Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Roy and Gretchen Jackson Receive A Special Elipse Award

I have been updating "Our Beloved Angels" journal regarding Barbaro's progress in his recovery since his horrific accident at the Preakness, on May 20th.

We all have experienced the roller coaster ride of ups and downs, sadness and joy, during Barbaro's brave and heroic treatment have prayed, lit candles, laughed, cried and have become a family of people all over the world who continue to support this incredible miracle horse over the past eight months. We are known as the Fans of Barbaro. We wear that title with pride and honor!

Whether we are "horse" people or not, it makes no difference. Barbaro has become an ambassador of hope and faith and he has introduced many of us to issues surrounding the plight of horses who are in need of rescue, the horrors of slaughter houses, and most of all, have ignited a flame in our hearts in which we may find ways in which we can join together to be able to reach out to these horses and be instrumental in providing them with the help they so desperately need.

So the article below which talks about the bestowing of a special Eclipse Award to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, for their heroic and compassionate treatment of Barbaro, and contributions made to the sport of horse racing, really says it all.  Their courage, their love and dedication for this horse has affected not only this horse, but to the vast number of people in the world who's lives have been touched by this magnificent horse.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Barbaro on your award. Bless you and bless Barbaro and all the people who have contributed to this magnificent horse's recovery.

Special Eclipse Award to Jacksons/New Bolton-Bloodhorse.Com 
Date Posted: January 22, 2007
Last Updated: January 23, 2007

Barbaro's owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson (pictured) and New Bolton Center honored with special award.
Photo: Jeffrey Snyder



The Special Eclipse Award, which honors outstanding individual achievements or contributions to Thoroughbred racing, isn’t given out every year. Not surprisingly, the award for 2006 has been bestowed upon Roy and Gretchen Jackson and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center.

The Jacksons, owners of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, and the representatives from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, who were responsible for the horse’s emergency surgery and continued recovery, were presented with the award for their outstanding efforts in saving the colt.

In the hours that followed the near fatal injury to Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the nation’s attention was focused on the Jacksons—who campaigned Barbaro with trainer Michael Matz and jockey Edgar Prado—and the veterinary staff at the New Bolton Center, led by chief of surgery Dr. Dean Richardson.

On May 21, 2006, Richardson led the New Bolton medical team into a nine-hour operation on multiple fractures to Barbaro’s right hind leg, as well as a dislocated fetlock. The surgery required a metal rod and 23 screws to help stabilize a long pastern bone that had shattered into more than 20 pieces. In the weeks following his recovery, Barbaro was struck with laminitis in his opposite hind foot, requiring the doctors at New Bolton to place Barbaro in a sling for nearly 12 hours at a time. Barbaro pulled through the crisis, but remains in the intensive care unit at the New Bolton Center.

(Article appears in the January 27, 2007 issue of The Blood-Horse)

Copyright © 2007 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So much love and concern has gone out to Barbaro. I love it when we all come together for such a great cause for our creatures of God. I continue to pray for him and all of the people involved in taking great care of him. God bless all of you. A lover of animals, Christina Lucero.

Anonymous said...

congratulations to the jacksons.  they are to be commended for saving barbaro's life.