Vets say Barbaro making good progress

Barbaro gets a brushing at the Widener Hospital. He's looking good, say his doctors.
Photo: Sabina Louise Pierce/University of Pennsylvania

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is pleasing his veterinarians with his progress, as he recovers from a shattered hind leg sustained at the Preakness on May 20.

"Barbaro continues to improve; he is maintaining his weight and his coat looks good," said Dr. Corinne Sweeney, associate dean of Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine and executive hospital director of the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.

"I would say he is a happy, healthy horse."

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

Doctors changed his cast on June 14 and the colt adjusted well to the new fibreglass addition.

Despite missing the rest of the racing season from May 20, the three-year-old looks likely to make an impression on the end-of-year Eclipse Awards. Barbaro won $US2.3 million in his seven-month racing career. Barbaro is in the running for top honours with Showing Up, who is also owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson and trained by Barclay Tagg. Showing Up won the $US1 million Colonial Turf Cup at the weekend, his first start on grass. He finished sixth in Barbaro's Kentucky Derby.