Barbaro (horse)

Barbaro
Barbaro (middle) walking to the track at the Fair Hill Training Center a week after winning the Kentucky Derby
Sire	Dynaformer
Dam	La ville rouge
Damsire	Carson City
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	2003
Country	USA
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Lael Stables
Owner	Mr & Mrs Roy Jackson
Trainer	Michael Matz
Record	7:6-0-0
Earnings	$2,302,200
Major wins
Laurel Futurity (2005) Florida Derby (2006) Kentucky Derby (2006)
Honours
"Team Barbaro" given the Mr. Fitz Award (Nov. 2006)
Last updated on November 2, 2006

Barbaro (born April 29, 2003) is an American thoroughbred racehorse, who decisively won 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, Barbaro developed an infection in the broken leg in early July, followed quickly by a severe case of laminitis in the sound hind leg. Through the surgical removal of most of the laminitic hoof, aggressive pain management, and the use of a sling, Barbaro began a slow recovery. By September 26, 2006, Barbaro's prognosis was improving and his left hind hoof had grown about 18 millimeters in the heel. On November 6, 2006, the cast was removed and replaced with a bandage, a move that suggested that Barbaro's recovery was progressing well.

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. 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 perhaps even Secretariat, arguably the greatest American thoroughbred of all time.

Barbaro is also one of the few horses to have won the "Run for the Roses" after more than a 5-week lay-off.

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. In retrospect, it is impossible to know whether the false start was related to the 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. The preceding explanation is one of many that has been offered, in this case by Pimlico racecourse. It has never been proven and many believe it is actually highly unlikely.

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 though broken off.

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 shoulder 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 a heated pool fitted with a "horse raft", electronic overhead winch and monorail offers the greatest available protection against re-injury by horses coming out of sedation after surgery.

Barbaro's injuries were life threatening. His fracture healing depended on whether the blood supply to the ankle could be maintained. Barbaro arrived safely at New Bolton and responded well to being tranquilized. He spent Saturday night resting in a stall at the center.

The next morning, Dr. Dean Richardson performed a fusion of the fetlock and pastern joints to stabilized it and make it strong enough for Barbaro to walk on. It was a five hour procedure and was one of the toughest surgeries he had ever performed. Richardson successfully implanted a Synthes stainless steel Locking Compression Plate and 27 screws into the colt's injured leg to span the comminuted fracture and joints. Richardson elected to use the LCP because its screws thread into the plate to provide maximum strength. He is one of the first equine surgeons to implement this new technology, originally designed for humans. A fiberglass cast was placed over this to further protect the construct. Barbaro then went in the recovery pool at 7:40 pm.

After about an hour in the pool, at around 9:00 pm EDT, Barbaro began to calmly awake from the 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 Dr. Richardson still gave Barbaro a 50-50 chance of survival. 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 13, Barbaro had his cast replaced. On July 3, 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, and Barbaro 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 11, newspapers started to report news of these problems.

By July 13, Barbaro had developed a severe case of laminitis in the left hind hoof, a potentially life-threatening affliction that is common in horses who shift weight to one foot for extended periods of time to keep pressure off an injured foot (in Barbaro's case, the right ankle he broke in the Preakness). 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 was unclear how much of it would ever grow back. Both rear legs were in casts. Richardson stated that he would restrict himself to aggressive but standard treatments: no experimental procedures would be used. Barbaro was given a special support boot for his laminitic hoof and placed on painkillers; a support sling was brought into his stall to allow him to take the weight off his hooves for hours at a time.

Hopeful signs

On August 2, Dr. Dean Richardson said in a phone interview that Barbaro's broken right leg had fused to the point where they would have replaced the cast with a brace if his left leg were sound. The coronary band on his left leg (the place from which the hoof grows) appeared healthy and all signs were encouraging. On the 15th it was reported that Barbaro had been allowed to graze outside for the first time since his accident. Two days later Dr. Richardson announced that they had discontinued use of the support sling, since Barbaro was no longer using it to support his weight. The next day, August 18th, radiographs showed that his fractured right leg was almost completely fused.

On September 26, Dr. Dean Richardson reported that Barbaro's cast would not be replaced as long as he was comfortable in it. His left hind hoof had regrown about 18 millimeters and the support shoe had been replaced with a bandage. According to Richardson, “it has to grow at least three times that, which could take more than six months."

On October 10, his cast and protective shoe were changed. His left rear hoof was "gradually" improving from laminitis. "There is good growth along the quarters (closer to the heel) but there will need to be much more healing along the front of the hoof," Richardson said in an update issued by the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital. "We still have many months of healing ahead of us."

Barbaro reached another milestone on November 6, 2006 (almost six months after the Preakness) when his cast was removed for good and replaced with a splinted bandage. Richardson and his team also evaluated his laminitic hoof at that time. The hoof showed no new problems, but several months of growth are necessary before Richardson will know how well it has recovered.

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 an inheritable predisposition. 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. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro continues to improve following the removal of his right hind leg cast last week, according to his medical team. “Barbaro’s strength on the right hind limb has been gradually improving,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery. “It is normal to be a bit stiff and weak after being in a cast for a long time; however, he is capable of bearing full weight on the previously fractured right hind leg even without the supporting soft bandage.” Barbaro’s lower right hind leg had been in a cast since surgery at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital following his accident at the Preakness on May 20.

Barbaro’s left hind foot, which had laminitis, continues to improve. “The left hind foot continues to slowly grow but still has a very long way to go,” said Dr. Richardson. “Barbaro’s attitude and appetite remain excellent, and he still takes short walks outside to graze each day if the weather permits.

Public reaction

A cult of personality has grown up around Barbaro since his breakdown in the Preakness. His stall at New Bolton is decorated with cards and flowers sent in by fans. Others have sent in items meant to help him recover, such as saint medallions and holy water.

Barbaro's breakdown has also intensified the debate over the use of artificial track surfaces at racecourses.

An e-mailer to The Jim Rome Show on May 22, 2006, known as "Julian in D.C.", suggested that Barbaro was welcome to come to work for Elmer's and Alpo after his breakdown, making the suggestion of his destiny to become horsemeat and/or animal glue in a joke that was viewed to be in poor taste. Julian was then berated by Rome, other e-mailers and callers throughout the rest of that day's show.

Connections

Barbaro is owned and bred by Gretchen and Roy Jackson's Lael Stables in West Grove, Pennsylvania. Roy Jackson grew up in Edgemont, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the son of MacRoy Jackson and Almira Geraldine (Rockefeller) Jackson Scott, who was a prominent local horsewoman. His grandfather, William Goodsell Rockefeller, was once treasurer of Standard Oil Company.

Barbaro was trained by Michael Matz at Fair Hill Training Center. During his racing career he was ridden by Edgar Prado and Jose Caraballo. Neither jockey rode him at any other time other than in his races. Peter Brette was his regular exercise rider.

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	11⁄16 mi.	Turf	Firm	1st
January 1, 2006	Tropical Park Derby	Calder Race Course	Miami Gardens, Florida	11⁄8 mi.	Turf	Firm	1st
February 4, 2006	Holy Bull Stakes	Gulfstream Park	Hallandale Beach, Florida	11⁄8 mi.	Dirt	Sloppy	1st
April 1, 2006	Florida Derby	Gulfstream Park	Hallandale Beach, Florida	11⁄8 mi.	Dirt	Fast	1st
May 6, 2006	Kentucky Derby	Churchill Downs	Louisville, Kentucky	11⁄4 mi.	Dirt	Fast	1st
May 20, 2006	Preakness Stakes	Pimlico Race Course	Baltimore, Maryland	13⁄16 mi.	Dirt	Fast	DNF, injury

Honors

On November 1, 2006, the National Turf Writers Association honored "Team Barbaro," which consists of Barbaro himself, his breeder/owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, his jockey Edgar Prado, and his trainer Michael Matz, with the "Mr. Fitz" Award. The Mr. Fitz is named for the Hall of Fame trainer, Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.

Barbaro's surgeon, Dr. Dean Richardson, as well as the New Bolton Center, were given the Joe Palmer Award. Joe Palmer was the former racing editor at the New York Herald Tribune. The award, named for him, is for "meritorious service to racing."

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.

• Jason McElwain has been promised a ride on Barbaro when his leg heals.

• Barbaro was a candidate for Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year (2006), despite not being a human.

• Barbaro is a leading candidate for the popular sports website Deadspin's Sportshuman of the Year Award (2006), despite not being a human.

• There is much controversy surrounding Barbaro's failure to get voted into Deadspin's Hall of Fame on his first ballot. However, there is a general consensus that he is a shoo-in 2nd ballot Hall-of-Famer (2007).

See also

• Kentucky Derby winners

External links

• Regular Barbaro updates from Horsetalk
• Updates on Barbaro, Fair Hill Training Center
• Updates on Barbaro, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
• "Poise on the track may save horse's life" The Baltimore Sun, May 21, 2006
• Barbaro Tribute Video by Ghost Moth, May 22, 2006
• "Explainer: Why a Broken Leg Is Bad News for a Horse" Slate, May 22, 2006
• Barbaro Statistics and Media, NTRA
• 2006 Kentucky Derby Video, NTRA
• For the Love of Barbaro Containing Poems and Videos About Barbaro
• Barbaro Information and guestbook, HorseHats.com
• "After cast removed, Barbaro uses 'all of his legs quite well' "The Baltimore Sun", November 7, 2006