Press Conference
 

Since I am stuck at work and cannot find a thread to watch the press conference, can someone please post what they say? I am pretty sure someone would have, but I thought I would ask.



And trolls (if there are any out there), please have some respect for those of us who love horses and leave your "jokes" off the board. Thank you.

I haven't seen many trolls here, so I don't think you'd have to worry about that. I have ESPNEWS on right now and they said it's coming up next, so I'll keep you updated.

Thanks ateam.

Thank you! I'm at work, too, and am eager to hear what's said!

Not being put down.

Barbaro has suffered an "acute, rather severe bout" of laminitis according to Richardson.

His prognosis for life and lifelong comfort has significantly decreased.

After long discussion with the Jacksons and Matz, they've decided that despite it's a very serious complication, Barbaro is still very much alert, is eating well, his heart rate is low, and his temperature is back to normal. The stability on his right hind leg is good. Things are going reasonably well, but Richardson still can't say whether everything's going to heal correctly.

Barbaro's on an "intensive pain management regimen."

Richardson says they will only go on with the horse if everyone involved remains convinced that Barbaro is acceptably comfortable, i.e. if he's eating, drinking, has a reasonable heart rate, is "acting like a horse should."

thank you ateam.

According to Richardson, the laminitis is pretty much as bad as it gets. They've removed part of his hoof wall, only 20% is still attached, and he's in a foot cast with foam padding and antiseptic dressings. They're trying to regrow the hoof wall.

They've been teaching him to adapt to a sling, which he's responded to well, and the other pain management techniques are working well. If those techniques stop working, they're going to "quit on the horse, as simple as that."

His chances of survival are "poor." Richardson says he'd be lying if he said anything other than poor. At the same time, as long as the horse is not suffering, they will continue on.

Horses have survived from this condition before, but it is a longshot. If they cannot keep Barbaro comfortable, they will not continue.

This is sad. I am very sad now. Everyone say prayers for him and hope that he pulls through.

Fight Barbaro like the fighter we all know that you are! We all want you to get better.

Question: is this in the injured leg or the non-injured leg?

Well, it is almost as bad of news as one can get. Very sad. Sounds like too much healing to do :( I'm glad he's comfortable and that they will see how it goes for a while, but I don't know. That is, indeed, worst case scenario. :cry:

I ask because someone had mentioned infection in the noninjured leg as well.

Its in the good leg. The left rear hoof.

The laminitis is in the "good" leg, probably because its had to bear more than its share of normal weight, even with the special cushion/shoe they've rigged to help him.

Man oh man. I guess the one thing I'm grateful for is that everyone has Barbaro's best interests at heart. No matter what happens, after all this, I don't think I will ever, ever be able to watch that Preakness replay again.

Richardson says recovery, if it were to happen, would take 5-6 months at the VERY LEAST.

He says they'll call it quits when Barbaro acts like he doesn't want to stand on the leg.

The decision to put him down could happen rapidly, within a day or two of bad signs, but right now, the horse looks bright and is eating well.

If anyone else noticed the Doc nearly broke up at the end when he abruptly called an end to the news conferance. Emphasised the strong will of the horse is the nbest part about this horse.

The last thing he said was "if you looked at this horse, it would be very hard to put him down" and he got up, ending the press conference.

It's a very sad day.....

Sad to say, but I think Barbaro is not going to make it. Boy I hope he does, but the chances are very very slim.

Terrible news. :( My only hope for Barbaro is that he's such a fighter and seems to know everyone is trying to help him. If any horse can pull through this, it's him.. Saying that, all prayers and well wishes couldn't hurt.

I will say as dire as it appears. This is the HORSE that can make it!!!!!! Any negative opinions need to be kept to yourself.

Agree completely. I dont give a **** if you think he is going to make it or not, and I dont think anyone else here does either. Lets all just keep hoping and praying (if you believe in that).

Barbaro deserves all the credit in the world for persevering this far...let's hope that determination brings him through this latest setback.

Expressing either positive or negative opinions will not change the facts.

We all hope this gallant horse pulls through ... but the poster who opined that the horse is not going to make it has every right to do so ... and is probably correct.

Believe me, I'll keep praying.

Horses die, just like people. It is part of life. The important thing is they are trying.

This is going to get ugly REAL quick...Emotions, you gotta love them

There's only one way to prevent these fragile animals from getting seriously injured ... and being put down ...

... and that's not to breed them.

As long as the thorougbred exists ... there are going to be tragic breakdowns. Those who can't stand the experience ... will have to eschew any contact whatsoever with the sport.

Let's face it, a synthetic surface is safer. Your call to just go with the horrific status quo is irresponsible. Dirt cause Barbaro's tragedy and don't anyone forget it.

Stop it. You use ANY injury to get on your soapbox to preach the evils of dirt. Barbaro took a bad step, but there's NO WAY you can prove that the outcome would have been different on a synthetic track. NO WAY. A bad step is a bad step, dirt or not. I haven't heard anyone blame track conditions for this injury, not once. Have some respect and don't push your agenda using this tragedy.

It really is a matter of weighing the horse's discomfort v. survivability. If he is on heavy pain killers, which it sounds like he is, and he gets worse... its not fair to the animal to put him through the extreme pain. That is really what the owners and Doc have got to weigh. They knew this when they tried to save the horse in the first place. An animal that does not have a clue what is going on cannot be allowed to suffer unduly... No matter how bad we all want him to live.

I agree, they could have been running on cotton and with the way that Barbaro conformed his body, he would have gotten hurt on anything...All Polytrack is going to do is lead to all turf racing like in Europe....When that stuff hits California, not one penny of my money will be anywhere near it, only playing the turf races out there

This is the exact same problem my little mare had, her hoof too seperated 3/4's of the way around. The only advantage she had is her other front leg was not damaged. It took a total of 16 months, the first few weeks of it were the toughest I have ever endured, I took a leave of abscence from my job to attend to her, she was hospitalized a few weeks. It was a long, emotional, exspensive road... but she beat the odds. I had so many friends and family members praying for her and so does Barbaro, he still has a chance. I was told by the surgeons she had less than a 20% chance of recovery and told tham as long as their was a 1% chance I was all in, I know the Jacksons feel the same way.

The doc said basicly the same thing.

Great post, Zippy. I agree.

Nature giveth and she taketh away. Horses are noble, beautiful animals, but they are not built very well; any misstep, by any horse (whether racehorse or not) always has the potential to be fatal. You can't put fences around them in the hopes that nothing will happen and I don't believe you can "fix" every potential wrong in horse racing (changing the tracks, etc......). The fact is, horses will always break down because they are very fragile animals; they will always be susceptible to infection because of their anatomy. Nothing human beings can do, no artificial changes we make, will change the nature of beast.

The only good thing that came out of this tragedy is that non-racing fans have seen that these animals are well-loved and taken care of.

Poor Barbaro - I just hope he doesn't linger in pain for very long. What a shame; I guess I fooled myself into thinking that he was over the hump.

bull****....

you polytrackers are getting to be as bad as the pro-lifers

ESPN news giving an up dat now01:12.

Anything new?

The only being whose opinion is not heard here is Barbaro's . His attitude, fortitude and eyes will do the talking . So far they are saying YES . It is not up to us to judge what he can or cannot tolerate, nor do we understand whether he suffers more or less . A recovery process realistically includes pain and suffering . His prognosis may be poor, but this animal is rich in courage and sensibilty . Salute that.

The only update is that the next 24 hours will be crucial, and that the horse is bright and alert in his stall.

... and the pro-deathers.