr. Richardson, the Jacksons, MMatz. I was drawn to every detail. But knowing that his chances were slim.
I found myself having to explain to people how a foot or leg injury can be called "life-threatening" to a horse, and why his chances were so slim.
As the weeks passed, you begin to get comfortable with the hospitalized Barbaro. The progressing Barbaro. Then the thoughts of little Barbaros down the road starts to enter. Soon I'm only checking news reports every couple of days or so. He's really going to make it!
Then the complications. There is that old sick feeling in my stomach again. Infection, absess, laminitis. A death sentence to lesser horses. But then there is Barbaro; the nickering, eating, happy, bouncing around colt with only 2 good legs now.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. He's such a remarkable animal, but can he overcome all of this? I hope and pray so, but that part of me that is the realist knows that it's a very very very long shot. Things can turn in an instant. He doesn't seem to let anything bother him, and he's strong. Only time will tell.
We've seen the ugly side to horse racing, for sure. I would love to see him make it.
Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride? Friendship without envy? Beauty without vanity?
Here, where grace is laced with muscle and strength, by gentleness confined.
He serves without servility, he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, yet nothing less violent. Nothing so quick, yet nothing more patient.
The worlds past was born on his back. All our history is his industry. We are his heirs. He, our inheritance.
The horse.
Come on yourself! You think because people get worked up over an animal that they don't care about people? Where have you been hiding? I think some of us have the capacity to care very deeply for both.
The insurance policy *doesn't* cover the vet fees they're paying on Barbaro, according to a Balt Sun article from May.
I'm not even sure you can get a equine medical insurance policy. They are usually "life insurance" or insurance that covers the inability to reproduce.
The Jacksons are paying for the medical care. Ironically, if he lives (and can't breed), they will be out ALOT of money. If he dies, the insurance policy $$ will be sufficient to cover medical costs.
You tribute to the horse is lovely. Your original? Or?
Thanks for the hanky warning... poor baby, he is so brave!!
Work has been very pressing...some of it DOES involve reporting on Barbaro though.
One morning I was reporting that Barbaro had taken a turn for the worse. My comment was..."well he has the best of care...the Penn State vets at the Large Animal Hospital...My Wife has been treated there LOTS of times and she's doing pretty kinda OK!"
That statement was not received well by the listening audience. Wife OTOH thought it was a hoot. We've been married 30 years and lioke to pull each others chains.
THe last I hear about Barbaro was that he was doign much better than we have heard. The infection in the left leg is subsiding...his owners won't put him down unless it's absolutly necessary. I believe they care more about him than they do about breeding. Seem like good folk.
I could be worng though.
That Preakness and his wanting to keep running was incredible. I still thing the jockey did a heckuva job!
It was embarrassing at when the crod got on his cae at another race...I think it was in NY.
Prayers for Barbaro...a great horse!
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