June 9, 2006

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell visits with Barbaro, along with Dean Joan Hendricks and Dr. Dean Richardson. Photo: Sabina Louise Pierce/University of Pennsylvania

Veterinarians at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals continue to be pleased with Barbaro's condition, which improves daily.

The Kentucky Derby winner is recovering from a shattered hind leg sustained at the Preakness on May 20. Barbaro's medical team reported that the colt is doing extremely well, and was been especially frisky yesterday, displaying interest in nearby mares that are also at the Hospital.

Barbaro remains in intensive care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center.

Yesterday, Barbaro had a very special visitor: Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell stopped by to give Barbaro his good wishes and to personally present Jim Riepe, president of the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, with a cheque for the New Bolton Center.

The $US13.5 million will be used toward the completion of new medical facilities at the Center, including a new isolation building, a colic barn and a chemical digestion facility. The isolation building will provide added biosecurity for the treatment of infectious disease, while the colic barn is for the specialized treatment of horses with a variety of high-risk abdominal conditions. The chemical digestion facility will house a new technology that offers a safe and efficient means to dispose of infectious waste.

"This money is an investment in Pennsylvania's ability to treat animals from across the country, and to provide top-notch educational opportunities so Pennsylvania's veterinary students will have the chance to become the best and compete in the global marketplace," Governor Rendell said.

"I visited Barbaro today, and I can tell you he is in the best hands here," Rendell said. "The New Bolton Center provides round-the-clock care and world-class facilities. This, combined with the high level of expertise of the veterinarians, means our Derby champion is in the best place he can be for the road to recovery."

This gift marks the first time public money has been used to improve New Bolton Center, and the first major expansion since it was founded in 1964.