HORSE RACING
Doctor Remains Upbeat About Barbaro's Recovery
Wednesday, May 31, 2006; Page E02
On a day when jockey Edgar Prado visited Barbaro for the first time since the Kentucky Derby winner broke down May 20 in the Preakness Stakes, the horse's veterinarian continued to offer an optimistic assessment for recovery.
"He will never be able to do a dressage test. He won't be able to gallop. He won't be able to jump. At the very best, he will have a hitch in his giddy-up," said Dean Richardson , chief surgeon at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. "He will not be quite right, but there's lots of horses that can walk, trot, canter, gallop, spin around and, somewhat importantly, mount a mare.
  In
this photo provided by the University of Pennsylvania shows jockey
Edgar Prado, kissing Barbaro at the University of Pennsylvania's New
Bolton Center, Tuesday, May 30, 2006 in Kennett Square, Pa. Prado paid
his first visit to Barbaro since pulling up the colt early in the
Preakness. (AP Photo/The University of Pennsylvania, Sabina Louise
Pierce) (Sabina Louise Pierce - AP) The Triple Crown_____ Preakness Stakes _____  Preakness winner Bernardini will not run in the Belmont. Veterinary surgeon Dean Richardson is optimistic about Barbaro's recovery. With Barbaro's chances of survival still 50-50, owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson know they face a difficult road ahead. After more than five hours of surgery, doctors are cautiously optimistic that Derby winner Barbaro will survive. Andrew Beyer: Is the timing of the Triple Crown races too stressful for modern thoroughbreds? Barbaro suffers a life-threatening broken leg just 50 strides into the Preakness. Bernardini wins the Preakness. Beyer: A day that began full of optimism turns into thoroughbred racing's darkest moment since July 6, 1975. Notebook: Fans are heartbroken by Barbaro's stunning injury. ON OUR SITE Video: A veterinarian says Barbaro is doing well and resting. Video: It will be months, doctors say, before they know if Barbaro is completely healed. Video: Doctors talk about what's next for Barbaro. Photos: Barbaro suffers a life-threatening broken leg as Bernardini goes on to win the 131st Preakness Stakes. RESULTS
LIVE ONLINELiam Durbin of e-ponies.com reflects on the Preakness, examines Barbaro's injury and looks ahead to the Belmont, 11 a.m. Transcript: Post's John Scheinman. _____ Kentucky Derby _____  Barbaro routs the field by 6 1/2 lengths to win the 132nd run for the roses. Andrew Beyer: Barbaro's speed and stamina are worthy of a Triple Crown. Photos: Barbaro sprints to victory. Save & Share |
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"That's what we hope for. We're way, way, way away from that. We're not there."
Barbaro, undefeated in six starts when he shattered bones around his right rear ankle just out of the Pimlico starting gate, continues to mend in the hospital's intensive care unit.
Prado, who took several days off after the Preakness to be with family in Florida, said it was very hard to return to riding last week.
"After Saturday, I really wanted to go and take some time off," he said at a news conference yesterday at the New Bolton Center. "It was going to be real hard for me. Instead, I went back to riding and was really busy. It was tough to concentrate."
Barbaro remains in the cast he was fitted with May 21 after a 4 1/2 -hour operation in which a metal rod and 27 screws were placed in his damaged leg.
"Right now, the horse is walking so well on this limb," Richardson said. "He walks around the stall. He's very active. We're surprised he's letting it stay in place."
-- John Scheinman
