BARBARO (Dynaformer x La Ville Rouge) April 29, 2003 – January 29, 2007

 

Barbaro, winner of the132^nd Kentucky Derby last May, was laid to rest at approximately 10:30 am on Monday, January 29^th. Over 18,000 candles from 41 countries are alight on a virtual candle website (http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=barba ). People from all over the world are mourning the loss of one of the greatest horses of recent memory. There aren’t any regrets, only tears shed for a noble and dignified struggle. Barbaro was a courageous soul, and never gave up, regardless the task. He was undefeated in all the races that he finished, and all of his connections owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, trainer Michael Matz, jockey Edgar Prado, exercise rider Peter Brette, and many others, all felt he was the best horse that they had ever come into contact with.

 Barbaro was a hero. He was brilliant, a world class athlete, a dynamic winner, and a gorgeous animal. He was innocent in all the decisions that people made for him. He was quiet. He was determined, and he showed grit under the most dire of circumstances. He didn’t complain and he simply tried his best, every moment of every day. He wasn’t all that gentle, but he was exceedingly generous with his efforts. Maybe that’s why the World loves him so much…

Even in death, Barbaro is an inspiration for life. He simply fought like a Champion, and everyone joined him in support. Barbaro’s winnings totaled over $2,000,000 dollars, a testimony of his tremendous ability over a very short racing career. Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in several places during the opening strides of the 2006 Preakness Stakes. He was skillfully stabilized and transported to the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. He underwent unprecedented surgery, having 27 screws placed into the bones of his lower right hind leg, in addition to a metal plate for structural support. He recovered, and he began the healing process. Then, in July of 2006, a severe and devastating case of laminitis struck the healthy left hind foot, and surgery performed to save his life once again. Laminitis is a very painful inflammation of the tissue that connects the foot bone to the inner hoof wall. Although everything was done to keep him comfortable, in the end, the laminitis was beginning to affect his healthy front feet. They all felt so much love and respect for him. It was time to let him go. Death can not be looked at as a failure of skill, or knowledge or desire. Everyone, including Barbaro, was deeply committed to a more promising outcome. People all over the world wanted to see little bouncing baby Barbaro’s as a vindication of his circumstance.

But it simply was not to be. Barbaro finished his contention for life with all the class he was born with. Tradition has been a herald for all the elite horses of the past, who have won the Kentucky Derby. If the tradition is adhered to, part of Barbaro’s remains will be buried at Churchill Downs, the home of the world famous KY Derby, and his ashes scattered over Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Farm, the home of Barbaro’s devoted owners. He led a full life…if it can be measured by the amount of people he touched, in addition to the races that he won:

 

The Laurel Futurity

The Tropical Park Derby

Holy Bull Stakes

Florida Derby

The Kentucky Derby

 

While Barbaro did not prevail in this journey, he did leave a legacy. “The Barbaro Fund”, having been established by a very generous anonymous donation, raised and additional 1.2 million, and is continuing to grow. It is being used to update equipment at the New Bolton Center, and to help horses like Barbaro, whose owners to not have the financial means for necessary treatment. Contributions are also continuing to roll in to “The Fund to Fight Laminitis”, an important area of research for American Association of Equine Professionals, and the US Dept. of Agriculture. Individuals have contributed more than $25 million dollars over the last ten years to organizations who are instrumental in the Horse Industry and either provide actual research, or donate to research organizations. These include: the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, American Quarter Horse Association, Havemeyer Foundation and the American Association of Equine Professionals Foundation. Barbaro will always be an Ambassador for the Horse Racing Industry, and will continue to inspire us all to rise to the challenges we might be faced with.

 

God Bless you Barbaro. You are a Legacy of Hope, and a noble creature. You put up a great fight. Thank you. We express our most sincere condolences to those who were so close to Barbaro, and our deepest gratitude to Dr. Dean Richardson, and the Veterinary Professionals and staff at the New Bolton Center.

 

Here’s something to think about: La Ville Rouge, Barbaro’s mother, is quietly munching hay, and non-chalantly carrying the full sibling of Barbaro. Yep. That’s right. She is expecting early this Spring…

 

 

 

Places for more information and mementos:

 

University of Pennsylvania, Widener Hospital for Large Animals, New Bolton Center

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro.htm

 

Breyer has a Barbaro horse model, available through tack shops and online.

As of December 2006, Breyer had made and sold 11,471 models of Barbaro and was donating more than $114,000 of the proceeds to the New Bolton Center

 

There is a Barbaro Beenie Baby

http://www.horsehats.com/Barbaro.html

 

There is a special Barbaro hat:

http://www.horsehats.com/Barbaro.html

portion of proceeds go to the Barbaro Fund

 

Barbaro prints by the famous Equine Artist Fred Stone

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro/Fred_Stone_Print.htm

portion of proceeds go to the Barbaro Fund

 

Limited Edition book about Barbaro, first of a series, at www.secretariat.com

portion of proceeds go to the Barbaro Fund

 

Do a search for “Barbaro” on YouTube. There won’t be a dry eye in the room.

 

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2006/

 

www.thoroughbredtimes.com