Sun archives: Barbaro

Book Excerpt

Prado 'badly shaken' after visit to Barbaro

From "My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse," by Edgar Prado with John Eisenberg. Copyright(c) 2008 by Edgar Prado. Reprinted by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers.

Churchill Downs to unveil rendering of Barbaro statue

Churchill Downs and the owners of Barbaro plan to unveil a rendering of the bronze statue that will honor the late 2006 Kentucky Derby champion and the name of the artist chosen to create it during the week leading up to the May 3 Derby.

On Barbaro's legacy

Bill Ordine on Barbaro's legacy: Cause lives on

The owners of Barbaro announced yesterday, on the anniversary of his death, that the ashes of the colt who became a symbol of courage and perseverance for many will be buried at Churchill Downs, the site of his 2006 Kentucky Derby win.

Derby winner to be memorialized outside gate of Churchill Downs

The image of Barbaro blazing down the stretch at Churchill Downs, all four hooves off the ground as the powerful bay colt crushed the field in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, is seared in Roy Jackson's memory.

Sports Digest: Churchill Downs to observe Barbaro anniversary

Barbaro's owners will return to Churchill Downs today to honor the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner on the first anniversary of his death.

Decision due on Barbaro's ashes

Nearing the one-year anniversary of Barbaro's death, Gretchen Jackson -- who along with husband Roy owned the horse -- said yesterday they are close to announcing a decision about where the 2006 Kentucky Derby champion's ashes will be buried.

Emotional rescue

The images will return today like snapshots from a funeral: Barbaro breaking through the gate prematurely. Barbaro breaking down in the first furlong. Crestfallen jockey Edgar Prado in tears. Barbaro being hauled away from Pimlico Race Course in an ambulance as night closed in.

The Decision

Hundreds of anxious fans and dozens of reporters swarmed around the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course minutes after the 2006 Preakness Stakes. Security officers shouted at onlookers to remain behind temporary barricades. Television news helicopters buzzed overhead.

Death of a champion

'What a fighter he was'

The moment the news flashed across her computer screen yesterday, Patty Morgera left her job and headed to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where she wiped tears as she scrawled on a poster, "Barbaro, you are my inspiration."

Struggle ends for Barbaro

For eight months, Barbaro took fans of horse racing and lovers of horses on a bumpy ride of hope and worry as he struggled to recover from devastating leg injuries suffered in the Preakness.

John Eisenberg: Barbaro's owners driven by love

The death of a thoroughbred racehorse is never less than heartbreaking. The horses are magnificent athletes, bred to race, with muscular torsos perched on sinewy legs. They instinctively give their all. They deserve good fortune but don't always get it.

Rick Maese: Barbaro runs to legendary status

Commentary

Barbaro's injury highlighted problems, medical advances

Barbaro's death illustrated both the great advances and the continuing mysteries that surround the treatment of horrific thoroughbred injuries.

The Surgeon

Barbaro's doctor: 'We all knew this day could come'

Perhaps it isn't surprising that the person showing the most emotion yesterday after the death of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was his surgeon, Dr. Dean Richardson, the man who spent every day of the past eight months tending to his care.

Major events in Barbaro's career

May 6: Wins Kentucky Derby by 6½ lengths for sixth straight win.

Hoof setback for Barbaro

Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, met a setback in the Kentucky Derby winner's recovery with a mixture of sadness and hope yesterday.

Horse Racing

Barbaro gets cast change

Yesterday, Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro had his second cast change in six weeks since shattering his right rear leg in the Preakness on May 20.

Peter Schmuck: This sportswriter can relate to Barbaro's snacking habits

Can't tell you how great it was to hear that Barbaro is up and around and - according to a report in The Sun yesterday - getting protective of his snacks.

New Bolton director cautions against Barbaro complacency

While Dr. Corinne Sweeney, the director of the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, said Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro had another good day yesterday, she also cautioned about complacency.

Barbaro making healthy steps

Barbaro lifts his head from the fresh green hay he is eating in the back of his stall in the intensive care unit in the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals. He has heard something, and turns to see who has come to his stall door at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.

Barbaro still has inside track on 3-year-old honors

The backstretch was alive with activity yesterday morning, as trainers went about their business the morning after Jazil won the Belmont Stakes.

Plans change without Barbaro

Trainer Dan Peitz watches Steppenwolfer, his big, gray 3-year-old, approach from the other end of the shedrow and remembers how he had mapped out plans for his horse the morning after the Kentucky Derby.

Rick Maese: Minus star, fans will tune out Belmont

Time for horse racing's biggest afterthought.

'All is well' for Barbaro

Barbaro received another encouraging update yesterday, one week after the Kentucky Derby winner suffered a life-threatening injury at the Preakness.

Journey longer than 1 3/16 miles

From the cover

Sun's Bill Ordine answers questions on Barbaro

Sue, Texas: What could have caused such a bad break?

Many feeling pain over Barbaro's hurt

Crickett Goodall couldn't stop thinking about Barbaro yesterday.

Gate-crashing, injury unlinked

When Barbaro pushed his chest through the starting gate before the start of the 131st Preakness Stakes on Saturday, he set the stage for a lot of second-guessing over his sudden, unusual and life-threatening injury.

Outlook for long term uncertain

The immediate news was upbeat yesterday concerning Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner who suffered a race career-ending injury to his right hind leg at the Preakness Stakes, but his long-term prognosis remains uncertain.

Horse Racing

'A long way ... to go'

The day after Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro had successfully come through four-plus hours of surgery after his breakdown in the 131st Preakness Stakes on Saturday, his co-owner, Gretchen Jackson, still sounded heartsick.

David Steele: Barbaro's injury may be too much for racing to bear

The question being asked about thoroughbred racing in America right now sounds familiar. But it's a little different. Thus, so is the answer.

Injury cause may remain a mystery

A horse can have a tiny bone fracture that causes a leg to break. Or it can have genetic flaws, stumble on a pebble or be jostled by another horse.

Horse's surgeon in limelight

Among zookeepers, farmers and the horse set, the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals is renowned.

Love, not money, is factor in bid to save horse's life

Before he began to operate on Barbaro yesterday, Dr. Dean Richardson, the colt's surgeon, said horses that experience such catastrophic ankle injuries usually are euthanized.

Barbaro is given a fighting chance

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro took a big step toward survival last night - standing on all-fours after hours of surgery to repair the right rear leg shattered in Saturday's running of the Preakness Stakes.

David Steele: Injury to Barbaro bringing millions of fans together

The word "unusual" is being used by the doctor performing the operation, and by the head of the facility at which it was performed, to describe the injury that sent Barbaro here.

Calm, concern at Fair Hill

The peace of the Fair Hill Training Center, which trainer Michael Matz had raved about since returning Barbaro to his picturesque home in Cecil County after his dominating Kentucky Derby victory two weeks ago, seemed undisturbed yesterday.

Preakness Stakes

Barbaro's race ends in injury

A spectacular day of racing turned catastrophic when Barbaro, a 3-year-old colt with a seemingly clear path to the Triple Crown, broke down in the first furlong of the 131st Preakness Stakes yesterday and was fighting for his life last night.

Poise on the track may save horse's life

By all accounts, Barbaro has been as good a patient as he was a racehorse - and his poise is what may ultimately save his life, medical experts said.

John Eisenberg: A beautiful day suddenly takes a terrible turn

All day, right up until the start of the race, it was one of the best Preakness Saturdays. The weather was magnificent, the crowd colossal, the mood euphoric. Bettors sent Barbaro off as the 1-2 favorite, thinking they might see a piece of Triple Crown history.

Rick Maese: Hopes, dreams just disappear in a single misstep

Before the tears flooded Pimlico and before the screams raced around the dirt track. Before the mighty champion pulled up in pain and before the ambulance pulled away from the barn. Before we even understood what exactly could be at stake in the Preakness Stakes, there was Michael Matz, and he was all smiles.

Ray Frager: Barbaro's injury brings NBC's broadcast back to reality

It was all about Barbaro during NBC's Preakness telecast yesterday - before the race, during the race, after the race.

Preakness Stakes

John Eisenberg: Whose horse?

Barbaro's Kentucky Derby victory was easy - a lot easier than deciding which state gets to brag about it.

Preakness Stakes

High knee action might give leg up

The day after the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert met with some reporters at his barn on the Churchill Downs backstretch and told this story about seeing Barbaro in the paddock before the race.

Second leg is next step for Barbaro

If Barbaro didn't know he was something special early yesterday morning in the Churchill Downs barn area, well, that's all right. Everyone else did.