Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro's Condition Upgraded to Stable July 14 (Bloomberg) -- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who has both hind legs in casts, was upgraded to stable from guarded condition a day after his surgeon called his prognosis ``poor'' because of life-threatening inflammation.
Chief surgeon Dean Richardson said yesterday he would call it ``quits'' if the three-year-old colt's pain couldn't be controlled by medication. The veterinarian said he'd know by looking at Barbaro's eyes and evaluating the colt's eating habits and ability to stand.
``Barbaro was out of his sling for more than 12 hours yesterday, and he had a calm, restful night, sleeping on his side for more than four hours,'' Richardson said in a statement issued today by the University of Pennsylvania George D. Widener Hospital. ``While his condition is stable, it remains extremely serious.''
The colt was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, hospital, on May 20 when he shattered his right hind ankle shortly after the start of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. He underwent more than four hours of surgery to repair the broken bones.
Two weeks earlier, Barbaro became the sixth horse to win the Derby after entering the race undefeated. His 6 1/2-length win was the widest margin since Triple Crown winner Assault won by eight lengths in 1946.
The inflammation, called laminitis, occurs when a horse distributes its weight unevenly. Barbaro underwent a procedure July 12 for the removal of 80 percent of the left hind hoof wall, which normally is attached to the bone by strong connecting tissue called laminae.
Richardson had said from the beginning, when he gave Barbaro a 50-50 chance of survival, that the hospital staff would be watching for the onset of laminitis.
Chief surgeon Dean Richardson said yesterday he would call it ``quits'' if the three-year-old colt's pain couldn't be controlled by medication. The veterinarian said he'd know by looking at Barbaro's eyes and evaluating the colt's eating habits and ability to stand.
``Barbaro was out of his sling for more than 12 hours yesterday, and he had a calm, restful night, sleeping on his side for more than four hours,'' Richardson said in a statement issued today by the University of Pennsylvania George D. Widener Hospital. ``While his condition is stable, it remains extremely serious.''
The colt was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, hospital, on May 20 when he shattered his right hind ankle shortly after the start of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. He underwent more than four hours of surgery to repair the broken bones.
Two weeks earlier, Barbaro became the sixth horse to win the Derby after entering the race undefeated. His 6 1/2-length win was the widest margin since Triple Crown winner Assault won by eight lengths in 1946.
The inflammation, called laminitis, occurs when a horse distributes its weight unevenly. Barbaro underwent a procedure July 12 for the removal of 80 percent of the left hind hoof wall, which normally is attached to the bone by strong connecting tissue called laminae.
Richardson had said from the beginning, when he gave Barbaro a 50-50 chance of survival, that the hospital staff would be watching for the onset of laminitis.
