Barbaro has a good day after several bad ones ESPN 7/15 6:58 AM ET

Updated: July 15, 2006, 6:58 AM ET


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Associated Press
Horse Racing News Wire


KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. -- Barbaro was given a walk in the intensive care unit by his veterinarian, perhaps a sign the ailing Kentucky Derby winner was responding well to treatment for an often fatal condition in his left hind leg.

And after spending 2½ hours visiting Barbaro on Friday, jockey Edgar Prado came away feeling much better about the colt's chance to survive a severe case of laminitis and a reconstructed right hind leg that was shattered in the first few yards of the Preakness Stakes on May 20.

"He looked much better than I thought he would," Prado said after leaving New York at 4:30 a.m. and visiting the colt who gave him his first Derby victory. "I fed him, walked with him and he put his head on my shoulder and fell asleep." ( see article about visit)

For a day at least, there was hope at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. The mood swing came a day after chief surgeon Dean Richardson delivered the grim news that Barbaro had laminitis, 80 percent of his left hoof wall had been removed Wednesday and that chances of survival were poor.

Barbaro's prognosis went from guarded to stable Friday, with Richardson saying the 3-year-old colt's vital signs, including heart rate and pulse, remain good.

"We are treating his laminitis aggressively, and he continues to respond well and is acceptably comfortable," Richardson said. "Our goal is to keep him as comfortable as possible, and clearly that comfort level will be a major indicator for our treatment decisions."

The nugget of good news followed more than a week of distressful updates: surgeries and cast changes on Barbaro's injured right hind leg -- the one that sustained three broken bones in a horrific misstep shortly after he left the gate at the Preakness. And then, the onset of dreaded laminitis.

The colt, who has fiberglass casts on both hind legs, also has been fitted with a sling to prevent sudden movements. Laminitis is usually caused by uneven weight distribution in the limbs.

While his condition is stable, Richardson said "it remains extremely serious."

"We monitor his condition very closely because signscan change quickly," he added.

Prado, credited with saving Barbaro's life by pulling him up quickly after the colt broke down in the first few yards of the Preakness, called it a "very bad situation" before adding: "But he has the will to overcome this."

Rick Arthur, a prominent veterinarian on the California thoroughbred circuit, said Barbaro's upgraded condition offers "a ray of hope."

"When a horse has laminitis, the downs come very quickly and very dramatically, it's almost like going on a cascade," Arthur said. "When you get in cases like this, you are looking for hope. You are looking for anything that can give you an indication that you have a chance to move forward."

Dr. Larry Bramlage, another noted veterinarian, agreed: "It's a good sign because they've got the pain under control."

Barbaro was transported to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center directly from Pimlico Race Course and the next day, Richardson inserted a titanium plate and 27 screws into the colt's injured leg to help fuse the fetlock (ankle) joint.

Since that time, Richardson has said laminitis was a major concern. The disease tends to show up about six-to-eight weeks after a serious leg injury, when a horse has spent a great deal of time trying to balance his 1,000-pound frame on four fragile legs.

While doctors continue treating Barbaro, Richardson and owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson also must be prepared to decide when and if it's unreasonable to try to save him.

It's a decision, Arthur said, he's sure Richardson has been wrestling with for weeks. Unlike doctors who treat humans, veterinarians make quality-of-life decisions all the time.

"All of us, when we are dealing with these cases, say, 'Should I pursue this case further?" Arthur said. You don't want to talk euthanasia, but it's a decision that we ultimately make, whether it's taking care of racehorses or dogs or cats."








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