User:GhostRiver/barbaro
Background
[edit]Barbaro was born on April 29, 2003, at Sanborn Chase Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky. He was a large foal with long legs, and endured a series of growth spurts while living in Kentucky.[1] About six weeks after his birth, Barbaro met his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Lael Stables in West Grove, Pennsylvania.
Racing career
[edit]2005: Two-year-old season
[edit]Barbaro won his maiden race on October 4, 2005 at the Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton, Delaware. He broke the race by 13+1⁄4 lengths, running the mile in 1 minute 35.87 seconds. After his successful maiden run, Barbaro's trainer suggested to his owners that he had a future in the Kentucky Derby.[2][3]
- Laurel Futurity
2006: Three-year-old season
[edit]- Tropical Park Derby
The Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida was Barbaro's first race on a dirt track after an undefeated turf run.[4]
- Holy Bull Stakes
- Florida Derby
Kentucky Derby
[edit]On May 3, 2006, Barbaro was the second-choice favorite for the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. He tied with Lawyer Ron, the champion of the Arkansas Derby, with 4-1 odds, behind the 3-1 favorite Brother Derek. Both of Barbaro's main opponents, however, were among the last to receive a chance to draw their starting post, while Barbaro's trainer and jockey, drawing fourth, placed the colt at the No. 8 post.[5]
Preakness Stakes
[edit]Following his successful run at the Kentucky Derby, Barbaro was the favorite to win the 131st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.[6] He entered the race with even money odds, ahead of Derby rivals Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint, and his No. 6 post was the winningest starting gate in Preakness history, producing 15 winners since 1909.[7] One minute and 19 seconds before the official start of the race,[8] while Diabolical was being led into his nearby No. 9 post, Barbaro broke from the gate in a false start and advanced approximately 20 yards (18 m) before he was corralled and returned to his post.[9] He returned for the official start and advanced approximately 100 yards (91 m) before Prado suddenly pulled off to the side. Another 80 yards (73 m) later, Prado dismounted and found that Barbaro's hind right ankle had been fractured in two places. Prado said later that Barbaro "took a bad step and I can't really tell you what happened. I heard a noise about 100 yards into the race and pulled him right up."[10] Bernardini ultimately won the Preakness by 5+1⁄4 lengths, running the track in 1 minute 54.65 seconds.[11]
Injury and rehabilitation
[edit]Initial surgery
[edit]Dr. Larry Bramlage, an equine surgeon in Lexington, Kentucky who was serving as the on-call veterinarian for Pimlico, said that there was "no chance" that Barbaro would race again after suffering the injury, and the primary focus became on ensuring the horse's survival.[11] Barbaro departed the race track at 7:22 p.m. and was transported to the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. In transit, a splint was applied to his ankle, and he received sedation and x-rays before arriving in Pennsylvania just after 9 p.m.[10]
Barbaro suffered myriad injuries during the Preakness: his cannon bone was broken above the ankle, his sesamoid bone was broken behind the ankle, and his fetlock joint was dislocated. Most severe of these injuries was to the long pastern bone, which had been fractured in over 20 places.[12]
Complications
[edit]Barbaro began to suffer surgical complications by the first week of July: on July 8, Dr. Richardson announced that doctors at the New Bolton Center had changed the horse's cast twice, once to replace bent screws in the injured leg and again to improve his comfort. Additionally, he suffered a "minor" abscess on his uninjured left hind leg and had gone several days with an elevated body temperature.[13] By July 12, a bacterial infection had developed in the abscessed leg, which required an additional three-hour surgery to clean out.[14]
Recovery
[edit]An August 1 report from Dr. Richardson suggested that Barbaro was healing well: the bones in his broken leg had fused together, and under ordinary circumstances, his plaster cast would have been replaced by a lighter splint. However, the laminitis meant that veterinarians did not want to risk Barbaro placing more weight on his other hind leg.[15]
Further complications
[edit]On January 10, 2007, doctors at the New Bolton Center announced that Barbaro had suffered "a significant setback" that required Dr. Dean Richardson to surgically remove more damaged tissue from the injured hoof.[16]
Death and public reactions
[edit]Legacy
[edit]On December 21, 2006, the Maryland Jockey Club announced that the Sir Barton Stakes, a Preakness undercard race at Pimlico, would be renamed the Barbaro Stakes.[17] The inaugural Barbaro Stakes was run on May 19, 2007, and the race was won by Chelokee, another Thoroughbred trained by Michael Matz.[18] In 2014, the Barbaro Stakes reverted back to the Sir Barton.[19]
Pedigree
[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bissinger, Buzz (July 10, 2017). "Gone Like the Wind". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Rasmussen, Frederick D. (May 20, 2011). "Book recalls Barbaro as one of the greatest racers of all time". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Rosenblatt, Richard (April 14, 2007). "On Derby trail again, Matz remembers Barbaro". Sun Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Joseph, Dave (February 4, 2006). "Undefeated Barbaro will try his luck on dirt". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Drape, Joe (May 4, 2006). "Brother Derek Named Kentucky Derby Favorite by the Slimmest of Margins". The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Lindsay, John (May 20, 2006). "The 131st Preakness Stakes: 8 challengers face big odds in attempt to catch Barbaro". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Odds ride with Barbaro". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 18, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Scocca, Tom (May 20, 2016). "How Did Barbaro Really Get Hurt?". Deadspin. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Finley, Bill (May 29, 2006). "Need for Answers Lingers as Focus Turns to Barbaro's False Start". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Vigna, Paul (May 19, 2016). "Barbaro's ill-fated run 10 years ago in the Preakness: A look back". The Patriot-News. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Norwood, Robyn (September 15, 2014). "Second leg is saddest for Barbaro". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Block, Melissa (May 22, 2006). "Barbaro's Owners Watch Over Recovery". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "Horse racing: Derby winner Barbaro develops complications". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 8, 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ Drape, Joe (July 12, 2006). "Barbaro Has Serious Infection in Leg". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "Veterinarian: Barbaro's right hind leg healing well". ESPN. Associated Press. August 1, 2006. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Jensen, Mike (January 11, 2007). "Serious setback puts Barbaro back in sling". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ DeVivo, Joe (December 21, 2006). "Maryland honors Barbaro". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ Dinich, Heather A. (May 20, 2007). "Barbaro remembered". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ McGee, Marty (May 18, 2017). "Hedge Fund continues progression in Sir Barton Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved September 1, 2021.