A jockey autograph session hosted by Pfizer Animal Health at Belmont Park June 26 raised $1,000 that will be shared equally by the Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Jockeys participating in the autograph session included Barbaro’s regular rider Edgar Prado, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, and Mike Luzzi.
Also at Belmont Park that day, Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, accepted a $37,276 final disbursement from the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Association) Charities – Barbaro Memorial Fund.
Since its inception in 2007, The NTRA Charities - Barbaro Memorial Fund disbursed almost $400,000 in support of scientific conferences, research programs, and a half-dozen research projects, all focused on finding a cure for laminitis, the painful and often fatal hoof disease that plagued Barbaro for so much of his recuperative period following his injury in the 2008 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Dr. Richardson provided surgical treatment and other veterinary care for Barbaro after the Preakness.
The Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research will now replace the NTRA Charities – Barbaro Memorial Fund and become the primary fundraising arm of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance for equine health and safety research.
“Barbaro’s legacy was on full display, raising money for two outstanding causes,” said Barkley Porter, vice president of sales and business development for the NTRA. “We sincerely thank Pfizer Animal Health and Belmont Park for their invaluable assistance in making the day possible.”