Vet reporting that he does appear to have a fracture above and below the ankle (fetlock). He'll likely go to some rehab center they mentioned, they're evaluating for damage to the blood supply that would indicate whether it can heal well.
I am just sick over this. I hate to see and animal get injured like that.
I will be praying
I feel very sad for his jockey too
He was too heartbroken to speak to the press,and I don't blame him
I knew almost immediately the break was above the ankle, the second break probably happened in those strides he took before the jock could stop him. I heard the vet the second time they interviewed him. The horse is going to the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the premier equine veterinary hospital in the country, if not the world. If anyone can save him, they can.
Something I was extremely surprised at is that no vet examined Barbaro after he broke through the gate. (Or if one did, it was extremely cursory.) Usually when that happens, they take the jock off, settle the horse and have a vet check the animal for any cuts or obvious signs of injury.
The major break happened so soon after the break, that I suspect either the horse was having a problem during warmups or the initial fracture occured when he broke out of the gate the first time. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Where was the vet who is always right next to every starting gate just for such problems?